Tools for CVI Assessment – American Printing House for the Blind

A CVI assessment is generally “step one” in discovering the current sight abilities of your child. The assessment then molds the teaching program and techniques that will help to improve his/her vision.

There are several different methods to go about completing such an assessment. The American Printing House for the Blind provides assessment tools and guidelines for a number of assessment techniques, including those from Dr. Gordon Dutton, Dr. Amanda Lueck, Dr. Mary T. Morse, Dr. Jan van Dijk, and CViConnect’s lead advisor Dr. Christine Roman-Lantzy. It is on Dr. Roman-Lantzy’s assessment guidelines and instruction that CViConnect has built our program. Here are some helpful tips and guidelines from American Printing House for the Blind for your information when having your child assessed for a CVI range score.

American Printing House for the Blind does an excellent job of laying out Guidelines for Observation and Guidelines for Interview Questions. These methods will be used by a CVI professional to determine the abilities and limitations of your child. Knowing this information beforehand and reading the interview questions is a great preparatory exercise to ensure you get the most accurate assessment possible.

This will undoubtedly be a confusing and possibly frustrating time for you and your child. There are several things you can do, as laid out by APH, in order to ease and accommodate the child, as well as provide the most accurate assessment.

• Be understanding when the child’s behavior is a reaction to frustration or fear and misunderstanding of the environment
• Avoid conversations when child is using their vision to travel safely
• Family, teachers, friends should verbally identify themselves when meeting the child
• Faces are very complex. Do not expect a child to be able to look at you and hear what you are saying at the same time. Do not take lack of eye contact personally

With excellent tips, products, and general information, American Printing House for the Blind is a great resource for working with your CVI child. Be sure to review their entire section on cortical visual impairment. If you would like to receive information on CVI, subscribe to our newsletter.