Who can you

contact for help?

Contacts:

Does your child

have a visual
impairment?
Signs to look for
o
o

o
o
o

Staring at things without

purpose
Eyes that do not move in
unison when looking
at/following the movement of
an object or face
Crossed eyes, eyes that turn
out or in, eyes that flutter
from side to side or up and
down, or eyes that do not
seem to focus
Eyes that bulge, dance, or
bounce in rapid rhythmic
movements
Pupils that are different sizes,
in the wrong place on the
eye, or appear to be white
Repeated shutting or
covering of one eye
Consistent turning of head to
see an object
Frequent bumping into things
or knocking things over, or
lack of reaching the
crawling/moving milestone
Frequent squinting, blinking,
eye-rubbing, or face
crunching

Bureau of Blindness and Visual

Services Central Office
1521 N. Sixth St.
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-787-3201 800-622-2842
866-830-7327 TTY
Web:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal
/server.pt/community/blindness_an
d_visual_services/10367

Make
Connections:
FamilyConnect
Email:
familyconnect@afb.net
Web:
www.familyconnect.org

Early
Intervent
ion and
Visual
Impairm

During Early Intervention

TVIs work with your children to:

Early Intervention may

be right for your
child
What is early
intervention?
Early intervention is a system of
coordinated services that promotes
the child's age-appropriate growth
and development and supports
families during the
critical early years.
An effective early intervention
program can help meet your child's
needs in five primary areas:

developing ideas, concepts,

and knowledge

physical development

communication

social and emotional

development

adaptive development

Make clear assessments of your

childs needs

Introduce and conduct a variety

of activities to promote use of
remaining vision

Expose your child to different

toys, tools, textures and
activities

Encourage movement and

stability in your child

Reduce distractions in your

childs life

Foster independence in your

child

This child is utilizing alternative toys to help

promote functional vision.

What other professionals may work

with my child during early
intervention?
Depending on your childs needs, some
of these professionals who may work
with your child, as well:
o

Orientation & Mobility Specialist

(O&M specialist)

The professionals who will

Physical Therapists (PT)

work with your child are

Occupational Therapists (OT)

Speech Language Pathologist

(SLP)

there for you!

Ask questions, and be willing
to learn.

Who is a TVI?
A TVI (Or Teacher of the Visually
Impaired) is a licensed teacher who has
received certification and training in
meeting the needs of individuals (Birth21) who are blind and visually impaired.
The job of a TVI is to provide direct
and/or consultative services to

Who is an O&M Specialist?

An O&M Specialist teaches concepts,
skills and techniques necessary for a
person with a visual impairment to
travel safely, efficiently and gracefully
through any environment under all
environmental conditions. They do this
by using the individuals remaining
senses to understand their location in
their environment at any given time.