Birth-To-Three Program helps parents too

Regular readers know I was a student in The Lighthouse’s Birth-to-Three Early Intervention Program. While I don’t remember much about the experience, my mom, Margarita, and my dad, Armando, do. And they got as much out of the program as I did.

My mom and dad had never really known anyone who is blind, much less anything about parenting a blind baby. They didn’t even know about The Chicago Lighthouse as a resource available to help.

Fortunately, we connected early, and Miss Sharon, my Birth-To-Three Teacher, began coming to our house weekly. While I thought these visits were about fun and play, they had a larger meaning for my parents.

“Miss Sharon would bring all kinds of toys with different shapes, sounds and textures, and you would pick up quickly on all the games,” my mom recalls. “Seeing that really gave me a lot of hope and confidence that everything would be ok.”

Miss Sharon also helped my dad and my older brother learn how to play with me, which helped our family bond. When I aged out of the program, Miss Sharon made sure I attended a preschool that met my needs as a blind student. Without a doubt, the Birth-to-Three Program had a lasting impact on our family, and we are grateful that it continues to help families like us.

For those who are just beginning your journey with the program, my mom has this advice: take advantage of all it has to offer you, as it will help build a support system that will serve you throughout your lives.

“Get involved with your child’s education and with other parents,” she says. “This may all be overwhelming at first, but you are your child’s best advocate and support.”