Children’s Services

Children’s Services assist children between the ages of 3 and 12 who are blind or low vision with building academic skills, increasing self-confidence, and preparing for future success in school and life. We also assist with addressing the needs of children who are legally blind and who have multiple disabilities.

Youth age 13 and older are referred to Youth Services, which may provide Pre-employment Transition Services and Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Services to support their journey toward independence and employment. These students may be eligible for the Summer Teen program, which emphasizes and reinforces independent living skills, orientation and mobility, Braille skills, vocational interests, and interviewing skills for employment.

Eligibility

Services may be available to children who:

  • Are between the ages of 3 and 12
  • Have documentation of legal blindness
    • Have a central visual acuity of 20/200 in the better eye even with the best corrective lenses (they see at 20 feet what a person without low vision would see at 200 feet), OR
    • Have a visual field of 20 degrees or less (they see objects within 20 degrees of the direction they are facing while a person without low vision would see objects within 180 degrees), OR
  • Have documentation of a progressive eye condition that may result in legal blindness within 24 months

Documentation of legal blindness or progressive eye condition should be current (within the past 12 months).

Services

Each child receives services tailored to their unique needs, with a focus on developing independence to support success in high school, college, and beyond. Services may include:

  • Counseling and guidance
  • Family counseling and support
  • Adjustment to blindness
  • Summer programs
  • Independent living skills training and instruction
  • Socialization and recreational activities
  • Information, referral, and coordination with community resources
  • Assistive technology

Children’s Services counselors may coordinate with several agencies and organizations to ensure all issues are appropriately addressed.

Community-based early intervention programs can assist families with obtaining appropriate services from professionals with specialized training in low vision and early childhood development.

Our counselors conduct assessments to identify the specific needs of children and their families. Family input is an important part of the process. The assessments help with the development of an Individualized Service Plan, which outlines goals and determines which services will be provided. The plan is updated each year.

While children are in school, our counselors may attend their annual Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings. Depending on individual need, children may receive assistive devices and instruction on how to use them, such as mobility canes, talking calculators, Braille rulers, and other items to assist with completing school assignments. The items needed will vary depending on individual abilities and needs.