The unique needs of a child who is blind or visually impaired are historically under-served or not served at all. Services are limited in number and scattered throughout the state. Often parents faced with rearing a child whose development is being impacted with vision problems do not know how or where to access such services. The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in an effort to assist these families as they struggle to meet the special needs of an infant or toddler with a visual impairment hosts a Parent-Infant Institute each year.

The Institute is a four-day residential program, offered to parents of children who are visually impaired. The 24th Annual Parent-Infant Institute was held on the ISVI campus in Jacksonville, Illinois,
June 6-9, 2007. Given last minute cancellations, this year’s Institute served thirty-two(32) infants and their families and had three primary goals:

1. to provide parents with information relative to the special needs of a child who is visually impaired,

2. to provide written, formal evaluations and recommendations on individual children,

3. to give parents and children an opportunity to interact with peers.

The goals were achieved through group presentations from experts in the areas of low vision, preschool, early childhood development, occupational therapy, speech and language, orientation and mobility, and individual evaluations/interviews with Institute staff. Each child was evaluated in selected areas of social, fine motor, gross motor, speech and language development, low vision and self-help skills.

Additionally, parents participated in small group discussions and had the opportunity to interact with other parents/children in formal and informal recreation/socialization activities. Finally, due to the component of the Institute aimed at child evaluation, if only one parent was able to attend, a relative or professional who knows the child was encouraged to accompany the single parent.

The program has historically been recognized by parents and professionals in the field of vision as effectively addressing a vital need. The program draws more applications than can be accommodated by the thirty-six(36) slots made available. This Institute provided the parents with written information and recommendations for their use at home and shared with local education and service agencies involved with their child.

The Institute is a cooperative effort in staffing and funding of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services (Division of Rehabilitation Services), and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.


                           

Objectives / Activities

1.  The Institute served 32 infants who are visually impaired, birth-to-five.

2. The Institute served 60 parents / significant others.

3. An evaluation of the Institute program has been completed.

Parents and other care-givers had an opportunity to discuss the written evaluations with ISVI staff members who participated in the Institute. Staff members have observed the children and were able to offer suggestions to assist parents in recognizing the behaviors their child presents and of cues to their child’s development. Toys which may foster further development were discussed, as were resource materials the parents might examine.

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