DESCRIPTION:
Cortical visual impairment (CVI) occurs when there is damage to the visual cortex rather than the eye. It may occur in children who have had asphyxia, hydrocephalus, trauma, mitochondrial disorder, infection, and a variety of other causes. The visual behaviors of children with CVI, such as light gazing, looking away when reaching for an object, looking away from faces, and visual inattention are sometimes confused as off-task behavior, disinterest, or red flags for autism. During this webinar, you will get an overview of behaviors of cortical visual impairment that tend to present similar to characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders, discuss items on ASD screening tools that may need special consideration for children with CVI, and offer three basic strategies for working with young children with CVI.
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Julie Durando, Ed.D.
Dr. Julie Durando directs the Virginia Project for Children and Young Adults with Deaf-Blindness (VDBP) at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to moving to Virginia in 2009, she served children with multiple disabilities and sensory impairments including deaf-blindness for eight years as both a classroom and itinerant teacher in central Florida. She completed her Doctorate in Education in special education from the University of Northern Colorado as a National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment Fellow. Dr. Durando's research and writing focused on early braille literacy experiences and instruction for children with sensory impairments and multiple disabilities.
 Dawn Hendricks, Ph.D.
Dawn is the Early Childhood Special Education Specialist for the Virginia Department of Education. In this role, she provides technical assistance to local school divisions, agencies, private facilities, and parents in the provision of special education and related services, federal and state requirements, as well as effective practices for implementing students' Individualized Education Programs. She spent five years as Director of Training at the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence. In this role she directed professional development activities and developed Project PASS (Preparing for Academic and Social Success), a program focused on educating young children with ASD and significant learning needs in inclusive environments. Dr. Hendricks has over 23 years of experience educating young children with disabilities and supporting their families.
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