OUR MISSION

Every child with CVI has a right to life-changing access.

The time is now to confront Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) — because we know we can help children with CVI learn to access their world and define their success with timely diagnosis, targeted interventions, trained teachers, and effective services and education.

We are boldly addressing the CVI crisis through education, innovation, and collaboration. Our approach is research-based and whole-child-focused.

Teacher works with young student on a tactile lesson

#1 causeCVI is the leading cause of childhood blindness and low vision.

1 in 30kids in mainstream classrooms may have CVI-related visual difficulties.

Less than 20%of kids with CVI in the US have a diagnosis. CVI is alarmingly missed and under diagnosed.

Our CVI services & resources

We are confronting the CVI crisis through groundbreaking tools, online learning, robust and current resources, and collaboration with medical professionals, educators, families, and people with CVI.

A visually impaired young boy sits with a flower in a wheel chair.

Expert-led resources

Visit the go-to website for CVI, download our groundbreaking CVI assessment tool and explore our CVI interventions library.

A mother crouches down, hugging her young, smiling son outside in front of a building entrance.

Building community

We’re here to support and empower families, educators, and providers to help improve outcomes for people with CVI.

A girl points to a slant board with her teacher

CVI learning

Based in the brain, rather than the eyes, every person with CVI experiences their world differently.

Stories & resources

The latest CVI Center news delivered to you

Subscribe to the CVI Center newsletter and be the first to know about the latest in CVI news, research, resources, and stories.

Subscribe
By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Meet our team

  • Headshot of Ilse Willems wearing glasses and smiling

    Ilse Willems, M.Ed and TVI

    Senior Director at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Ilse
  • Henry being hugged by his mother, Rachel

    Rachel Bennett

    Director of CVI Now at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Rachel
  • Headshot of Mary Zatta wearing red glasses and smiling

    Mary Zatta

    Director of CVI Training at the CVI Center at Perkins, Director of Israel Programs
    Meet Mary
  • Nicole Homerin, M.Ed.

    Director of CVI Education, the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Nicole
  • A blonde woman with hair right past her shoulders smiling in the front hall of Perkins.

    Sylvia Mangan, SLP

    CVI Coordinator at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Sylvia
  • A woman in a black shirt and chin length hair smiling.

    Kayla Matthews, M,S., BCBA

    CVI Coordinator at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Kayla
  • Headshot of Lacey Smith, smiling wearing bright red

    Lacey Smith

    CVI Parent Community Manager at CVI Now
    Meet Lacey
  • A photo of a woman with long brown hair and a bright blue shawl smiling.

    Ali Mahady

    Manager of CVI Outreach and Engagement at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Ali
  • A woman with shoulder length grey hair, glasses and a maroon shirt smiling in front of a city landscape.

    Robin Sitten

    Program Manager at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Robin
  • A photo of Kaitlyn smiling in a blue shirt.

    Kaitlyn Dushay

    Product Manager at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Kaitlyn
  • A photo of Jackie Swisshelm smiling in the front museum area of the Howe building.

    Jackie Swisshelm

    Digital Content and Design Strategist at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Jackie
  • Lauren Moquin

    Program Manager at the CVI Center at Perkins
    Meet Lauren

We’re building a CVI community

Rachel Bennett CVI Now

“Raising a child with a different normal means I am building a new world for my son every day. It’s incredible that my personal journey has brought me to Perkins as the Content and Community Manager for CVINow.org. We are building CVI Now into an essential website and a dynamic online community for CVI families.”