Kids with CVI doing what they love

Girl with CVI sitting at picnic table outside in the woods, smiling up at the sky. The sun is lighting up her face.

Children with CVI are incredible.

It’s easy to get into the deficit mindset when it comes to CVI. We know the CVI visual behaviors and characteristics can affect our child’s ability to fully access their world. We know the crushing feeling when progress is so hard. We’re raising kids in a society that is not fully accessible. But think about how children with CVI build compensatory skills to find workarounds and figure out how to navigate all that life throws at them.

Children with CVI are neurodiverse, and their perspective on the world is unique and valuable. They do things differently and use all the multisensory information available to problem solve, learn, and be active in their world. And our kids with CVI persevere through some of the most difficult challenges. They always find a way.

Anyone working with children with CVI must understand and value the whole child—their motivations, interests, abilities, problem-solving skills, how they learn, and all the love and light they share.

CVI Now asked parents to share photos of their children doing what they love and living their best life.

Krish shows off his rock climbing skills.

Marley rides his four-wheeler.

Savannah crushes the waves.

Girl with CVI on an adaptive surf board riding the waves

Kyle lights up the sparklers.

Logan cruises around the neighborhood.

Boy with CVI riding his adapted trike down the street. And he's got a big smiling on his face.

Madison plays with her favorite toy.

James enjoys apple picking.

A women and handing an apple to a boy while standing in an apple orchard.

The moments of happiness and joy, even on those tough days, are just as important as any other progress point for our kids with CVI. Children with CVI have so many gifts to offer this world. In the CVI Now Parents group, one parent shared a photo of her child wearing a t-shirt with a statement that so succinctly describes our incredible kids with CVI: “Actually, I can.”

Learn more about Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment with our guide to CVI. Explore the Voices of our CVI community: Blogs, websites, a podcast, and a book from CVI parents and individuals with CVI.