The last week of June is Helen Keller DeafBlind Awareness Week. Last month, Partners in Child Development’s Early Intervention Services article in Macaroni Kid focused on support for infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing. This month, in honor of Helen Keller’s legacy, we are highlighting how our Early Intervention Program supports families with children aged infant to three in the Greater Lowell communities (Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, and Westford).
At birth, a baby’s hearing is usually screened, but vision for full-term infants is not typically assessed right away because eyesight is still developing. Vision concerns often become apparent over the first few months and may be discussed at a baby’s well-child visit around three months.
Infants born prematurely are often monitored more closely and may be referred directly to Early Intervention Services from the hospital after discharge.
If you have concerns about your infant or toddler’s eyesight, our Early Intervention Services can help. We work with our partners at Perkins School for the Blind to support children and their families with practical strategies that can begin in infancy.
Brief Overview of Early Intervention Services
Our Early Intervention Services are available at no cost to families in all Greater Lowell communities. Services are provided in a child’s natural environment, such as the home or child care setting, during the critical years from birth to age three, when the brain is rapidly developing. Research shows that intervention during this timeframe can make a significant difference for both the child’s life and the family’s life.
Signs of Visual Impairment – What you may notice.
Parents and caregivers may notice that an infant is not tracking movement with their eyes. They may also notice that one eye moves outward (exotropia) or inward (esotropia).
Other signs may become noticeable when an infant starts reaching for objects. A child may reach too far, not far enough, or have difficulty grasping a toy or bottle.
Our Early Intervention Services support both the child and the family as visual impairment may affect development. A child may show delays in crawling or walking, or have difficulty with feeding, play, or hand-eye coordination.
How We Help Visually Impaired Infants and Toddlers
In Massachusetts, families enrolled in an early intervention program for a child with a visual impairment have access to the expertise of Perkins School for the Blind.
When you contact us for a free evaluation, we will coordinate support from teachers at Perkins School for the Blind to be part of your child’s team. When an evaluation is completed then the Service Coordinator along with the family will make a referral to Perkins for additional services.
We are grateful to work with Perkins School for the Blind as they are a valued partner in providing support and services to children and families in the Greater Lowell area. Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) work alongside our EI specialists. Our EI program is unique in the breadth and depth of specialists on our multi-disciplinary team including developmental specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, music therapists, social workers, registered nurses, and speech-language pathologists who support each child and family using a family-centered approach.
Perkins School for the Blind is internationally recognized, and we are grateful to offer families in Greater Lowell access to their expertise alongside our team. Together, we support children with visual impairments from infancy through age three.
This collaborative approach extends resources for families through services and consultations from Perkins School for the Blind. Their programs include toddler playgroups, a low vision clinic on the Perkins campus, and orientation and mobility consultations to help toddlers prepare for a safe transition to preschool. These programs are in addition to the co-visits of the Perkins’ TVI and our EI specialists.
Toddlers are sensory learners, so when one of their senses, such as vision, is impaired, their ability to learn could be different. Early Intervention Services support a child’s rapidly developing brain to learn through other senses.
Examples of how we help visually impaired infants and toddlers work toward developmental milestones include:
- Tracking: Using toys or items with lights, sound, or high contrast. EI will help you learn what strategy works best for your child!
- Hand eye coordination: Playing with high contrast puzzles, slant boards, and sensory puzzles can support a child’s hand eye coordination. EI can help you make these changes to toys you already have!
- Crawling: Creating a clear space and offering a supportive touch can help a vision-impaired child know where their body is in relation to their environment. EI can support you in developing personalized strategies to support your child’s independent movement.
- Play: Supporting your child’s interest and developing play activities to help them learn and grow is individualized for each child. EI can support you in making all types of play accessible for your child!
- Feeding: Engaging in food play can help your child understand what to expect when they bring food to their mouth. EI can support you and your child with exploring foods in a fun and safe way!
Over the years, we have worked with hundreds of children, including many with visual impairments, low vision, blindness in one or both eyes, or CVI. As one example, we supported a child with a rare combination of two genetic variations who sees in black, white, and gray. With support from our team and from Perkins School for the Blind, the child learned to walk, has developed impressive matching skills, a love for learning about the world, and is now thriving in preschool.
During the critical early years of brain development, our Early Intervention Services provide strategies, support, and therapy that help children work toward developmental milestones and support families along the way.
Reach out for a free evaluation. We are here to help.
If you have concerns about an infant or toddler’s development and think a visual impairment may be part of the reason, we encourage you to contact us for a no-cost evaluation. This evaluation is for our team to meet with you and your child and to determine eligibility for our EI services. Once eligible, our EI team along with our partners at Perkins School for the Blind, offer support and services to help children reach developmental milestones and gives families practical strategies to try between visits.
It is understandable to have concerns about a child’s development when a visual impairment is suspected or confirmed. Together, Partners in Child Development’s Early Intervention Program and Perkins School for the Blind provide support, guidance, and strategies in a family-centered approach.
We are proud of the training and investment we have made in our Early Intervention Services team, which helps set our program apart, especially when supporting children with visual impairments. Our work is led by Team Leader Cara McAuliffe, a developmental specialist and child life specialist.
We welcome the opportunity to support you and your family. We encourage you to learn more about Partners in Child Development’s Early Intervention Program.
Learn more about Partners in Child Development’s Early Intervention Program
Reach out for a free evaluation. Getting Started is as Easy as 1-2-3.
