13 Sep Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI) Receives $100,000 Grant from the North American Saving Bank

Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI) recently received a grant for $100,000 from the North American Saving Bank to support onsite in-service trainings as well as local, regional, national, and in some cases international outreach opportunities.

Funding from the North American Saving Bank will support the cost of certification, professional development, and training of specialized staff including physical therapists, occupational therapists, orientation and mobility therapists, speech and language pathologists, teachers of the visually impaired, and social workers. In addition, funds will also support safety and operations training for all staff to help minimize the risk factors inherent in serving a vulnerable population of children with special needs. Finally, funding will support outreach efforts for CCVI specialist staff to bring their expertise and skill to areas where no such resources are available.

CCVI employs five physical therapists, seven occupational therapists (OT), four speech-language pathologists (SLP), four orientation and mobility therapists (O&M), fourteen teachers of the visually impaired (TVI), and one clinical social worker. All these professionals must maintain their credentials and obtain required professional development and continuing education.  Requested training and development funds will support CCVI’s mission delivery and minimize the risk factors inherent in serving a vulnerable population of children with special needs.  Funds will help to support onsite in-service trainings as well as local, regional, national, and in some cases international outreach opportunities.

CCVI’s mission is to prepare children with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities, to reach their highest potential in the sighted world. Our goal is to help children move toward independence and self-reliance. Over 67 years, CCVI has educated more than 10,000 children who are blind or visually impaired, or have multiple disabilities, and their families. The agency is the only center in the Kansas City area that offers specialized instruction and therapy for young blind and visually impaired children, including those with multiple disabilities, from birth through the age of six.