Empowering Parents at the Blind Children’s Center

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With National Parents’ Day (July 27) approaching, Blind Children’s Center (BCC) celebrates the parents and caregivers who are the heart of every child’s progress. Parenting a child who is blind or visually impaired brings challenges that require not only love, but also knowledge and support. That is where BCC comes in, helping parents not only get through the day, but feel equipped to shape their child’s future.

At BCC, our goal is to uplift parents as partners and leaders. Our monthly Coffee Club provides more than caffeine, it offers a trusted space where parents can access resources, navigate systems like Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and build relationships with others who understand their journey. These peer-to-peer connections are key for moments of celebration and uncertainty.

“My family really appreciated and chose BCC for that feeling of arms wrapped around you in a time of difficult learning,” said BCC Board Member Dr. Melissa Contreras, who is the older sister of a BCC alumna. “The support and parent groups helped us navigate what it meant to raise a child with visual impairments, and we never felt like we were doing it alone.”

Beyond Coffee Club, BCC hosts Parent Groups in English and Spanish, offering practical information on topics like mental health, Medi-Cal and the preschool curriculum. The ten-week Abriendo Puertas (Spanish for “Opening Doors”) course goes a step further, helping caregivers harness their cultural identity and personal experiences to become powerful advocates in the classroom and beyond. And just this June, BCC launched a new initiative: Raising Dads — a group led by BCC dad Jason Ano to support and uplift father-figures in our community.

“Because of my kids, I became an adult, but Blind Children’s Center made me into a parent,” said Jason. “That transformation is what inspired me to step up and lead. I wanted to help create that same support system for other dads who are on the same journey I was.”

At BCC, we believe empowered parents create confident kids. This National Parents’ Day, we celebrate not just the love our families give, but their growth, resilience and the community they create together.

For more information about family services, please visit blindchildrenscenter.org/our-family-services.