“My husband and I were an emotional wreck when finding out about my son’s eye condition when he was just a few months old.  His teacher made us feel comfortable and confident as he grew.  He’s going to be 3 in March and doing things as a normal child should be. We are very satisfied with the series given to us and eternally grateful.”

Catherine & Michael Johns

The Chicago Lighthouse Birth to Three Family Intervention Program provides home-based (as far as the teachers can drive) and center-based services to families with children, from birth to three years of age, who have been identified or diagnosed with visual impairments.

The Lighthouse staff and family members work together during a child’s early stages of life to encourage and guide through the natural stages of physical, social, cognitive and emotional development.

Since 1974, this program has been active in the State of Illinois early intervention program. The teachers are specifically trained in special education and early childhood education, with an emphasis in vision. All staff members have early intervention credentials through the current system in Illinois.

Services include developmental therapy, vision assessments, evaluations, optometric examinations through our Low Vision Clinic, occupational therapy, transportation, social work and psychological services.

Vision is essential to learning; this program maximizes the child’s use of his/her remaining vision and other senses and encourages the child to learn through a variety of techniques including: use of multi-sensory toys, accommodations and modifications in the environment, use of color contrasts and arrangements in lighting.

The Birth to Three Program is closely tied to the statewide parent support group, The Illinois Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (IPVI). Many of the families have joined the statewide group and participate in social activities, conferences and receive monthly publications.

For more information about the program or how to make a referral, contact Mary Zabelski at (312) 666-1331 ext. 3675 or e-mail mary.zabelski@chicagolighthouse.org.