Hello, For those in the US, I hope that you had a relaxing and joyful Thanksgiving in these challenging times. I know all of us worldwide are being impacted by COVID in small and large ways. This includes our children with visual impairments including those with additional disabilities and deafblindness who are receiving early intervention, preschool services, school age services, and transition services. You’ve probably already seen at least one email or post asking if you are a family member, guardian, teacher of students with visual impairments, or O&M specialist that you complete the second *Access and Engagement survey <https://www.accessengagement.com/about.html> *which is very different than the spring survey. Because as we all know, 9 months down the line things have continued to change with COVID and its impact on all of us. We need to understand those changes for our children and one way to do this is through gathering data through the survey. If you have completed the survey THANK YOU! *WHY SHOULD YOU SPEND 30-45 MINUTES TAKING A SURVEY?* I’ve been asked why someone should take the survey as we’ve all be surveyed so much. I know it’s long! I know you’re only one person and you’re overwhelmed and tired. I hear you, but let me share my perspective. In our spring survey we gathered data about 455 children and 1,028 TVIs and O&M specialists that can be used by families to help their school districts understand the challenges their child and family are facing, used by professionals to advocate for resources with their administration, assist as individuals work to impact policy decisions, guide administrators as they make financial decisions, and inform companies as they design and improve technology. The report <https://www.afb.org/research-and-initiatives/education/access-engagement-study> has a lot of recommendations and the data to back those up. If we are going to continue to advocate for an inclusive, engaging, and accessible education for children with visual impairments including those with additional disabilities and deafblindness, we need more voices. With 48 hours to go, we are not near the 1,432 responses from the spring. Please consider adding your voice. Please also forward this message to others, including families. Let each individual decide if they wish to take the survey that closes Monday morning. I’ve written a couple of pieces that might be helpful to you and others as you think about if you should take 30-45 minutes of your time this weekend to complete the survey. How COVID-19 is Affecting Students with Visual Impairments and Their Educators <https://www.educationdive.com/news/how-covid-19-is-affecting-students-with-visual-impairments-and-their-educat/589696/> Education Dive, November 25, 2020 This op-ed discusses the importance of education access for children with visual impairments. Take the Second Access and Engagement Survey: Together We Can Work to Make Changes <https://www.afb.org/blog/entry/take-access-engagement-survey-together-we-make-changes> November 19, 2020 Quotes from professionals are used to highlight the importance of family members, guardians, TVIs and O&M specialists taking the time to complete the second Access and Engagement survey. We Need Your Voice: Studying the Impact of COVID-19 on Education for Blind and Low Vision Children <https://www.afb.org/blog/entry/we-need-your-voice> November 16, 2020 Written to share with family members and guardians, this blog post uses quotes from family members/guardians to illustrate both the successes and challenges being faced by children with visual impairments and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. It Takes a Village: Join the Access and Engagement Village and Advocate for the Education of Students with Visual Impairments <https://www.afb.org/blog/entry/it-takes-village-access-engagement> November 5, 2020 This blog post presents ideas for how the results of the first Access and Engagement report can be used to ensure students with visual impairments have equal access to education. If you prefer to listen to a podcast, check out my November 1, 2020 chat with Emily Coleman on the Sense of Texas <https://www.podbean.com/site/EpisodeDownload/PBF0DFD5JFQTG>. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this message. I wish you, and all those important to you, good health and joy as we move towards closing out 2020 and into what I hope will be a year that brings us an end to this pandemic. Penny *L. Penny Rosenblum, Ph.D. * Director of Research American Foundation for the Blind 1401 South Clark Street Suite 730 Arlington, VA 22202 prosenblum@afb.org Direct Phone: 202-469-6837 www.afb.org *I work at home in Tucson, Arizona which is currently on Mountain time*.