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complexity, cortical visual impairment, faces, friends, Trick or treating with CVI

Trick or treating with CVI

“Mommy, I can’t wear my glasses trick or treating because my mask goes over my face.” Until then it had not occurred to me that his head to toe Batman costume meant that friends would not likely recognize him at the first trick or treat in our new town. The more strict school security meant no access to classrooms, no access to kids and parents at his new school. The hope was that Halloween would mean bumping into some new school friends, meeting families. Having a child with cortical visual impairment (CVI) who cannot recognize faces, makes it extra hard to recognize friends on Halloween. Continue reading “Trick or treating with CVI” →

behavior, cortical visual impairment, CVI modifications, it's the little things, CVI ten characteristics, parents

CVI modifications, it’s the little things.

On the brink of November, for a child with cortical visual impairment (CVI), it is still the beginning of the school year. Each school year is different for all kids, but for kids with CVI, each year may as well be a whole new school (especially when it really is a new school, new school district, new neighborhood, new city, new state, a whole new world). The CVI characteristic of novelty (Roman-Lantzy) has an impact on our kids and “new” lasts longer. Newness lingers for them, much longer than it ever would for us. Continue reading “CVI modifications, it’s the little things.” →

CVI range, education, Everybody's talking about salient features, parents, salient features

Everybody’s talking about salient features

For children with cortical visual impairment (CVI), learning to visually identify salient features is a critical skill to making progress. These days we know that best practice is to incorporate salient features language earlier rather than later, while being mindful that our language does not compete with a child’s ability to use vision (Roman-Lantzy). Salient features are those two or three word descriptors that define an object, that are the essence of that object. Cupness. Treeness. That favorite hanging toyness. Mommyness. Continue reading “Everybody’s talking about salient features” →

advocacy, CVI range, parents, The AER Resolution, where'd it go?

The AER Resolution, where’d it go?

You may remember last July, when we discussed a certain resolution that targeted students with cortical visual impairment (CVI), and the CVI Range (Roman-Lantzy). The Resolution was presented at the International AERBVI Conference in Reno, Nevada. Resolution (AER-2018-00) was presented on site without prior notice, without warning, and hastily “passed” (absent members were denied the opportunity to vote). These are extreme tactics that are all too concerning in these political times. Continue reading “The AER Resolution, where’d it go?” →