When your child is diagnosed with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), you’re often left wondering what comes next.
Will their vision improve? What can we do at home? How will they succeed in school?

There are no guaranteed medical treatments for CVI, but there are research-backed strategies to support your child’s ability to see, learn, and participate. CViConnect was designed to help families and educators do just that—not by curing vision, but by unlocking access to it.

And in 2024, that mission gained powerful legal reinforcement.

What the Supreme Court Says About Access

In A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a student whose school delayed providing AAC supports. The court confirmed what families and educators have long understood:

Access to communication and learning tools is not optional. It’s a legal obligation.

For students with CVI, this ruling is especially relevant. Many require visual accommodations to engage with materials, recognize symbols, and make meaningful use of AAC. Without those supports, they’re not just undeserved—they’re denied their right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

What the Research Says About Supporting CVI

CVI is a brain-based visual impairment—not a problem with the eyes. It affects how a child processes visual information, particularly in complex or unfamiliar environments.

Chang and Borchert (2020) explain, “careful assessment of a child’s visual deficits may inform environmental modifications to promote visual functioning.” Research supports the use of simplified environments, high-contrast visuals, and motion to support recognition—principles that directly inform how CViConnect activities are designed.

This is echoed across articles in the Perkins CVI Research Library, which emphasizes that:

• Children with CVI may not consistently respond to visual stimuli unless the environment is adapted
• Reducing visual complexity, highlighting movement or preferred colors, and ensuring simplicity can significantly impact how a child uses their vision
• Functional vision can change over time, particularly when supports are responsive and individualized

These findings don’t promise a “cure”—they point toward a path to access.

How CViConnect Helps

CViConnect was built on these same principles:
That access begins with understanding how a child sees, and that learning environments should adapt to fit the learner—not the other way around.

With CViConnect PRO, families and educators can:

• Present activities aligned with CVI characteristics and Phases (as defined by Christine Roman-Lantzy, Ph.D)
• Customize visual stimuli for contrast, movement, color, and complexity
• Track visual responses using look detection data
• Note potential distractions such as ambient room volume
• Monitor child’s ability to look and reach
• Document changes in visual attention to inform IEP teams

CViConnect is not a therapy or diagnostic tool. But it is a secure, research-informed system that helps teams align their interventions with what the child actually sees.

Why This Matters Now More Than Ever

The A.J.T. ruling reaffirmed that:

• Delaying essential tools like AAC or assistive tech is a denial of FAPE
• Parent advocacy and clinical expertise must be taken seriously
• Schools are responsible for timely, individualized action

For students with CVI, that means tools like CViConnect PRO could help districts meet that responsibility—by removing guesswork and making visual responses visible

Final Thoughts

CViConnect was built to help families and educators do what research and law both tell us is right:
Give every child the chance to be seen—and to see.
Not by waiting for vision to change, but by changing the way we teach, support, and respond.

Resources

Perkins CVI Research Library
https://www.perkins.org/resource/cvi-research-library/

A curated collection of peer-reviewed articles organized by topic, including prevalence, functional evaluations, compensatory skills, and CVI visual behaviors.

Legal Context
A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, U.S. Supreme Court Ruling, 2024
Case summary – Wrightslaw

Reaffirms student rights to timely access to assistive technologies under IDEA and Section 504. Relevant to CVI learners using AAC or visually adapted materials.