Spring Family Conference
Spring Family Conference (SFC) is an annual gathering hosted by IESBVI for the parents and families of students with visual impairments in Iowa. For parents, a variety of content-specific sessions are offered to provide you with strategies to support your child while navigating childhood and into adulthood. SFC is a great opportunity to network and get to know other parents and families in the state. For students with visual impairments, SFC is a place to connect with other students who share visual impairments. Often students are the only ones in their school with a visual impairment, and being around others who share this commonality can be encouraging. For their siblings, SFC provides opportunities for all children to interact, play games and have fun together!
FAQs About the Conference
Who is this for and how many family members can attend?
This is for your whole family! Parents, children with visual impairments, siblings without visual impairments, and extended family who are actively involved and want to learn how best to offer help and encouragement.
SFC offers three exciting avenues for the whole family! Parents: an all-day conference of learning and connecting. Children ages 10 and up: an all-day camp experience with games, organized activities, time to connect and lots of FUN! Children ages birth – 9 years: childcare is provided, including games, activities, movies, plus lots of hugs/cuddles and time for resting.
How much does it cost to attend?
There is no fee to attend the conference. On the date of the conference, breakfast and lunch will be provided. Stipends, in the form of a check, will be mailed to each family after the conclusion of the conference. If you live within 50 miles of the conference, you will receive a stipend which will help cover costs of transportation. If you live more than 50 miles from the conference, you will receive a stipend which will help cover costs of transportation and hotel.
How do we register?
Registration is easy and can be completed online. If you prefer to complete it with paper/pen, please request and it will be mailed to you, for you to complete and return.
What sessions are offered?
A variety of sessions are offered so that the needs of all of our parents can be met. Some parents have questions around young children, while other parents are concerned about their child transitioning into adulthood, then there are parents with questions about their child who has other disabilities along with a visual impairment. SFC offers help for all of these stages in life. Examples of past sessions: Assistive Technology, Music Therapy, self-care for families, teaching my child independent living skills, and guardianship.
More questions? Please reach out to Deena Recker, Family Services Consultant, at 641-814-3428 or deena.recker@iaedb.org.
Registration
Testimonials
“Attending the Spring Conference is the most helpful event we’ve attended in learning ways to support our son, Jude, who is legally blind due to optic nerve atrophy. I first thought we should wait to get a further diagnosis before attending, and I’m glad we did not wait! There are all kinds of kiddos and families who attend with at least one common item being a child who is blind or visually impaired. The connections we make to other families are priceless. Others have traveled these paths before us, and this conference gives us the tools to use their experience and those of each other to help our kids be successful. Don’t forget to also ask about the stipend–they pay you to attend. I hope to see you there!”
Sarah Corkery, Cedar Falls
“There are many reasons why our family attends the Spring Family conference. First, attendees and staff at the Spring Conference are not judgmental. All of the parents that come are from different backgrounds and have different needs for their children. Most of us have something in common more than just receiving services from IESBVI. Many of us have had to endure the general public not understanding the needs of our kids, and many of us struggle with educational needs in our schools. During the spring conference you will: make new friends, get educational ideas, find new resources, hear inspiring stories, have fun, play and laugh. You will come to realize that you are not alone in the struggles that you may face in dealing with vision loss and other disabilities. There are many families similar to yours across Iowa.”
Brook Nolin, Spencer