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ERIC Number: EJ1008217
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0145-482X
EISSN: N/A
Blind Babies Play Program: A Model for Affordable, Sustainable Early Childhood Literacy Intervention through Play and Socialization
Jacko, Virginia A.; Mayros, Roxann; Brady-Simmons, Carol; Chica, Isabel; Moore, J. Elton
Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, v107 n3 p238-242 May-Jun 2013
The Miami Lighthouse, in its 81 years of service to persons who are visually impaired (that is, those who are blind or have low vision), has adapted to meet the ever-changing needs of clients of all ages. To meet the significant needs of visually impaired children--more than 80% of early learning is visual (Blind Babies Foundation, 2012)--the Miami Lighthouse introduced its Blind Babies Program in 2003 after reviewing a number of effective early intervention program models from around the country. The goal of the Blind Babies Program is to make it possible for young children who are blind or severely visually impaired to grow and develop to their maximum potential. The Blind Babies Play program began in 2007 and operated for its first three years with volunteer support as a project of the Junior League of Miami. It is a twice-weekly, two-hour supplement to the in-home intervention program (in which vision rehabilitation specialists work with blind babies and their parent or caregiver at home or daycare for one hour a week). The Blind Babies Play program therefore provides an additional four hours of group interaction weekly to this vulnerable client group. The Miami Lighthouse Blind Babies Play programmatic model can be emulated by agencies across the nation as a cost-effective method for increasing learning opportunities for visually impaired babies and providing support for their caregivers. The authors recommend the program as a model for agencies serving babies who are visually impaired, either as a supplement to existing early intervention services or as a stopgap service, depending on whether or not in-home services are available in a particular area or state. (Contains 1 table.)
American Foundation for the Blind. 11 Penn Plaza Suite 300, New York, NY 10001. Tel: 800-232-5463; Tel: 212-502-7600; e-mail: afbinfo@afb.net; Web site: http://www.afb.org/store
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A