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How Serbia’s first low vision assessment center supports CVI awareness
Did you know that two children with the same type of blindness, or visual impairment, can have totally different ways they see the world around them? That’s right.
Did you know that two children with the same type of blindness, or visual impairment, can have totally different ways they see the world around them? That’s right. Blindness is a spectrum — as is disability —which is why Perkins works with local partners in 17 countries to help children with disabilities find their place in the world.
In June of 2022, Serbia opened its first ever Low Vision Assessment Center at a Perkins model program, the Dragan Kovacevic special education school in Belgrade. Leading up to its opening, Perkins spent two years training and mentoring teachers from the Kovacevic school in best practices while also supporting eight other Serbian-based programs.
In addition to assessing children’s vision, this center educates parents and teachers on how children use their vision, and ways to make learning and play accessible.
Sustainable and scalable model of education
As the first low vision assessment center in Serbia, high ranking government officials attended its opening and continue monitoring its progress. Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia’s government, Branko Ruzic states:
The goal [was] to find the most efficient way to address the needs of children and to use the most adequate teaching methods.”
Branko Ruzic, Serbia Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister
Following the center’s opening, Serbia’s First Lady, Tamara Vucic, contributed to this project by presenting at a first of its kind conference, “Functional Vision Assessment and Visual Function.”
Perkins builds sustainable and scalable models of good quality education for children with disabilities around the world. When Perkins partners with the government on a project like this, essential services become available to a whole community, and its broader region.
Uncovering the leading cause of childhood blindness
By 2024, the low vision assessment center conducted over 160 assessments, where 40% of children had the leading cause of childhood blindness, CVI (Cortical/Cerebral Vision Impairment). This brain-based impairment has been rising in developed countries and it is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
The CVI Center at Perkins School for the Blind is a global leader in addressing this issue. By developing and sharing resources for families, teachers, and medical professionals CVI awareness continues to grow worldwide. Through Perkins and Serbia’s first low vision assessment center partnership, communities in Serbia have access to the most up-to-date information and interventions on CVI.
Without this support, children with CVI would continue to be misdiagnosed and unable to access the world around them.
Help children with disabilities find their place in the world.
Perkins School for the Blind teams up with partners all over the world to unlock opportunities for children with disabilities in school and life. Your support allows us to continue this transformative work.
