Jose is a 4-year-old boy with low vision who recently moved to Toronto from Winnipeg. Low vision is a loss of eyesight that makes everyday tasks difficult. Several organizations in Toronto provide services to help children with low vision, including Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services which offers early intervention programs, and the Ontario Foundation for Visually Impaired Children which operates a daily group program for visually impaired children ages 2 to 5.

1. Meeting the Needs of
Children and Families
Izabela Andova

2. Jose ia a 4 year old boy with low vision that just
moved to Toronto with his parents from
Winnipeg. Jose is only child and both of Jose`s
parents work.

3. What Is Low Vision?
Low vision is a loss of eyesight that makes everyday tasks difficult. A person with low vision may find it difficult or
impossible to accomplish activities such as reading, writing, watching television or recognizing faces.
Normal vision AMD vision Cataract vision Glaucoma vision
Retina pigmentosa vision Myopia vision
http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/low-vision.cfm
http://www.lowvision.com/information/low-vision-defined

4. My ways of the Childcare
Setting
● I will get more educated on which condition the child has so I can use proper
strategies that will be helpful for the child.
● I would do some modifications to the physical environment like change some of the
lighting, de- clutter the room, make it more accessible, add some texture for better
tactile clues for identification, and also use brightly colored accessories.
● For the teaching strategies the only change that I would do is to provide some large-
print books, boldly lined paper, dark lead pencils, and magnifying glasses.
● Also by adding some reading lamp which will help for better vision, some hats for
glare, screen reader/enlarger software for computers, press and talking books or
dictionaries, and overhead projectors for projecting larger objects.
● In group activities I would make sure to involve everyone equal by like reading
books with enlarged text, finding objects with magnifying glass or using a APH`s
light box which will help the children learn how to use their residual vision more
efficiently.

5. Toronto Preschool Speech and
Language Services
http://www.tpsls.on.ca/blv/services.htm
The Blind-Low Vision Early Intervention Program offer children and their
parents/caregivers support with developing communication skills, fine and
gross motor skills, understanding, social skills, and emotional development.
Preschool Speech and Language, Infant Hearing and Blind Low Vision program
they work in partnerships between Public Health, hospitals and community
agencies. They also are committed to providing exemplary identification and
intervention services that are responsive to our diverse community to enable all
preschool children in Toronto to reach their optimal communication potential.
Their programs are funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and
Toronto Public Health also their services are free and also available in French.
Children who have vision take in most of their learning through their eyes and
the children who are blind or have low vision need to learn about the world with
all their senses – hearing, touch, smell and taste.
Toronto Preschool/ Speech and Language Services/
Blind - Low Vision Early Intervention Program
Toronto Public Health Tel: 416-338-8255
225 Duncan Mill Road, Suite 201, Toronto, ON, M3B 3K9 Fax: 416-338-8511

6. Ministry of Children and youth
Services
Toronto Region
477 Mount Pleasant Road
3rd floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1G1
Tel.: (416) 325-0500
TTY: (416) 325-3600
Fax: (416) 325-0565
directions
On this link you can also find a family doctor http://www.children.gov.on.
ca/htdocs/English/topics/earlychildhood/oeyc/index.aspx
Ontario’s Blind – Low Vision Early Intervention Program is designed to
give children who are born blind or with low vision the best possible start
in life. They also have specialized family-centred services which are funded
by the province and are available for children from birth to Grade 1.They
have services for children with visual impairment, touch, hearing and the
use of remaining or residual vision is critically important for learning and
development. Their interventions services are provided by specially
trained early childhood blind/low vision consultants which they can also
visit the family’s home. Vision
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services envisions an Ontario where
children and youth have the best opportunity to succeed and reach their
full potential. MissionThe ministry is working with other ministries and
community partners to develop and implement policies, programs and a
service system that helps give children the best possible start in life,
prepare youth to become productive adults and make it easier for families
to access the services they need at all stages of a child's development.
http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/earlychildhood/blindnesslowvision/index.aspx

7. The Ontario Foundation for
Visually Impaired Children
High Park Forest School Group Program
They offer daily group programs for up to 20 children ages 2 to 5 and it runs from September to
June.
This programs are focusing on the children`s developmental curriculum, their individual needs,
their visual efficiency, orientation and mobility.
The High Park Forest School also has been physically modified to accommodate the special needs
of the children.
Admission Criteria: birth to 5 years of age; who have been diagnosed with a visual impairment,
and reside in Toronto, Peel, Halton, Durham, York, and Simcoe Regions.
Referrals can be made by parents, eye care professionals, social and health care providers. For
additional information you can mail or call the High Park Forest School
Mailing Address: OFVIC PO Box 1116 Stn "D"
Toronto, ON M6P 3K2
Tel: 416-767-5977
Fax: 416-767-5530
Email: ofvic@look.ca
http://www.ofvic.org/Services.htm

9. Bibliography
Agancies
● Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services
http://www.tpsls.on.ca/blv/services.htm
● Ministry of Children and youth Services
http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/earlychildhood/blindnesslowvision/index.aspx
● The Ontario Foundation for Visually Impaired
Children
http://www.ofvic.org/Services.htm