The Ontario Foundation for Visually Impaired Children

SERVICES

Our services are designed to promote the development of the child within the context of the child’s family and community. Programming emphasis is placed on the unique teaching strategies and learning styles of children with visual impairment, in order to facilitate their overall development, environmental access, and social interactions.

High Park Forest School Group Program

The High Park Forest School offers a daily group program for up to 20 children ages 2-5 from September through June.

This program follows a developmental curriculum, individualized for each child, with emphasis placed on the development of visual, tactile, and auditory senses and specific adaptive skills including: visual efficiency, orientation and mobility, and pre-braille skills.

The High Park Forest School has been physically modified to accommodate the special needs of the children. It also serves as a demonstration model for early childhood educators and other professionals working with young children who are visually impaired.

Admission Criteria: age 2 to 5 years, who have been diagnosed with a visual impairment and reside in the city Toronto.

Family and Community Resource Program

This service provides home visiting/community based consultation. Our service consists of consulting with the family and community professionals in the development and implementation of the Individual Family Service Plan (ISFP). Specific attention is given to promote the development of visual, tactile, and auditory senses and specific adaptive skills including: visual efficiency, orientation and mobility, and pre-braille skills. Professional workshops are offered to early childhood educators and other professionals.

Admission Criteria: birth to 5 years of age; who have been diagnosed with a visual impairment, and reside in Toronto, Peel, Halton, Durham, York, and Simcoe Regions.

Referrals can be made by parents, eye care professionals, social and health care providers. For additional information, please call us at 416-767-5977.