The Virginia A. Jacko

Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Collaborative Center

The Virginia A. Jacko Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Collaborative Center at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind is the first collaboration between educators, medical professionals, researchers and service providers in the state of Florida, responding exclusively to CVI. CVI is the "leading cause of visual impairment in children in the US and around the world" (National Eye Institute, 2021). The CVI Center is in partnership with pediatric ophthalmologists at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the Nation's No. 1 hospital in ophthalmology, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry and neurologists at The Brain Institute at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. Click here to read an article featured in Forbes titled “Miami Lighthouse Opens Florida’s First CVI Center To Address Pediatric Visual Impairment” . Click here to read an article featured in Miami Herald titled “How a Miami school helps kids with a visual impairment see better and improve skills” .

What is CVI?

• CVI is a brain-based visual impairment, caused by damage to the visual processing pathways in the brain
• Unlike ocular visual impairment, functional vision in children with CVI is expected to improve with early diagnosis, appropriate assessment and intervention
• CVI can be congenital or acquired due to trauma occurring after birth
• CVI is most commonly caused by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), hydrocephalus, seizure, metabolic disease, infection or head trauma such as shaken baby syndrome
• Under the umbrella of other cerebral visual impairments, Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is associated with the 10 specific visual characteristics and behaviors:
  • need or dependence on light, movement, color preference
  • demonstrated visual latency, visual field preferences, abnormal visual reflexes
  • difficulty with visual complexity of objects, array, face or the sensory environment; difficulty with novelty (new environmental, materials) distance viewing and visually guided reach

(Roman-Lantzy, 2018)

The CVI Collaborative Center provides infants and school-aged students with:

• Assessment & Educational Planning: post-diagnosis CVI-specific Functional Vision Assessment (CVI Range Assessment), Sensory Balance Learning Media Profile, and educational planning and recommendations for instructional intervention that address the child's unique learning needs
• Education-based intervention: direct service instruction to maximize the child’s opportunity to access his/her academic materials and fulfill his/her educational potential
• Family Support and Education: ongoing education and support for families and education teams
• Onsite and Outreach Service: services are provided on site, home visits, and via outreach services

Why We Are Focusing on CVI:

• One word: Neuroplasticity.
• With early diagnosis, ongoing assessment, and appropriate educational intervention, research demonstrates functional vision improvement
• Inter-professional collaboration is key to addressing CVI in a holistic way: bridging medical diagnosis, functional vision assessment and educational intervention
• Children with CVI can utilize multi-sensory learning, using their vision to access materials adapted to their need to build literacy and math skills, engage socially with their peers, and reach their full potential when given the opportunity

Implementing Professional Development at the CVI Collaborative Center:

• Teachers of the Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, therapists, classroom teachers and staff are receiving ongoing training on CVI-specific assessment, educational planning and accommodations
• Promoting parent education, community awareness and advocacy on CVI
• Bridging connections and collaborating with teams of educators and therapists serving children with CVI in South Florida

For information regarding services through our CVI Collaborative Center please contact:
Francesca Crozier-Fitzgerald, Director of our CVI Collaborative Center at fcrozier-fitzgerald@miamilighthouse.org, 786-636-6498 or
Tania Perez, Associate Director of CVI Collaborative Center at tperez@miamilighthouse.org, 786-636-6509

For general information about our CVI Collaborative Center and for all media inquiries please contact:
Virginia Jacko, President and CEO at vjacko@miamilighthouse.org, 305-856-4176

Please send referrals for Functional Vision Assessment (CVI Range Assessment) for patients diagnosed with CVI to (fax): 786-362-7470

Parent Testimonials

“I was frantic to help my child when a new ophthalmologist told me about the Miami Lighthouse and I enrolled him in the pre-school program at the age of 2. Through a specialized CVI assessment it was found that with the right support he is able to access his curriculum visually. Lorenzo is now reading text at grade level with the appropriate adaptations, support and technology in place, thanks to the Miami Lighthouse to the Blind. Their early intervention enabled my son to excel academically and information explaining how CVI-specific instructional intervention enhanced his literacy, math, and all other areas of learning.” - Caterina Sastri

“Aimee has CVI and has made tremendous progress working with all the amazing staff at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, especially Francesca. She has provided us with numerous techniques that we are able to incorporate at home to assist Aimee with identifying objects, letters, puzzles and more — focusing on reducing clutter, being specific and consistent, and most of all having much grace, patience and love! This program has been a life changing experience for not only my daughter, Aimee, but for me as well! We are continuously learning new ways to help Aimee with her visual impairment. We are forever grateful for the thoroughness of this program to focus on exactly what Aimee needs to help her succeed!” - Dr. Casey Bittner