When a child is born with, or acquires a vision impairment, the family is challenged to understand the visual diagnosis, the impact of vision loss on development, and to begin to bring the world to the child. The child needs to organize this incomplete information and then respond to what may be a confusing view of the world. As well, the child cannot learn everyday tasks by observing others. As a result, the ability to understand basic life concepts, and the process of accomplishing most daily activities is seriously compromised. For example, the child who is unable to see family members going through the steps of preparing a meal at home, misses valuable understanding of how things happen in daily life.
Family members provide the link to the world for the child with vision impairment.
Carrying the baby in a front pak while doing chores around the house, setting aside a drawer with interesting and safe kitchen items for play, taking a sensory walk around the neighborhood, or describing everyday noises to the child are activities that make the connection to people and events in life. The child becomes most familiar with these routines by doing them again and again with family members and friends. At first, the child may be hesitant to touch things, but gentle encouragement over time usually helps the child to place little hands on toys and real objects. The Premature Baby Book by Helen Harrison, St. Martin's Press, 1983. Only through experience based learning, as described above, does the child gain personal validation of what the world is about in a way that makes sense to him.