Retinopathy of Prematurity Fact Sheet

Retinopathy of Prematurity Fact Sheet Author: Maura Guimon-Warren Definition Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), first recognized in 1942, is an eye disorder that primarily affects premature infants weighing less than 2¾ pounds (“Retinopathy of prematurity”, 2014)  The visual system undergoes significant development during the third trimester, therefore the earlier an infant is born, the greater the […]

Collaborating to Identify Needs

By Samantha Zauner While a EIVI professional works primarily on vision related skills, it is also imperative that they collaborate with other providers. The occupational therapist (OT) and physical therapist (PT) are often a part of the early intervention team when a child has a visual impairment. OTs and PTs offer much to the team […]

Reach Builds Orientation

Developing Early Reaching Skills to Build Orientation by Kirstin Peahl “Early motor development, I believe, is where most of the learned helplessness we see in our older students began,” stated Mickey Demalio, Florida State University Professor.  At the Southeast Orientation & Mobility Association (SOMA) 50th Anniversary O&M Conference, Demalio presented information on early childhood motor […]

Facilitating Sleep

Sleep Disruption in Infants and Toddlers with Visual Impairments by Lauralyn Randles Sleep is controlled by an individual’s circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is controlled by social events in an individual’s life such as meals, activities, or noise levels (Stores, 1999). As part of this rhythm, sleep in mainly initiated by the perception of light as […]

Emergent Literacy

by Bryan Moles As Stratton and Wright (1991, pp xi­xii) succinctly state: “literacy begins to develop at birth; it does not wait until a child reads his first word or even until he opens his first book. Literacy is a basic process, set in motion long before actual reading and writing take place, and it […]

Tummy Time

It is well-known that “tummy time” is important for an infant’s motor development. The term a physical therapist might use for “tummy time” is prone position. The benefits of practicing prone position include opportunities for weight bearing—which leads to: awareness of arms and hands, improved muscle tone, head support/ balance, rotation, reaching, grasping, and eventually […]

Muscle Tone and Development

Muscle Tone and Development When a Child has a Visual Impairment By Kateri Gullifor When working with an infant with a visual impairment, it is crucial to consider intervention strategies in order to promote muscle tone development. Many children with visual impairments have low muscle tone in their trunk or abdominal area (Ferrell, 2011). Experience […]

Emerging Fine Motor Manipulation

by Denise Jefferson There are four important fine motor skills that are prerequisites to more refined hand tasks. These include, grasping, reaching, releasing and rotating.  The first three skills are learned during the child’s first year and the last one closer to age two. Babies with visual impairments will acquire these same skills but the […]