Cortical Vision Impairment (CVI)
CVI Facts
Cortical Vision Impairment is a vision impairment that occurs due to damage within visual pathways of the brain.
Cortical Vision Impairment is the leading cause of vision impairments for children. Approximately 30-40% of children with vision impairments have cortical vision impairment. (source: CVI connect)
A child with CVI may have had an eye exam in which a doctor says their vision is not of concern regarding eye health. CVI is how well the child visually interprets what they see, not visual details.
Children at risk for Cortical Vision Impairment include children who are premature, seizures, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, drug exposure, hypoxic or other neurological impairments.
Children with CVI may be attracted to a preferred color (red, yellow, blue, green), shiny metallic items, light gaze. Children can be slow to visually explore, look away from faces, complex toys or busy environments.
Children with CVI may look, look away before reaching, look out of the corner of their eye, shake head back and forth frequently, and have difficulty with isolating a finger for pointing.
Children with CVI can learn and meet their goals with individualized supports in their daily activities.
“Children with cortical vision impairment challenge us to see the world through their eyes and their hearts for they shine brightly among us!"
- Lynda Crouch, CLVT,OTR/L, ATP
Resources & Stories
Read about our students stories and the solutions we’ve found to help them.
| Image | Title | Summary | Date | wpdmcategory_hfilter | tags_hfilter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Comparisons: Looking for Differences in Nature | Teaching children to explore differences between two or more objects is an important skill for a child’s development. Below is a link to an activity that should be easy to do in most environments. Are They … | December 16, 2020 | classroom-resources parent-resources | |
 | Tips for Creating the Perfect Classroom | Here are a few tips for setting up your … | October 14, 2020 | classroom-resources | classroom-resources classroom-tips designing-a-classroom special-needs |
 | How to Make a Sensory Bag | Making a sensory play bag is a great adaptation or precursor to messy … | October 6, 2020 | occupational-therapy | messy-play occupational-therapy sensory-bag sensory-bin sensory-play sensory-play-for-babies sensory-processing |
 | How to Make a Sensory Bin | Messy play or sensory play is an activity that engages one or more of a child’s senses, including sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, balance, or movement. Messy play can make an enormous contribution to a baby’s or a young child’s physical and cognitive … | September 30, 2020 | occupational-therapy | messy-play occupational-therapy sensory-bin sensory-play sensory-play-for-babies sensory-processing |
 | Learning Language Through Daily Routines | Here are a few simple ways to create opportunities for learning language during your daily … | September 24, 2020 | speech-therapy | communication development language learning parenting-tips special-needs speech speech-therapy |
 | Painting with Bubbles | Here are some fun ways to incorporate language, speech, oral motor practice, and art by painting with BUBBLES! Little Light House Speech Language Pathologist, Ms. Riley leads Little Light House students through a painting with bubbles language group in the downloadable video … | September 16, 2020 | parent-resources speech-therapy | adaptations art development language oral-motor special-needs speech speech-therapy |
 | How to Lift Using Proper Body Mechanics | Proper body mechanics and lifting techniques should be used when lifting and moving children with special needs in order to reduce the risk of injury to both you and the … | September 9, 2020 | classroom-resources parent-resources physical-therapy | back-pain body-mechanics lifting physical-therapy special-needs |
 | Talking With Our Hands: Visual Phonics | Visual phonics, also known as sound signs, help to develop one’s speech and language systems. Below you will find a video with all visual phonics sounds and hand movements demonstrated by Little Light House Speech Language Pathologist, Clarey … | September 1, 2020 | speech-therapy | language-learning literacy sounds special-needs speech visual-phonics |
 | Using Toys to Promote Development | Our therapy team has put together these fun graphics to give you some ideas on how to do guided play with the toys you already … | August 27, 2020 | parent-resources | child development growth guided-play learning play special-needs therapy toys |
 | Transitioning Your Child Back to School | After this long time away from school, our Little Light House Therapy Team has 9 tips to help prepare your kiddo for starting … | August 19, 2020 | parent-resources | back-to-school children kids school social-story special-needs starting-school tips transition |
 | All About Orthotics | There are many things to consider if your child uses orthotics. To ensure they are being used correctly at home and school, you can download our short guide to … | August 10, 2020 | physical-therapy | development down-syndrome orthotics physical-therapy special-needs |
 | Heads Up! It’s Mealtime! | It’s helpful to give your child a heads up before mealtime so they have a chance to prepare themselves. You can use a mealtime prayer, wash your hands together, sing a song about mealtime, or use a … | July 31, 2020 | classroom-resources | classroom feeding mealtime special-needs tips |
 | Learning to Read Braille | Here are four tips for how to prepare you and your little one to begin learning … | July 21, 2020 | vision | blind braille cortical-visual-impairment special-needs vision |
 | DIY Box Retreat | Making a safe place like a corner tent, or box retreat for a child to be alone in the classroom, or the home, can be calming to the child and those with them. Over time, the child will learn to go to the designated quiet place on their own, thus avoiding disturbing the classroom or … | July 14, 2020 | classroom-resources | autism box-retreat diy meltdown special-needs |
| How to Make a Corner Tent | Making a safe place like a corner tent, or box retreat for a child to be alone in the classroom, or the home, can be calming to the child and those with them. Over time, the child will learn to go to the designated quiet place on their own, thus avoiding disturbing the classroom or … | July 14, 2020 | parent-resources | corner-tent diy parent-resources special-needs |
 | Social Story on Wearing Masks | Social stories can be used for any child experiencing difficulties in social situations. These situations can include but are not limited to: world events, doctor’s appointments, teaching a new routine, learning manners, the first day of school, going on a trip, teaching safety, … | July 8, 2020 | speech-therapy | language social-story special-needs speech therapy |
| How to Write a Social Story | Instead of worrying about how your child will react to differences in his or her routine, set them up for success by writing a social … | July 8, 2020 | speech-therapy | language social-story special-needs speech therapy |
 | 10 Ways to Make Tummy Time More Fun | Tummy time is essential for your baby to develop a strong neck, arms, and core muscles. If you want to make tummy time more enjoyable for both YOU and your BABY, here are 10 tricks you can … | July 1, 2020 | physical-therapy | |
 | How to Make a Slant Board | Slant boards provide an alternative surface on which a child can practice … | June 23, 2020 | occupational-therapy | assistive-technology |
 | How to Make Picture Prompts | Sometimes children have difficulty following routine verbal directions because they need extra time to auditorily process what you are asking them to do. Using a picture prompt can greatly increase a child’s level of success in following through with your … | June 16, 2020 | down-syndrome diagnosis | |
 | DIY Sensory Play Wall | Sensory walls are an easy thing to set up for anyone working with a visually impaired little one. With just a few items found around the house, your little one can explore and have hours of … | June 9, 2020 | sensory-processing diagnosis | |
 | How to Introduce Objects to Children with CVI | Opportunities to use vision should be incorporated into your child’s everyday life. Here are some ways to place opportunities for your child to see throughout their daily … | June 2, 2020 | cortical-vision-impairment diagnosis | |
 | Communicating with a Non-Verbal Child | Here you will find some tips on how to communicate with a non-verbal child adapted from Friendship Circle. The following content was contributed by parents of children and adults with special … | May 26, 2020 | speech-therapy | |
 | Preparing Little Hands to Write | If you are working with a child who is uninterested in writing or coloring, my advice is this:Â Stop worrying about coloring and start by engaging them in what they are interested in! Here are some ideas for creating opportunities to learn writing … | May 19, 2020 | occupational-therapy | |
 | Sunday School | Our HTHS Sunday School curriculum is a compilation of our full curriculum into a Sunday School format by … | May 12, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Jesus Our Teacher | “Jesus Our Teacher,” is book twelve of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | February 25, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Jesus & His Disciples | “Jesus & His Disciples,” is book eleven of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart and Soul Bible-Based … | February 15, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Jonah | “Jonah,” is book ten of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | February 5, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Moses | “Moses,” is book nine of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | February 1, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Easter | “Easter,” is book eight of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | January 30, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Daniel | “Daniel,” is book seven of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | January 28, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | David & Jonathan | “David & Jonathan,” is book six of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | January 25, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Abraham | “Abraham,” is book five of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | January 20, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Christmas | “Christmas,” is book four of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | January 15, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Joseph | “Joseph,” is book three of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | January 10, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Zacchaeus | “Zacchaeus,” is book two of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart & Soul Bible-Based … | January 5, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Creation | “Creation,” is book one of twelve in our Head to Toe, Heart, and Soul Bible-Based … | January 1, 2020 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Curriculum Guides and Additional Resources | … | February 12, 2019 | bible-based-curriculum | |
 | Introduction | … | January 21, 2019 | bible-based-curriculum |