Infants and Toddlers with Visual Impairments: Suggestions for Early Interventionists. ERIC Digest.

This brief paper summarizes issues and strategies in early intervention with infants and toddlers who have visual impairments. Characteristics of exemplary early intervention services are identified including collaboration with families and other professionals in the Individualized Family Service Plan process and home visits that promote functional outcomes for both the child and family. Issues specific to visual impairments are addressed. These include parental depression and resulting poor development of attachment behavior, determination of amount of useful vision the child has, associated medical issues, and the impact of visual impairment on child development. Strategies for providing exemplary services emphasize use of family-centered practices, multidisciplinary team collaboration and service coordination, support-based intervention (emotional, material, and informational support), development of functional outcomes (stressing engagement, independence, and social relationships), and effective home visits. (DB)