Kathryne, mother of “Little C,” (Moms on Monday #6) is changing how children with CVI are being educated in Louisiana. BRAVO!
Image: A little boy sitting on a black floor and surrounded by black walls. He wears glasses. He is leaning forward looking at a light source with many strands of shiny red beads hanging over it.
When I asked my local university VI graduate program why their curriculum did not address CVI and how they could add education opportunities on CVI to their VI curriculum I received the response, “it is almost impossible to provide all things to all people for all purposes.” CVI is the #1 pediatric visual impairment in the US. This was followed up with how Dr. Roman’s methods are “far from accepted as the preferred model” and there are a “diversity of opinions on how these youth are best served by educational systems.” Dr. Roman has provided the only educational model.
This happened a few weeks before the NE AER Conference. The November 22 post on CVI Momifesto provided the link to AER’s website to look up our state chapters. CVI Momifesto suggested that we contact our AER Presidents and ask how we as parents can support TVI training in CVI.
Even though I found no contact information, website, or conference for my local chapter I decided to pay the dues and see where this rabbit hole led.
After joining AER I reached out to my son’s outreach therapist that Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired (LSVI) is sending out twice a month. I asked if she knew if LA AER had any workshops or conferences and how as a parent member I could become involved. I hit the Jackpot. It turns out the head of LSVI’s Outreach Department is the outgoing AER President. She called me soon after full of excitement that a parent wanted to be involved. She was in total agreement that CVI training was needed.
All I had to do was ask to sponsor training. The next month AER approved the workshop. Louisiana will have a CVI work shop October 19, 2018, and I have extended a personal invitation to our local graduate VI program.
If you are in Louisiana and want to attend you can sign up here.
CVI Momifesto 
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