Fifty-two people signed up from throughout western Pennsylvania. The School for Blind Children has two programs aimed at very young children. Children three or older can enroll in the School's Preschool programs, which currently enroll about 24 students drawn from the 33 counties of western Pennsylvania. Brenda Egan, Supervisor, Preschool and Elementary Programs, pointed out that the Preschool program curriculum, known as InStep, was designed for young learners with visual disabilities and is unique to the School. The youngsters gain from vision work, orientation and mobility instruction, a range of developmental therapies, art, music, gym and swimming classes.
Class size is small, with a ratio of one adult for every two children.
Preschoolers benefit from round the clock nursing care, individualized dietary trays, a group of consultants on call for specialized situations and opportunities to interact with their non-disabled peers. A well-timed transition process enables children to continue their education in appropriate settings, such as in their home school districts or specialized programs, such as the School for Blind Children. The CRIB program, now in its sixth year, reflects the School's ongoing commitment to early childhood programming. It was designed to help families understand their child's disability and to aid the child developmentally. CRIB is a community service offered free of charge to families.