At last years conference I shared about my son's vision issues and got a lot of feedback from other families and thought it may be beneficial to others to share our story. 

 When Chase was an infant his first diagnosis was nystagmus, farsighted and strabismus and that began the series  over the next few years of doctor visits and diagnosis including Sotos Syndrome.  We had therapists coming into our home and because he had vision issues we were able to get a teacher that specialized in vision issues (TVI -teacher of the visually impaired).  

One day I mentioned to his TVI that he was so slow sometimes when we walked around and I wasn't sure if it was a focus issue, motor planning issue or something else.  Some of the things he did was feel with his foot when a surface would change.  He was always so hesitant when he walked and very slow.  Some of the areas he had the most trouble with include grates over a sidewalk, the red bumpy sidewalk when you walk 

out of a store and when he'd walk down steps he'd feel for the next step with his foot even though there was no step.  Some of the fine motor issues it effected included not seeing things that didn't have a lot of contrast like a chocolate chip on a dark table (my daughter took seconds to fine!)  

Our TVI and an Orientation and Mobility Specialist (O&M) tested him and found he had CVI (cortical Vision Impairment).  CVI is ranked on a scale and he scored in the upper range, which is good.  Most who have it start out in the lower range and with therapy can improve.  Ranking high on this scale is rarer and makes it harder to discover.  What it means for him is that he has a harder time processing what he sees and needs his visual environment to be simplified.  For the last five years a TVI and O&M therapist work with him and have helped him to improve and learn ways to keep him safer. 

Friday night, 2014 SSSA conference

Little Rock, AR

Take Notice that the 

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

1000 West Buena Vista Drive

Orlando, FL 32830 

Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. local time for the following purposes:

1. To receive the financial report of the treasurer

2. To receive the membership report

3. To elect directors; and

4. To transact such business as may be properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may appoint another person to cast your vote by completing, signing and returning the attached form of Proxy. You may appoint any person by inserting that person's name where indicated or you may appoint the President, Kellie Taylor Penny, by checking the box next to her name.

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