Laila is a 15-month-old infant who has been diagnosed with severe vision impairment. Her parents are concerned about her safety, ability to form friendships, cognitive learning, and how programs will adapt to her individual needs. Support from staff and family, an inclusive environment, resources to help accommodate Laila's needs, and modifications to her environments will be important. Severe vision impairment can be caused by genetic factors, prematurity, infections, or brain bleeding and is treated based on the specific eye problem. Early intervention programs provide family support, services, and public education for children who are blind or have low vision.

1. Severe Vision Loss Kassandra Neely Chris Cadiuex Inclusion of Children with Special Needs Place photo here

2. Meet Laila Scenario Number 5 Laila is a fifteen month old infant. She has been diagnosed with severe vision impairment. Her parent’s main concerns are about her safety and how she will form friendships. Concerns that might arise in the parent’s later on might be Laila’s cognitive learning and how programs will adapt to her individual needs.

3. Meet LailaCont’ What Laila and her Parents Will Need Support from staff & family Inclusive environment Resources to help them understand and accommodate Laila Modifications to Laila’s main environments Effective teaching strategies that are specific to Laila’s individual needs Positive, Caring, Nurturing environment

4. Low Vision Impairment Definition: “Low vision generally refers to a severe visual impairment…It applies to all individuals with sight who are unable to read the newspaper at a normal viewing distance…”* Severe Vision Impairment happens to 1 in 2,000 children under the age of 18.

5. Signs of Low Vision Excessive Eye Rubbing Sensitivity to light Lack of focusing and visual tracking Constant Redness and tearing of the eyes Having a white pupil instead of black pupils

6. Causes of Severe Blindness and Treatments Causes can be a result of: A family history of: metabolic disease, genetic disease, retinoblastoma or congenital cataracts. Low birth weight Bleeding of the brain If the mother has a infection during pregnancy: herpes, AIDS, venereal disease, rubella. Prematurity Seizures Developmental delay Cerebral palsy The treatments vary by the type of eye problem, the most common treatment would be eye glasses.

7. Eye Exams Should be done by your family physician or paediatrician when they are a newborn. If there is a family history of eye problems or if you have a premature infant they should be examined by an eye doctor. Children age 3 ½ should have eye screenings and visual acuity tests Children age 5 should have routine screenings and vision and eye alignment by their doctors. There are four kinds of eye doctors: Ophthalmologists, Paediatric ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians

8. Modifying the Physical Environment Safety: Add tactile cues to stairs such as non-slip rubber mats Add contrasting colours and stripes to the areas with stairs Place rubber covers or rubber stopperson sharp corners Decrease the amount of obstacles-make sure the room is tidy and free of unnecessary objects.

9. Modifying the Physical Environment Sensory Cues: Use a variety of different types of shelving that have different textures. Have specific textures to define types of toys Use auditory cues to associate with different transitions All of the signage around the room should also have a raised image, braille, or a texture. Define spaces with specific textures on the floor such as carpets, tiles, wood Lighting should be positioned behind the child

10. Changes in Teaching Strategies Incorporate toys and activities that stimulate the other 4 senses. Create a dependable environment with the use of transitions and patterns in activities. When reading a book make sure you give the child the opportunity to hold objects that are in the book. Guide the child’s body when singing songs like head and shoulders and rolleypolley.

11. Blind Low Vision Early Intervention Program Services the program offers: Family Support Early Intervention Child Care Consultation Public awareness and professional parent education Who can apply for these services: People who live in Toronto Have a child from birth-school entry who has been diagnosed with being blind or having low vision by an ophthalmologist. This program is funded Ministry of Children and Youth Services For more programs in your area please visit: http://www.oaicd.ca/related-specialized-services

12. Bibliography Ontario Association for Infant and Child Development My Child Without Limits Kids Health Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services Learning Together