By Marisol Carmona

The Transition to the Teen Years

If your child has reached the high school years, you have likely already discovered that helping a child navigate life as a blind/low vision (BLV) individual comes with challenges that are not always “as easy as pie.” Now your child has entered the exciting, though sometimes tricky, teen years, and it may feel like you have been dropped into a whole new dimension. Hormones are raging, fitting in becomes a daily priority, and you keep hearing words like transition planning, independence, and adulthood.

Beyond wishing there were a step-by-step manual to guide you through these years, your focus is simple: you want your child to be happy, to thrive, and to proudly walk across that stage at the end of senior year. At least that is how my mom felt when she was in your shoes. At this point you may be wondering, How can I best support my student while they’re in high school so they are well-prepared for an independent life after high school?

My Personal Transition Story

My name is Marisol Carmona. I am a coach for parents of BLV youth at the Perkins School for the Blind’s Transition Center. In addition to guiding families through the transition journey, I am also congenitally blind. While I eventually earned a college degree, moved to the big city, secured a full-time job, and later completed a Master’s degree in Social Work, my own transition to college was far from smooth.