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Birth to Three

Birth to Three 

A woman and a young girl are decorating a treat together at a table.

About the Birth to Three (B-3) ~ Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program: NMSBVI’s Birth to Three Program provides early intervention services to children with visual impairments and their families in their homes and communities. NMSBVI partners with the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) to identify very young children with visual impairments and those who are at risk so that they can begin receiving comprehensive services early, thus maximizing their potential.

 

  • a partnership between NMSBVI; New Mexico’s Family, Infant, Toddler (FIT) Program; and the Navajo Nation
  • part of NMSBVI’s commitment to provide a comprehensive program of developmental, educational, training and support services to blind, visually impaired or at-risk infants and toddlers
  • provides free, statewide direct services to families of young children who have a diagnosed visual impairment (VI) or who are considered at-risk to receive a VI diagnosis
  • assists in early diagnosis of vision issues so that services can be offered early in development
  • services are delivered in the family home (the child’s natural environment) or in a community environment that supports both child and family
  • services supplement (but do not replace) other specialized services in the community
  • children are served by an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team decision

A young child uses a cane while walking, guided by an adult.

What expertise does NMSBVI offer?

NMSBVI’s developmental vision specialists are trained as teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs) and/or orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists and have specialized skills in the field of early childhood that encompass the developmental domains of young children

 

What services are available from NMSBVI for infants and toddlers?

  • Functional Vision Evaluations to determine the need for services
  • consultation/participation in developmental assessments with early intervention (EI) agencies
  • learning Media Assessments to determine both the sensory channels a child prefers for learning and to establish the need for braille instruction
  • consultation with the family and/or community service providers, therapists, etc.
  • direct services to the child & family, including services from a developmental vision specialist and/or orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist
  • developmental intervention strategies to support the development of visual/compensatory visual skills
  • information about blindness and visual impairment
  • referral & resource information for families
  • participation in Infant Family Service Plan (IFSP) and other team meetings
  • transition support from Birth-to-Three program into preschool programs
  • support for parents, including assistance finding a pediatric ophthalmologist for diagnosis
  • training for child-specific teams, as well as for organizations seeking additional knowledge about vision and its impact on development

 

 

 

 

A large wooden bear sculpture stands tall on a tree stump, with a smaller bear sculpture beside it. The background is a foggy field with trees.

Who should be referred to NMSBVI?

Any child between the ages of birth and three years old who:

  • has been diagnosed with a visual impairment
  • has an established condition that places him/her at risk for visual impairment (including but not limited to):
  • prematurity
  • syndromes
  • family history of visual impairment
  • traumatic events such as oxygen deprivation, meningitis, or shaken baby syndrome (SBS)
  • has a family or team concerned about some aspect of the child’s vision
  • has results on the New Mexico Vision Screening Tool indicating a need for referral

 

Eyeglass Fund Application Forms

The NMSBVI Foundation provides some limited funds to purchase eyeglasses for children who are visually impaired and who do not have private insurance or Medicaid coverage to pay for eyeglasses. Application can also be made to the fund if children break their eyeglasses and a replacement pair is not covered by private insurance or Medicaid.

To qualify Eyeglass fund:

  • a child/student must have a diagnosis of visual impairment and must receive services as a child with a visual impairment through an IEP or IFSP 
  • frames must be chosen from the Medicaid-approved selection, at a price not to exceed $120; lenses must not exceed $180. 
  • only one pair of eyeglasses per fiscal year may be purchased for each child.

NMSBVIF Eyeglass Fund Application Forms and Downloads:

Additional Downloads

Downloadable brochure about the Birth to Three Program English.