Subject: Blind Babies (BB) Program
Effective: 11/1/13
Responsible Authority: Executive
Director/Applicable instructors
1.
New Vision for Independence is under contract through the
Division of Blind Services to provide early childhood intervention
services to eligible individuals.
2.
Per the DBS Handbook, the Blind Babies (BB) program is
designed “to provide community-based early intervention
education to parents, guardians or caregivers of eligible children
with visual impairments ages birth through five. Families and
caregivers are provided strategies and skills in their role as
primary teacher of their child. The goal of the Blind Babies
Program is to maximize the overall development and
independence of infants and toddlers who are blind or visually
impaired by providing direct Early Intervention Services,
information, and resources to the children and their caregivers.”
3.
Eligibility criteria (per DBS BB Handbook):
There are two main criteria for eligibility that must be met:
a. The documented presence of a diagnosed bilateral
visual impairment or eye condition which, with best
correction for that child, constitutes or results in a
substantial impediment to the child’s ability to learn
and function independently; and
b. A reasonable expectation that the child and family can
benefit from services in terms of education,
developmental growth, independence, advocacy, or
transition.
4.
1
New Vision structures our BB program according the clients’ age,
goals, and educational readiness. As such, New Vision divides
the program into 2 smaller programs which have their own
goals, service delivery structure, etc. The Youth Services
Coordinator has full authority to place children in the subprogram deemed appropriate.
a. Early Intervention
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i. Ages 0-3, or until they enter pre-k/structured
classroom environment, with only visual disabilities,
or clients of all ages with multisensory impairments
ii. Goal: prepare them to enter structured learning
environment
iii. Service delivery:
1. Visits as frequently as needed, no more than
1x per week
2. Assistive Technology (AT): apps on iPad (in
preparation for more advanced AT instruction)
a. New Vision will exclusively teach the iPad
because that is what is used/taught in
Lake County Schools. New Vision can
provide resources to comparable apps for
other devices.
3. Braille: tactual exploration
4. Self-Help: awareness of the importance of
independence
5. Orientation and Mobility (O&M): cane
exploration in the home/neighborhood
6. Assessments: HELP and Oregon, ASQ social
emotional assessment tool for age, and other
assessments as needed/expected to be
beneficial
b. School Readiness
i. Ages 3-5, or part of structured learning environment,
or developmentally ready for structured learning
environment
ii. Updated eye report with acuities required to receive
these services
iii. Service delivery:
1. PreK: Two visits per month: 1 in the school, 1
in the home/community
2. K: 1x per month for consultation
a. New Vision will stay with the client and
family through kindergarten, regardless
of the date of transition to the DBS
Children’s Program. The goal is assist
families through the IEP/504 process.
3. School readiness activity books and checklists
will be completed with all clients and families
4. More AT focus: devices to be used in and for
schools (currently under development)
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5. Braille: PATTERNS pre-braille program & On
the Way to Literacy books
6. Self-Help: independence in eating, dressing
and household routines
7. O&M: cane exploration in the
community/familiarization with community
8. Assessments: Oregon, ASQ social emotional
assessment tool for age, and other
assessments as needed/expected to be
beneficial
5.
3
Parental expectations requirements:
a. Parents/caretakers have to be involved. As described in
the DBS description of the BB program, New Vision will
work with parents to prepare them to be the primary
teachers of their children.
i. The Youth Services Coordinator (YSC) will offer
flexibility in scheduling and a parent or caretaker
should be present and involved, unless otherwise
approved by the YSC.
ii. New Vision may close a client’s case if adequate
family involvement does not occur.
b. Assignments may be given and the parents/kids should
practice in between visits.
c. A client’s case may be subject to closure if behavior in the
learning environment makes for unteachable conditions.
i. If siblings being present affect the child’s/parent’s
ability to learn then the YSC may require additional
supervision. Unless preapproved, playmates/friends
are not permitted during home visits.
d. New Vision staff and volunteers are required to report any
suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Children
and Families.
e. Parents/caretakers are expected to provide any new eye
medical reports to the YSC at least annually.
f. New Vision requests permission to communicate with other
providers, professionals, and paraprofessionals whose
input may be critical to the child’s learning.
Parents/caretakers are expected to complete and sign the
consent for release form.
g. Parents/caretakers are expected to review and sign
updated service plans, consent for information releases,
and other comparable forms annually or as necessary.
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