Early Intervention
Below is a list of topics you'll find in this section. Click on a title to jump to a specific topic.
Full-Text Articles
Web-Based Organizations and Resources
Full-Text Articles
Infants and Toddlers with Visual Impairment
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/infant/index.htm
A companion to Preschool Children with Visual Impairments (above), with specific emphasis on the birth-to-3 age group. The two handbooks should be used together, since many basic philosophies and ideas expressed in the original Preschool handbook will not be repeated in this manual. The titles provide a continuum of information and ideas for young children with visual impairments.Early Intervention: DB-LINK
http://dblink.org/lib/topics/single_topic.cfm?topic=Early%20Intervention&d_topic=Early%20Intervention
This section of the DB-LINK website has several chapters from a text edited by Deborah Chen on "Effective Early Intervention Practices" for children with visual impairment including those with additional disabilities. Information is rich and targeted to parents as well as Early Intervention providers.Almost 100 Motor Activities for Infants and Toddlers: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/summer01/motor.htm
Initial orientation and mobility lessons should be with and for the parents of children with visual impairments. This list contains suggestions for very easy activities for parents to do with their young children who are blind or visually impaired.Gross Motor Development in Infants with Multiple Disabilities: DB-LINK
http://www.dblink.org/lib/topics/chensnell.htm
This chapter from a document on "Effective Early Intervention Practices" covers the various gross motor skills from head control through walking. It examines how these skills occur in normal development, then looks at ways to adapt the environment as well as interactions with an infant who has multiple disabilities to encourage these developmental skills. Each of these activities will allow the infant to experience normal movement to increase the likelihood that typical movement patterns will develop.How Babies Learn
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=36&TopicID=165&DocumentID=2055
Understanding how your baby experiences the world; activities for encouraging exploration.Unique Needs of Children With Visual Impairments
http://www.blindbabies.org/unique.htm
Explains the importance of early intervention and recommends resources.Service Guidelines: For Young Children Who Are Blind And Visually Impaired (Includes Deaf-Blind Guidelines)
http://www.morgan.k12.il.us/isd/hvc/documents/guidelines_vision.pdf
Guidelines for understanding appropriate assessment and early intervention for children who are blind or visually impaired.First Steps: A Handbook for Teaching Young Children Who Are Visually Impaired
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/16/50/18.pdf
Advice and information for parents, teachers and caregivers of children with visual impairments. Includes comparisons of development of infants with and without visual impairments.
Web-Based Organizations and Resources
Resources, FPG Early Intervention Training Center for Infants and Toddlers with Visual Impairments: University of North Carolina
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/%7Eedin/resources.cfm
The mission of this five-year project was to develop resources that build the capacity of colleges and universities to prepare personnel to serve infants and toddlers with visual impairments and their families. The resource section of the website is full of information including professional development modules, extensive topical bibliographies and presentations.Hadley School for the Blind Family Education Program
http://www.hadley.edu/2_d_FE_courses.asp
Free correspondence courses for parents of blind children. Topics include child development, the importance of play, mobility, parenting children with multiple disabilities, and fostering social skills.WonderBaby.org
http://www.wonderbaby.org/
A wealth of information assembled by a parent of a child with visual impairment. Many full-text articles and downloads.