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September is Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Awareness Month. CVI is a brain-based visual impairment, the leading cause of childhood blindness and low vision in the United States according to a 2024 Pediatrics Clinical Report. It’s caused by damage or impairment to the parts of the brain responsible for visual processing. Since the eyes may appear healthy, observation of the child’s behavior, such as difficulty recognizing faces or objects as well as challenges with visual tracking and attention, can assist in confirming the diagnosis of this condition. Learn more about CVI and find resources on Perkins School for the Blind’s website CVI Now.

Make a CVI-Friendly Tactile Book

Children with CVI are attracted to bright colors and shiny objects. Based on a simple rhyme, Three Bright Pom Poms is the perfect tactile book that you can make for your child who has CVI because the pom poms are made of mylar and they make a crinkling sound when your child touches them.

Tactile books are board books with fabric, fur, leather, or other materials glued to each page. They introduce very young children to the concept of a book with pages. They also help children who are blind or have low vision learn early tactile skills, which are critical for understanding braille.

Learn how to make our Three Bright Pom Poms book HERE.

Besides mealtime, feeding trays are great for playtime because they keep toys within your child’s reach…until your child discovers how to push them off the tray.

Dropping toys on the floor is a wonderfully fun game – and an important part of development. It allows children to practice using their hands to grasp and release toys, understand object permanence, and engage caregivers in back-and-forth interactions. These skills are an important part of learning, but sometimes parents just need those toys to stay put!



One of our A Shared Vision parents created an easy way to keep toys on her son’s tray with cell phone ring holders, coiled lanyards, and carabiner hooks. She stuck the ring holders to the underside of the tray and attached the carabiner hooks from one end of the lanyard to the ring and the other end of the hook to the toy. The toys don’t fall to the floor anymore, and they stay within her son’s reach.

This mom was on to something because now you can find silicone toy straps, leashes, and baby cup catchers on Amazon for under $10.

Board books for very young children with CVI are now more widely available, even on Amazon. They have high-contrast black and white images and simple designs featuring animals and everyday objects. For older children you can find CVI-friendly coloring books. Shop HERE.

When a child turns three, A Shared Vision’s teachers no longer provide early intervention services to their families. Some of these children will start preschool in their local school districts or in a private program.

The very thought of being separated from their three-year-old makes some parents uncomfortable, especially when their child has low vision. HERE are some ways you can ease the transition into preschool and prepare both you and your child for the new experience.

Fall is just around the corner, and so are pumpkins! Try this Pumpkin Fluff dip with cookies, graham crackers, or fruit. You and your child can dip your fingers into it or use it like finger paint on a plate or tray. A little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, the flavor appeals to picky eaters, and as the recipe’s title suggests, the texture is fluffy. Make 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