Early Childhood Blindness Archives - LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Last fall, LightHouse proudly introduced our newest department to our community, LightHouse Little Learners! It took a whole year of blood, sweat and tears to establish this wonderful team and fulfil a long-held organizational goal to offer services to the littlest members of the blind and low vision population and their families.

From onboarding our first Little Learner and their family, to exploring Enchanted Hills Camp at our first Little Learners Family Camp session this summer, it has been a busy twelve months! Today, Little Learners is currently serving 87 children throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley, with our youngest Little Learner being a newborn baby of just two days old! Since the start of our program last autumn, we have served a total of 147 babies and toddlers – and counting!

“It’s hard to believe that the Little Learners program has reached its one-year anniversary!” says Pam Chapin, LightHouse Little Learners Program Director. “Over the year, families have participated in specialized services with our highly experienced Early Childhood Blind and Low Vision Specialists in their homes and communities, have created wonderful memories and friendships at Enchanted Hills Camp, and have learned together through Playgroups and family gatherings at local venues.

“Little Learners has provided trainings and created partnerships with local Regional Centers, Education Agencies, Infant Programs, and medical providers to help identify children who are blind, have low vision, and cerebral visual impairment, and to help families access appropriate early learning services.

“We look back with pride at all that this team has accomplished and with gratitude for the support and collaboration provided by every department at LightHouse. We are honored to be part of each family’s journey and excited to grow into the future!”

Other members of the LightHouse Little Learners team shared their thoughts and reflections over the year:

“My favorite memory so far has been the garden party the East Bay team hosted on the patio at Ed Roberts campus. It was so wonderful to have our Little Learners and their families come and have fun on the beautiful campus!” – Elizabeth Basillo, Regional Coordinator

“The most memorable thing for me has been the warm reception we got from the entire staff of the LightHouse. It was very touching and made me feel that we were considered an important part of the agency.” – Jeri Hart, Blind and Low Vision Specialist

“I am a strong believer in that ‘Actions Speaks Louder Than Words!’ The most impressive thing that stands out to me about LightHouse is the amount of staff it has who are blind and/or have a visual impairment throughout the organization! This warms my heart as a parent of an individual with significant special needs! This fact speaks tons about the organization and its mission!!” – Araceli AVina, Blind and Low Vision Specialists

We couldn’t be more proud to celebrate our first year of LightHouse Little Learners and look forward to many more. For questions, inquiries, or to find out more information about the Little Learners program, contact littlelearners@old.lighthouse-sf.org. You may also reach the Little Learners team by phone at 415-694-7657, by video phone at 415-255-5906, or visit the LightHouse website.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a major new program called LightHouse Little Learners. The program will serve families of children ages birth to three who are blind, DeafBlind, have low vision or neurological visual impairment, or whose developmental delays include blindness or low vision. Read on to find out more.

The launch of this new program comes after the Golden Gate Regional Center certified LightHouse as a provider of early intervention services for the youngest children who are blind or have low vision and their families in three northern California counties: San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties with other counties within the Bay Area and northern California to be added shortly. This approval allows referrals to the new LightHouse Little Learners program from regional centers, eye care specialists and community-based programs.

The Little Learners program will serve families directly in their homes as well as in community-based settings and northern California LightHouse locations, including renowned 311-acre Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa.

“When a family gives birth to a new baby or adopts an infant with blindness or low vision, they need immediate professional partnership to help raise their child to become self-confident and engaged with the world around them,” said LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin. “If they get responsive parent education, encouragement and community connections, there is no reason why their children who are blind or low vision will not grow up to achieve their highest potential.”

The LightHouse Little Learners Program will provide services both remotely and in-person at families’ homes providing accessible toys and learning opportunities for infants and toddlers, in addition to introducing families to a network of other parents for support and local resources.

“The LightHouse is excited to offer deep and comprehensive early intervention services to northern California families,” said Dr. Sharon Sacks, LightHouse Board Chair and former Superintendent of the California School for the Blind in Fremont.

“The LightHouse Little Learners Program has been a dream of LightHouse leadership and staff for many years,” said Tony Fletcher Director of LightHouse’s Enchanted Hills Camp. “We have the beautiful welcoming facilities that will make year-round family bonding and education practical throughout northern California and we are thrilled to be able to launch this program now.”

LightHouse’s Little Learners Program is culturally responsive and rooted in the philosophy of progressive infant and family mental health as well as best practices in early intervention. In addition to home and community-based services provided by highly qualified specialists in early childhood blindness and low vision, many other LightHouse staff will be available to share experiences and their expertise with families to enrich their understanding of blindness or low vision, and to encourage their child’s active exploration of the world and growth toward independence.

Parents, teachers and others can learn more about the Little Learners Program by visiting https://old.lighthouse-sf.org/lighthouse-little-learners/. If you know a family with an infant or toddler who is blind or has low vision, please contact the program directly at littlelearners@old.lighthouse-sf.org or call 415-694-7657.

Early Childhood Blindness

LightHouse Little Learners Turns One!

LightHouse Launches New Program for Parents of Infants and Toddlers Who are Blind or Have Low Vision