Vision impairment can impact anyone at any age:
- a baby with Congenital Blindness,
- a toddler with Amblyopia (reduced vision in one eye),
- a teenager with Cataracts (clouding of the eye’s lens),
- or an adult with Retinitis Pigmentosa (retinal disease that causes progressive vision loss).
At Future In Sight, our Youth Services team includes and Early Supports & Services Coordinator who works with children from birth to three years old who are blind or visually impaired. This individual provides consultations, assessments, strategies, and support for families with a child experience vision loss. Additional resources through a collaboration with the NH Family-Centered Early Supports and Services are also provided to promote a team approach in helping infants and toddlers with vision impairment achieve developmental milestones.
Early support for infants and toddlers with vision impairment and their families is essential in helping to navigate challenges, access information and resources, and promote skill development. This can be in the form of:
- services,
- therapies,
- support groups,
- accessible technology,
- training,
- and education.
Many of these supports can also be beneficial for the families of those individuals with vision impairment, which can help foster connections and build a solid foundation for the present and future.
Future In Sight Board Member Drew Crook recalls the importance and impact of early support in his own life. Living with a degenerative retinal condition since birth, his journey was shaped by his early experiences as a client of Future In Sight (FIS). His time working with a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) from Kindergarten through 12th grade helped him with braille literacy and adapting course materials. His time with a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) helped to build his confidence with navigating with a white cane.
As he continued to work with FIS, he gained essential skills that helped him transition to college and the workforce. During this time he also received collaborative support from the state’s Vocational Rehabilitation program. These formative experiences ignited his passion for accessibility and inspired him to give back as a mentor for youth navigating sight loss. Serving as a camp counselor at an overnight summer camp for blind and low-vision students, Drew was privileged to support and guide others on paths similar to his own. Dedicated to sharing his story, he strives to empower younger generations and their families, fostering self-advocacy and encouraging them to pursue the best versions of themselves.
Throughout his time receiving services and support, he developed a deep understanding of the transformative impact of accessible technology. He learned to leverage tools and resources that have allowed him to lead a fulfilling life. This understanding led to a career, and today Drew is a forward-thinking Accessibility Architect passionate about empowering people through technology. His work centers on fostering access, independence, and enhanced quality of life through accessible digital experiences, particularly on native mobile platforms like Android, iOS, and tvOS. His professional path also includes experience in the financial sector, where he discovered a gap in accessibility that ultimately led him to pursue a career in technology. Highlights of Drew’s professional and personal development include graduating from the General Assembly Software Engineering Immersive program, and becoming a 4-time graduate of the training program at The Seeing Eye® in Morristown, NJ, where he has been paired with his 4th dog, Justice.
The early support Drew received helped to provide him with a strong foundation not only to gain skills to navigate and experience all the aspects of his life so far, but also help him to inspire and support others with vision loss and blindness. While accessing support as early as possible is crucial, it is also important to remember that it is never too late to access support, services, and other resources.
If you or someone you love is experiencing vision loss and could benefit from our services, please contact Future In Sight at [email protected] or 603-224-4039 today!
About the Authors: Lauren Baron, M.Ed., TVI is a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and an Early Supports & Services Coordinator at Future In Sight; Andrew (Drew) Crook is Vice Chair of Future In Sight’s Board of Directors.