The Program

The Visually Impaired Preschool Program (VIP) is a service provided by the Blind Association of Western New York, for children from birth through five years of age who are at social, developmental, and educational risk due to vision impairment. VIP provides occupational therapy, physical therapy, orientation and mobility, special education, vision therapy, and speech and language therapy to children based on their individual needs. The program also provides opportunities for visually impaired children to play and learn with their sighted peers.

Representatives from VIP meet with the parents, staff from the child’s school district, or an early intervention designee and determine the most appropriate service plan. Home and community-based services are provided in the following programs: family/caregiver support groups, home and community-based individual visits, flexible programming to families in need of service on evenings and weekends, and parent-child groups.

Results

Parent satisfaction surveys from 1990 to 1998 indicated that seventy-six percent (76%) of parents felt VIP helped their children socially. When asked to rate the educational status of their child, 76% of parents who responded felt their child was at “grade level,” and one reported their child at “above grade level.”

Learning Standards

Health, Phys. Ed. & Home Economics: 3) understand and be able to manage their personal and community resources.

Contact

Hope Bongiorno, M.S. Ed.
Coordinator, Preschool Services
700 Sweet Home Road
Amherst, NY 14226
716-836-7556
fax:716-837-2829