Infant Program

The CCVI Infant Program is a comprehensive, individualized educational program for infants and toddlers who are visually impaired and blind, including those who have additional disabilities. We focus on developing all senses by encouraging listening, smelling, touching and movement, and maximizing functional vision. A multidisciplined approach is used to provide a systematic program of planned learning experiences.

The Infant Team is composed of a director/nurse, teachers, occupational therapists, speech pathologist, and a social worker who all meet weekly to staff children and to collaborate on treatment.

Programming is predominantly carried out in the natural environment or in the child's home with teachers and therapists as well as at the center. Assistance in the implementation of appropriate strategies and activities, as well as valuable support and education, is provided to the parents and caregivers in their adjustment to the emotional aspects of raising a child who is visually impaired or blind.

Infant Program Goals

1. Provide educational and emotional support to families of a child with a visual impairment.
2. Assess, monitor and maximize functional vision so that each child can reach his/her full potential.
3. Teach compensatory strategies as appropriate.
4. Monitor overall development as it relates to normal child development while anticipating common hurdles facing infants and toddlers with visual impairments.
5. Provide a means for families to connect and to share experiences through parent group meetings and through the facilitation of appropriate contacts.
6. Work with the service coordinator and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team to meet the individual needs of each child and family served.