The back-to-school season is a mix of excitement and stress for families. As a teacher, I am eager to reunite with my students, yet I can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness as summer comes to an end. With the return to school, families are faced with the daunting task of shopping for school supplies, navigating through crowded stores to find the exact items on the list.

But what happens when your child is blind? How does the supply list change? In our case (elementary), we make modifications to accommodate Titus’s needs.

• Instead of 50 sharpened pencils, we send only 2. Titus relies on a brailler for writing, so the need for pencils is minimal.

• We opt for scented markers to make coloring more engaging and to help him differentiate between colors but we also send unscented as well. I just put in an Amazon order for the Crayola scented markers and crayons as they were sold out in stores. We also use triangular crayons and add braille labels to them, the shape is great because they do not roll.

• One notebook suffices, as he primarily uses brailler paper for his writing needs. Even though Titus can’t see the color of the notebooks, he still gets to choose. His favorite color is purple so that is his top choice right now.

The remaining items on the list stay the same – scissors, glue, headphones, folders, and, of course, tissues.

I take the extra step of labeling Titus’s supplies and pencil box with his name in braille, ensuring he can easily identify his belongings. This personalized touch helps him feel more independent and confident as he embarks on a new school year. Reach out to your TVI as they are an invaluable resource to you.

• When I only need one or two labels I use this braille label maker however if I am making multiple labels I will use the brailler and clear sticker labels.

• Preparing for your blind or visually impaired child to go to school can be highly emotional and a bit scary. If possible I recommend you reach out to your child’s school and O & M teacher and have them do a tour of the classroom and map out the school before it starts. We do this every year, the week before school starts. Happy back to school!