According to her mom Chloe, “Ella is an amazing girl who lights up the room!” Like many children with a visual impairment, her journey started more darkly. She was born with a RARB gene variance that causes microphthalmia in her left eye, bilateral colobomas, nystagmus, and mild optic nerve hypoplasia. She’s also nearsighted.
They began working with their Early Intervention Teacher of the Visually Impaired from A Shared Vision in the fall of 2020. Although they were specifically looking for an O&M specialist, their teacher became a great resource for so many other things. “She has provided us with strategies to help motivate Ella as well as meet her individual needs,” explains Chloe. “One recent suggestion was using our phones to zoom in on animals at the zoo so Ella could see them better. This was such a helpful tool and one we use now on every visit to the zoo!”
This September, Ella is attending two preschools four half days a week! “Our teacher from A Shared Vision connected us with TVIs from our home district and helped us navigate the process of transitioning from early intervention to school-based programming,” explains Chloe. She also helped them make an “All About Ella” book to share with her teachers. “Our teacher has always encouraged us that we as parents know what is best for Ella. She has sat alongside us as we have advocated for Ella, and I could not be more appreciative. Receiving any diagnosis for your little one can be worrisome and daunting, but having a community of family, friends, and providers has been the biggest blessing," adds Chloe.
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Children with visual impairments use all of their senses for learning. Ordinary household objects that vary in texture, weight, smell, sound, and color are perfect “toys” for engaging the senses. This easy-to-make sensory “curtain” is a great example of a simple toy that has color, sound, and texture. An easel works perfectly for holding the sheet upright on the tray of a chair or stander so your child can look for and touch the beads. You can also experiment by attaching other materials on a cookie sheet, like Slinkys, curling ribbon, or kitchen utensils. Learn how to make our beaded sensory curtain HERE.
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Gratitude Is Our Attitude
Once again, we are honored that two foundations in Colorado have recognized the value of early intervention programs like ours with two new awards! The Buell Foundation’s grant of $16,000 will allow us to continue providing early intervention vision services to our families on the Western Slope, Alamosa, Greeley, Sterling and other parts of rural Colorado. Prior to A Shared Vision, rural families had to travel to Denver or go without the services their child needs.
We were also awarded $8,000 from the Erikson Fund of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation. This grant will allow us to further our mission of identifying and supporting very young children with visual impairments so that they may discover their brightest future.
We are so grateful for the support from these foundations!
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Ask the Expert -- What Is the Expanded Core Curriculum? |
When your child transitions to school-based programming, they will learn the same academic subjects, like English and Math, as their peers. In order to master these subjects (known as the “core curriculum”) as well as to eventually live and work independently, your child will need to learn an additional set of skills known as the Expanded Core Curriculum. The nine areas of the ECC, including Orientation & Mobility, Sensory Efficiency, Independent Living, and Social Interaction, focus specifically on the unique learning needs of children who are visually impaired. Learn more about the ECC HERE.
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Rate Us on Great Nonprofits |
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If you love our work, then tell the world! Stories about how A Shared Vision supported you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community. GreatNonprofits – the #1 source of nonprofit stories and feedback – is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with their 2021 Top-Rated List. Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes three minutes! Go HERE to get started!
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A Shared Vision is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the leading provider of in-home and community early intervention vision services in Colorado. We inspire and empower families to nurture the development of their very young children who are blind or visually impaired so that all children may discover their brightest future.
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