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Jack was born at 28 weeks and spent 104 days in the NICU recovering from two surgeries to remove excess fluid from around his brain. It wasn’t until he was six months old that his parents discovered he had amblyopia, strabismus, and cortical visual impairment. “I felt overwhelmed with his vision diagnoses and had a hard time wrapping my head around what he could actually see,” remembered his mom Katie.

When the family began working with their EI-TVI from A Shared Vision, her visits were more than just about helping Jack use his vision. “Our teacher helped me learn to advocate for Jack, and she provided valuable insights on disability parenting,” recalled Katie. 

Because of his CVI, their teacher showed the family how to make Jack’s environment less complex. They read books with simple illustrations, decluttered his play space, and used shiny objects and bright colors to attract his attention.

Their teacher also prepared the family for when Jack no longer qualified for early intervention services and would transition to a school-based program. “She coached me through what to expect during the school evaluation for services and what I should advocate for him to receive,” shared Katie.

Now at three and a half, Jack goes to school 12 hours a week, where he especially loves getting messy at the art table and learning songs that he sings to his family. He has an amazing team at school and loves to talk about his friends and teachers.

Outside of school, his favorite activity is his power wheelchair. “He wishes it had all terrain wheels because he does not like being told to stay on the concrete!” said Katie. That sounds like sound advice from parents raising a child who likes to let loose once in a while and have fun!

Off to Preschool!

We are so proud of our recent “graduates” like (clockwise from top left) Grant, Everleigh, Christopher, Sofia, Chinmayi, and Theo. When a child turns three, we no longer provide early intervention services to our families. Many enter preschool in their local school districts or enroll in a private program. This transition isn’t always easy for families, but their EI-TVIs from A Shared Vision helped them navigate this process. The key is starting early. 

When they first started working with their EI-TVI, the Talley family lived in a mountain community outside of Boulder, CO. Katie said, “Our teacher shared with me that once Jack was three years old, he would age out of early intervention services and would primarily get services in our local school district or through a private clinic. Our designated school was 25 minutes away, and the next closest option was more than 45 minutes away. We were already commuting six hours a week for his other therapies. So, we ended up moving closer to the clinic and changed school districts. I’m glad we had the time to think about how important this was!”

Learn more about preparing for the transition to school-based programming HERE.

There's so much to experience in the outdoors, and you don't even have to travel very far. Just sitting in your yard or going to a neighborhood park provides lots of opportunities for sensory learning.

Help your child get up close to objects, both natural and manmade items such as play equipment or a mailbox. Sit on the grass. Does it have a smell? Touch a tree and feel the edges of the bark. Listen to the sound of the sprinkler or the voices of other children playing in the park.

Try a little nature walk with this Learning Experience HERE. If your child isn't mobile, you can still make nature accessible with a sensory bin of objects found outside or by just putting a few things on a tray for them to explore with their hands or feet.

Trail mix is an easy, healthy snack when you’re on the road or on a trail. With a variety of ingredients, there’s something sweet or salty, chewy or crunchy, for everyone in the family.

When you do this activity with your child who has low vision, mixing the ingredients is fun, sensory play and encourages exploration with hands and feet. And the measuring, scooping, pouring, and stirring are great for developing tactile skills and developing important concepts. Find the recipe HERE.

If you missed the earlier sessions this summer, no worries! The updated 2025 Vision Screening Protocol© training is now available as an hour-long, self-paced instructional video so it’s even easier to fit into your schedule. Sign up to receive a link to the training HERE and learn how to use the new vision screening tools.

The updated Vision Screening Protocol© is a significant step forward in ensuring all children under the age of three have equitable access to early identification of vision concerns. It is evidence-informed, developmentally appropriate, and user-friendly for the professionals who serve families in early intervention and home-based care.

-- Emily McCourt, MD, Ponzio Family Chair for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital Colorado