Parents and family members of children with cerebral visual impairment, a brain-based visual processing disorder, are far from alone. According to the Boston Children’s Hospital, cerebral/ cortical visual impairment (CVI) is the most common cause of permanent vision loss in children.Despite its prevalence, it isn’t widely understood. Advocating for Your Child Because CVI research is … Continued
Does your child who is blind or visually impaired engage in prolonged eye-pressing? Perhaps you’ve noticed your child aggressively rubbing or poking their eyes with their fingers, knuckles, or fists, and you are concerned or even disturbed. You may wonder why it’s occurring, whether it’s acceptable, and how to address it. If this describes you, please know you are not alone! Let’s take a look at why … Continued
Editor’s note: Join us on June 15, 2021, @ 12:30 pm (EST), for the second of two webinars in which Dr. Alexis G. Malkin, OD, FAAO, and David Bradburn from HumanWare will provide an overview of assistive technology and services that help people with low vision perform everyday tasks. Using the state of Massachusetts as an example, the presenters will illustrate the needs, available services, and funding for 3 different groups, namely: … Continued
Editor’s note: At age 11, Emmet Teran was featured in the documentary film, Going Blind: Coming Out of the Dark About Vision Loss, by Joe Lovett (released in 2010 when Emmet was 13). In this blog Emmet shares how this experience changed his life. Join Emmet and several others in the post-screening panel discussion of … Continued
I’m a strong advocate for Braille literacy. It can bridge the gaps that many people with low vision face. When my parents brought me home from the hospital, they thought I was a very typical, healthy baby and they joyfully expected that very soon I’d learn to recognize their faces and the world around me. … Continued
Hearing shrieks of laughter and commotion outside, Jane peeked through the blinds. Ah, the neighborhood kids are playing soccer on the Biggs’ front yard. New to the street, she didn’t yet know the ages of all the children, but they looked to be between five and eight years old, similar in age to her Theo. … Continued
You + your child’s ophthalmologist + the pediatrician + any necessary therapists + medical specialists who manage any chronic or acute problems = your child’s robust medical professional team. You are a key member. Yet, it isn’t uncommon for parents to feel void of expertise and, therefore, to take a passive role or back seat … Continued
You + your child’s ophthalmologist + the pediatrician + any necessary therapists + medical specialists who manage any chronic or acute problems = your child’s robust medical professional team. You are a key member. Yet, it isn’t uncommon for parents to feel void of expertise and, therefore, to take a passive role or back seat … Continued
Families who have a child who is blind or visually impaired spend much time and energy teaching concepts which would otherwise be learned incidentally, demonstrating self-care and home management skills, addressing accessibility concerns, visiting specialists, attending educational planning meetings, and responding to questions of passersby and family members. Siblings can feel forgotten. Siblings can feel … Continued
If you take a walk down memory lane to recollect your most treasured Easter celebration as a child, what comes to mind? I think about visiting my grandparent’s home in Tampa, Florida, wearing a new-to-me fancy dress that could twirl just so, searching diligently through the grass for plastic (coin-filled) and previously hand painted hard-boiled … Continued