Through early intervention, Anchor Center for Blind Children works with children to maximize the use of any vision they may have as well as optimizing their use of all senses. Additionally, early intervention enhances the families' ability to support their children's well being, capacity for learning and full participation in their communities. Anchor Center's specialized staff assists children with visual impairments in developing the emotional security, social competence and intellectual skills needed to build on their natural talents and ability to succeed in school.
Goals
Anchor Center for Blind Children is a nationally recognized, private, non-profit agency whose goals are:
- to provide educational and therapeutic services of the highest quality to children from birth to age five (whose vision is their primary obstacle to learning) without discrimination to race, national or ethnic origin, sex or religious preference;
- to provide information and support to families for the purpose of: a) increasing parents appreciation and respect for their child's unique potential b) empowering families to advocate for their child;
- to provide a setting that encourages children's independent functioning and ability to interact with their families, peers, and others in the world around them;
- to collaborate with schools, community agencies and others in order to enable children who are blind to successfully transition into other educational settings and develop optimally.
Unique Features Of Anchor Center Program
- Infant Home Program
- Parental Involvement
- Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment (TPBA)*
- Licensed team of teachers and therapists within the classroom who specialize in the education of blind children
- Vision Stimulation, Pre-Braille, Orientation/Mobility
- Training and Technical Assistance for graduate level programs and medical personnel
- Infant Home-Based Summer Services
- Non-discriminatory policy to serve students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion or gender
*TPBA -Transdisciplinary Play Based Assessment - a child is evaluated by a full team of Anchor Center Specialists. Specialists include: vision teachers, a speech/language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapists and developmental psychologist. Complete reports regarding each area observed are written for parents, physicians and case workers/school districts. Anchor Center tries to schedule one TPBA for each preschooler and certain toddlers throughout the year. Ask our therapists about getting your child evaluated!