Services: Access VIS Program
Program services are provided free of charge to families with children who have visual impairments, from birth to six years of age, in 14 northern and central California counties. We help families identify their needs and collaborate with available community resources. We provide services to children with a wide range of vision impairments from low vision to total blindness, including children with multiple impairments that include vision loss.
Our Vision Impairment Specialists (VIS) help families understand the impact of vision impairment on the growth and development of their child and demonstrate activities that help the child learn about the world. We participate in the California Early Start Program to develop Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) or Individualized Education Plans (IEP).
At a time when families are in crisis, Blind Babies Foundation is there to provide support, expertise and resources to children and families.
Why Use Our Services?
The birth of a baby marks the beginning of many challenges for a family. With a baby who is visually impaired, the challenges are just more complex. The Access VIS program helps the entire family adjust to these new challenges by providing the following:
- Education for parents, family members and caregivers;
- Support for the parent/child bond and relationship;
- Information and resources;
- Medical visit accompaniment;
- Visual and developmental assessments;
- Referrals to other agencies who can also provide help:
- Support the development of family advocacy skills; and
- Opportunities for families to meet and learn from one another.
Home Visits
Home visits are delivered by our professionally trained staff of Vision Impairment Specialists. Visits are a time when the VIS works closely with the caregiver and child, sharing information about how vision loss impacts early development and offering suggestions to encourage each child’s progress. Unlike medical interventions, such as physical and occupational therapy, Blind Babies Foundation is an educational program. We ask parents to participate in all of our sessions.
Specialists are also trained to teach infant massage skills to parents and caregivers, and also use many of the Active Learning techniques of Lilli Nielsen, a well-known special education expert from Denmark.
Home visits are scheduled in advance. If it is necessary to cancel a visit, please notify your VIS directly as soon as possible.
Access to Medical Care
Using our strong network of relationships with medical professionals, our specialists help families navigate the health care system and get the best possible care for their children. VIS help families prepare for important medical visits, accompany families to the doctor’s office, and take notes during the visit. We also assist families to further understand the doctor’s findings.
Access to Education
BBF helps families secure the services their children need from school districts, educators and early intervention programs. Through consultation and in-service training, our specialists work creatively with early childhood programs to adapt the learning environment and introduce adaptive technologies to accommodate the child’s needs.
Community & Family Events
Each year BBF hosts several community events that provide opportunities for families to meet one another, exchange ideas, and just relax and have fun in a positive, inclusive environment. We offer events such as regional playgroups; educational presentations; harvest, beach and swim parties; support groups; beeper egg hunts; and other seasonal holiday parties.
Resources For Families & Professionals
Blind Babies Foundation is an expert in the field of early vision impairment and is committed to supplementing informational resources with our own materials and publications. Our educational videos, fact sheets and other resource materials are in high demand and are widely distributed throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Service Area
Services are provided in the counties of Alameda; Contra Costa; Kings; Marin; Monterey; Napa; San Benito; San Francisco; San Mateo; Santa Clara; Santa Cruz; Solano; Sonoma; and Tulare
