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Babies and toddlers who are blind or visually impaired learn about their environment and where they are in space as they start to move and explore. Teachers who are trained in orientation and mobility help a family learn to encourage a child’s purposeful movement, teach body awareness including body parts, introduce directional concepts, and help their child with an early mobility device such as a push toy or small cane.  

"A cane is an extension of your child’s arms. It allows your child to touch, tap, or scratch different surfaces in their environment and listen to the sounds they make," explains Janet Anderson, an EI-TVI and orientation and mobility specialist from A Shared Vision.

The cane also provides a child's hands with tactile and auditory feedback. This knowledge will help them navigate their school, the outdoors, and unfamiliar areas.

A cane should be introduced in your home before your child is even walking. "That way, your child can explore the shape of the cane, make noise with it, or play games with it. Using a cane is fun!" says Janet. You and your child can make a game out of tapping and scratching objects or surfaces in your home, describing the different sounds and textures, and guessing what the objects are.

When your child becomes more mobile, you and your EI-TVI/ orientation and mobility specialist can help your child practice traveling with the cane in your home. They will learn important landmarks, like the refrigerator, doors, or stairs.

HERE are some ways you and your child can practice traveling around your home just by picking a route, touching or tapping the landmarks along the way, and labeling them with narration.

This sensory recipe is a staple in our teachers’ toolboxes. Pumpkin pie play dough is easy to make, and it’s even edible. Your kitchen will smell fantastic! The secret – it’s flavored with pumpkin pie spice.

Mixing, rolling, and patting the dough will help your child build tactile skills, too. 

Try the recipe HERE.

Fall is a great time to explore the textures, smells, tastes, sounds, and sights of the season! From apples to pumpkins, cooler air to crunchy fall leaves, getting out and having meaningful experiences in the outdoors is a wonderful way for your child to explore nature with their senses and develop important concepts.

We love pumpkins because they come in so many shapes and sizes! While it’s fun to visit a pumpkin patch, it’s even easier to explore a pumpkin in your own home. Learn to play with pumpkins HERE.

Children who are sighted see millions of words before they begin to read. Print is everywhere -- on the packaging of food, toiletries, toys, and hardware. In books, the television, computer, or on your cell phone. When you travel, think about all the signs you read on the way to your destination. A child who is sighted has so much access to print before formal reading instruction begins.

Just like sighted children, children who are blind or visually impaired should have access to braille. Here are some ways you can add braille to your everyday life.

• Label everything in your home with braille, especially the objects your child uses the most. Your EI-TVI can provide a braillewriter and stickers.
• Read braille books together. You can also ask your EI-TVI to add braille stickers to your favorite books.
• Scribbling is fun! Allow your child to scribble with a braillewriter or slate and stylus (with supervision).
• Share with your child what you are writing --grocery lists, notes to friends, etc. Make your child a braille shopping list they can hold when you go the store together.
• Leave braille love notes in your child’s lunch box.
• Show your child braille in the community on signs, elevators, and menus.
• Parents can learn braille, too. It will make your child feel more comfortable if everyone knows how to communicate in the same language. Hadley offers a wide variety of braille workshops including a workbook and audio instruction. Start with “Braille for Everyday Use: Letter Series” so you can start labeling objects in your home.