Infant and Toddler Program

At Foundation for Blind Children, we begin our services early in life, so our students can have every opportunity to reach their full potential. Research has estimated that up to 90% of what every child learns in the first three years of life is learned visually, primarily through imitation. Vision is the sense that allows us to integrate all of the things we learn about the world.

Without normal vision, a child must learn to “see” and understand the world in new ways. It is for these reasons that FBC begins its work in infancy with both the child and their family, in the home and at FBC. We focus on how the child learns about the world, how parents understand and help with that learning, the impact of loss of vision on early development, and how parents feel about their child’s disability.

Our focus is to provide informational, instructional, and emotional support to help families understand ways to create opportunities for learning for their child. We assist in helping children develop all senses by encouraging touching, listening, smelling, looking, and moving through the environment to build a foundation for future learning and participation in family life.

Group of early intervention babies and parents sitting in a circle on top of a colourful foam floor mat for music therapy

Early Intervention Services Provided 

  • Individualized family services
  • Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments evaluate visual strengths and needs through a Functional Vision Assessment
  • Provide information & resources to families and work with their children.
  • Orientation and Mobility Specialists assist with safe mobility and independence
  • Parent-2-Parent Program
  • Support Counseling
Group of early intervention babies and parents sitting in a circle on top of a colourful foam floor mat for music therapy

Early Intervention Services Provided 

  • Individualized family Services
  • Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments evaluate visual strengths and needs through a Functional Vision Assessment
  • Provide information & resources to families and work with their children.
  • Orientation and Mobility Specialists assist with safe mobility and independence
  • Parent-2-Parent Program
  • Support Counseling

Home Visits

Services to families and children are provided in the natural environment of the child and family, such as the home or day care center.

Home visits are typically 1 hour and are tailored to the needs of each family based on their Individual Family Service Plan. All services are provided through the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) and their participating agencies, Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and AZ State School(s) for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB). Services are free for families.

Orientation and Mobility Specialist holds a child's feet during physical therapy.
Orientation and Mobility Specialist holds a child's feet during physical therapy.

HOME VISITS

Services to families and children are provided in the natural environment of the child and family, such as the home or day care center.

Home visits are typically 1 hour and are tailored to the needs of each family based on their Individual Family Service Plan. All services are provided through the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) and their participating agencies, Division for Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and AZ State School(s) for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB). Services are free for families.

To refer a child under the age of 3 to Arizona’s Early Intervention program,

PLEASE CLICK HERE

For more information on our Early Intervention Programs and Services, please contact our

Director of Early Intervention | Alissa Eromae

Direct: 602.331.7902 

Or email us using the form below.