Lea nuestro boletín en español

If you ask parents raising a child who is blind or has low vision what their child’s favorite toy is many of them would say their “Little Room.” A Little Room is more than a single toy; it’s a piece of equipment that provides their child with a safe environment for independent play and exploration with many different objects. Playing in a Little Room supports the development of intentional movement (such as reaching), their understanding of space, and early object concepts.

“The Little Room has been a safe, exploratory play spot for Theo (shown in the photo) since he was an infant,” said his mom, Lydia. “We expanded it as he grew bigger, too.”

The Little Room was designed by Dr. Lilli Nielsen, a developmental psychologist and preschool teacher, who worked for over 43 years with children and adults with multiple disabilities at Denmark’s National Institute for Blind and Partially Sighted Children and Youth. She found that children with blindness or disabilities are more willing to tactilely explore objects when they are in control of an activity and can anticipate what might happen. This is called “active learning.” You can learn more about active learning HERE.

A Shared Vision’s teachers often provide families with Little Rooms, or you can build one with your teacher. Learn more about designing and playing with a Little Room HERE.



The Best Holiday Gift Guide

A Shared Vision families often ask us for recommendations on what to buy for their very young child who is blind or has low vision for Christmas or their birthday. We’ve got the list of perfect sensory toys HERE!



We love the light box! A simple form of assistive technology, the light box can be used to help a child who is blind or has low vision develop an awareness of light, color, and objects. It can also help a child develop visual attention, tracking and scanning skills, and eye-hand coordination.

Flat and easily portable, this LED lightbox measures 13.7 x 10.2 inches, and it comes with a rechargeable battery. Six settings for brightness and three for color tone allow you to adjust the lightbox to your child's preferences or level of tolerance. Best of all, it's only $20. Order HERE.

National Braille Press’s Christmas cards are now available. This year, wish your friends and family “comfort and joy” with a cozy log cabin decorated for the holidays. A pack of 10 cards is $20. Order HERE.

It's apple season! With only five ingredients, this Cinnamon Apple Cake is easy to make. The secret ingredient is crushed cinnamon graham crackers, which are called “meltables” because they break apart and dissolve easily in your child’s mouth. Helping your child break the crackers in half, putting them inside a Ziploc bag, and crushing them with your hands help build your child’s tactile skills. Try this sensory recipe HERE.

A Shared Vision is participating in Colorado Gives Day for the eighth year in a row! This annual statewide movement celebrates philanthropy in Colorado through online giving on December 9, 2025. Last year, more than $54 million was raised on Colorado Gives Day to support Colorado nonprofits including A Shared Vision. Why wait until December when you can schedule your donation HERE. If you set up a monthly recurring donation, Colorado Gives Foundation will match up to $100 of your first month’s gift.

Since launching the updated 2025 Vision Screening Protocol© in June, almost 200 professionals from 12 states have completed the training. This rollout was made possible through a $10,000 grant from Disabling Barriers, a nonprofit supporting children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in southern Colorado.

According to Alexis Christman, Disabling Barrier’s executive director, “Your persistence and dedication is truly commendable, and it clearly paid off. The impact A Shared Vision has made in the space of pediatric vision screening protocol and training for medical professionals across Southern Colorado is truly vast and inspiring.”

Sign up to receive a link to the on-demand 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