Services for Early Childhood
Have you noticed something different about your child’s vision?
If you’ve noticed something different about how your child uses their vision, trust your observations. Family members are often the first to sense these differences, and your insights are crucial.
Although a young infant’s vision is still developing, visual access in the first months and years of life is crucial for learning and development. You can browse resources on vision development and milestones for babies and young children.
First Steps
Find an eye professional. When talking with medical professionals, don’t hesitate to ask questions, share your observations about your child’s everyday vision, and express your concerns. You are a key part of their care team.
Receiving a diagnosis can bring many emotions. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Connect with other families or support groups – you are not alone on this journey. Your home is your child’s first classroom. Small adaptations can make a big difference, and you know your child’s unique responses best. Celebrate every step of progress!
CVI is the most commonly diagnosed vision condition in children, but it’s not the only diagnosis. See resources for a new CVI diagnosis, and no matter the diagnosis, connect with TSBVI’s Family Engagement Coordinators.
Then, see our featured resources below for connecting with your local Early Childhood Intervention provider.
- TSBVI Family Engagement Coordinators partner with you and provide information, connections, and training to meet you where you’re at.
- Parent Companion: This is a great website to gather information about the first 5 years of life for children with diagnosed disabilities. It is packed with resources and information about what to expect regarding services and supports.
- Navigate Life Texas: Some parents have said this has been a saving grace for them on their journey.
- Texas Project First is a website created by parents for parents and covers many aspects of finding resources for children with disabilities.
- Texas Parent to Parent is another one of our amazing partners.
- Partners Resource Network is a group led by a parent of a child with low vision and other diagnosis.
- SpedTex is a great website where you can create an account and get information about all things related to special education in Texas.
- Texas Deafblind Project provides information and resources to support students with both vision and hearing loss.
Featured Resources
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a statewide program within the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for families with children birth up to age 3 who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Partnering with your school or early intervention team will help create an individualized plan that perfectly fits what your child needs to thrive.
Education Service Centers & Local School
Texas has 20 Education Service Center (ESC) regions to support local districts and teachers in providing appropriate support for students. Find your local ESC and they will be able to help you get connected to resources locally. Additionally, reach out to your local elementary school and let them know you have a child with a visual impairment (or suspected) and want to begin an evaluation through Child Find.
Blind Children's Program
This program through Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) for children who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision can support you in connecting with other families, training, acquiring specific tools in the home, and home visits.
Resources
WebsiteTSBVI Early Childhood Team
Our TSBVI Outreach Early Childhood Education Consultants are here to help you navigate resources, consultations, and provide services to students, families, and professionals. Our team’s focus is on infants, young students, and programs in local communities throughout Texas. We bring most of our services directly to you.
What services do we offer?
- Student Consultations: TSBVI Outreach offers individualized assistance for professionals working with students in the home or daycare setting or school programs such as the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) environment, Headstart, Pre-K, or Kindergarten classrooms. Early Childhood consultants provide collaboration for instructional needs, strategies for the transfer of skills across environments, and assessment resources and support.
- Training: ECI, district, regional, and statewide opportunities.
- Family Support: Home visits, sharing of resources, Outreach family engagement coordinator support.
Meet our Early Childhood Consultants below and fill out our Outreach Contact Form to get in touch with the team!
Kathi Garza
Before joining Outreach, Kathi taught students with visual impairments and complex access needs and coordinated school year and summer initiatives for TSBVI's Short-Term Programs department.
Hillary Keys
Hillary, M.Ed., holds a Deafblind graduate certificate and brings 30+ years of experience in education. She specializes in early intervention, play-based approaches, and Active Learning.
Let us know how we can help!
Looking for resources or want to get in contact with an Outreach provider? Contact Outreach for assistance from our experienced professionals.
Contact Outreach