Nonprofit Profile
AWelcome Sight The life-changing impact of Visually Impaired Preschool Services
By MARIAH KLINE Photos by ANDREA HUTCHINSON
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ight is a gift that most of us take for granted. For parents of blind and visually impaired children, sight is a constant concern. “As a mom, to realize when your child is ssix ix months old that maybe he’s never seen me or heard me is a devastating thought,” says Taylor Wright. Wright is the mom of two-year-old Wells, who was born with CVI (cortical visual impairment), a neural processing disorder that makes it difficult for him to see. He began working with the First Steps program at Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) at the age of eight months, and his family has seen significant improvements every step of the way. “When he started, he couldn’t see if you had lit a sparkler in the room,” Wright says. “He couldn’t eye track or follow anything. They started so small with anything that could grab his attention and then we just built on those strategies very slowly.” VIPS has worked with parents and children in Kentucky and Indiana for 35 years. The instrucAs a mom, to realize when your tors of VIPS work to create individchild is six months old that maybe ualized plans to he’s never seen me or heard me help set children up for success as they is a devastating thought.” develop and learn. They teach little — Taylor Wright ones how to utilize
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THE VOICE OF LOUISVILLE
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the remaining sight they have and navigate the world using other senses. “They’re compassionate and they’re collaborative,” Wright says. “They don’t just say, ‘This is what I think, and this is what you should do.’ They individualize everything. They hone in on responses and reactions that may seem so subtle, but they utilize those reactions to help them improve.” Beyond helping the children, VIPS works to connect the families they serve – creating a safe space for parents to express fears and concerns and learn from one another. Through retreats and the Parent Empowerment Program (PEP), VIPS creates a community for parents to share their child’s struggles and triumphs with those who understand the most. With experienced professionals leading the way, Wright knows that her son is in the best possible hands. “They’re very responsive,” Wright says of the organization. “The therapeutic strategies VIPS does on a consistent basis so early on – even before they’re able to talk and have any kind of response – is tremendous. They’re not a ‘wait and see’ organization. They are always there. Even with the Coronavirus, they want to check-in and stay in touch.” “We do not place children on a waiting list,” says Director of Education Kathy Mullen. “We understand the importance of beginning early intervention services as soon as possible.” With several years of educational experience, Mullen knows what is at stake for blind and visually impaired children. “When we look at the big picture, we know that visually impaired and blind adults are the most unemployed and underemployed group of adults with needs,” she says. “This is not acceptable and needs to be addressed as early as possible. VIPS begins addressing this issue in early intervention by teaching skills for independence, career education and self-advocacy.” Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, VIPS staff members have begun video conferencing with children to continue
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