Early Childhood Services

for Children with Visual Impairments or Blindness

This section includes information on the variety of professional services available to families with a child who is blind or visually impaired. Included is general information about service delivery and program planning, as well as resources exploring Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), early intervention, transition to preschool, and preschool services.  Parents will find everything from practical tips and teaching strategies to legislative information and current policy.

• Service Delivery and Program Planning
• Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
• Early Intervention

Service Delivery and Program Planning

Natural Environments: Service and Advocacy for Children Who Are Visually Impaired or Deafblind, Perkins School for the Blind
This 13-page paper outlines some of the key issues in the provision of services in natural environments.  It describes the unique developmental needs of children with visual impairments and offers strategies for services and advocacy. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Characteristics of Types of Service for Infants with Visual Impairment, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
This is a list of typical features in both direct and consultation services.

Determining Type and Amount of Services for Infants, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
This chart offers guidelines to identify whether a child will need direct or consultation services, and with what frequency. 

Early Childhood Services, Lighthouse International
This article offers an introduction to Early Intervention and Preschool Programs, and lists some of the services they typically provide.

Empowering Families of Young Children with Visual Impairments, Council of Exceptional Children, DVIQ
Deborah D. Hatton describes family-centered practices and early intervention for infants and toddlers with visual impairments.  She includes specific suggestions for the Individualized Family Service Plan process and encourages families to become life-long advocates for their children.

Family-Centered Practices for Infants and Young Children with Visual Impairments, Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Visual Impairments
This position paper outlines basic principles in early intervention and preschool services for infants and young children with visual impairments.

Providing Early Intervention Services in Natural Environments: Concerns and Tips, Georgia Sensory Assistance Project
Physical Therapist Paula Forney describes some of the challenges of providing services in natural environments and shares tips for success.

Questions to Ask about Preschool and Early Intervention Services for Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired, National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities
Dr. Kay Ferrell shares a checklist for monitoring the progress and well-being of a preschool child with blindness or visual impairment, and discusses the needs of parent and family members. (Microsoft Word document)

Service Guidelines: For Young Children Who Are Blind And Visually Impaired (Includes Deaf-Blind Guidelines)
These guidelines are designed to help professionals understand appropriate assessment and early intervention for children who are blind or visually impaired. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

The Importance of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), Council for Exceptional Children - DVI Quarterly
Dr. Ellen Trief offers an introduction to the IFSP, including its components and team members who may be involved in the process.

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), Family Connect for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
This article introduces families to the IFSP process by explaining what it is, what services are provided, what is included in the plan, and how it supports the family.

Individualized Family Service Plan, US Department of Education
This section of the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) website presents the legislation regarding the IFSP.

Early Intervention

This section addresses the developmental characteristics and needs of infants and toddlers (birth through three years of age).  It includes information on best practices and curriculum ideas.

A "Cheat Sheet" for New Teachers of the Visually Impaired Working with Infants, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Nancy Toelle discusses the role of the Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) in determining eligibility, providing services to infants and families, and developing an IFSP.

Developing an Early Years Curriculum, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
This page describes one team's efforts to develop special resource packets to serve a range of children.  They modified the Oregon Project, designed resource packets for use with children with additional disabilities, and created materials to develop tactual skills. 

Early Intervention, Blind Babies Foundation
This page provides an excellent overview of the impact of vision loss on a child's development and the role of early intervention in addressing each child's needs.

Early Intervention Services, Family Connect for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
This introduction describes the purpose of early intervention, the support for families, types of services, and information on where services can be found.

The Experiences of a Baby Who is Blind, Vision Australia
This article examines the importance of language and experience in helping a baby to make sense of the world.  It offers suggestions for creating security, encouraging curiosity, and providing feedback.

Infant Teacher of the Visually Impaired: Roles and Responsibilities, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
This document lists the roles and responsibilities of teachers of the visually impaired working with infants.

Infants and Toddlers with Visual Impairment, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
This companion guide to Preschool Children with Visual Impairments emphasizes the birth-to-3 age group. The two handbooks should be used together, since many basic ideas and foundational information in the original Preschool handbook are not repeated here. The titles provide a continuum of information and ideas for young children with visual impairments.

Infants and Toddlers with Visual Impairments: Suggestions for Early Interventionists, Council for Exceptional Children
This article identifies some of the key features of exemplary services, issues specific to visual impairments, and suggested strategies.

The Unique Needs of the Visually Impaired Infant, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
This article describes the impact of vision loss and lists the instructional needs in each area of development.

Organizations and Resources to Explore: Early Intervention

Resources, FPG Early Intervention Training Center for Infants and Toddlers with Visual Impairments: University of North Carolina
This training center supports college and university programs that prepare personnel who work with infants and toddlers with visual impairments and their families. The FPG website offers professional development modules, extensive topical bibliographies and presentations.

Early Intervention Providers, National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
NICHCY offers information on a wide range of topics, including Part C of IDEA, providing family-centered care, opportunities for professional development, and resources on specific disabilities.

Help for Babies (0 to 3), National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
These pages include information on early intervention, developing an IFSP, effective practices, and parent participation.

Perkins Programs for Early Childhood

Early Intervention, Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins offers home-based and on-campus programs for infants and toddlers who are visually impaired or deafblind.

Preschool, Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins' preschool program assesses each child's needs and creates an individualized program of education, teaming with clinical specialists and with parents on a coordinated home-school program.