About the Birth to Three (B-3) ~ Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program:
a partnership between NMSBVI; New Mexico’s Family, Infant, Toddler (FIT) Program; and the Navajo Nation
part of NMSBVI’s commitment to provide a comprehensive program of developmental, educational, training and support services to blind, visually impaired or at-risk infants and toddlers
provides free, statewide direct services to families of young children who have a diagnosed visual impairment (VI) or who are considered at-risk to receive a VI diagnosis
assists in early diagnosis of vision issues so that services can be offered early in development
services are delivered in the family home (the child’s natural environment) or in a community environment that supports both child and family
services supplement (but do not replace) other specialized services in the community
children are served by an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team decision
Other B-3 Pages or Related Programs
What expertise does NMSBVI offer?
NMSBVI’s developmental vision specialists are trained as teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs) and/or orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists and have specialized skills in the field of early childhood that encompass the developmental domains of young children
What services are available from NMSBVI for infants and toddlers?
Functional Vision Evaluations to determine the need for services
consultation/participation in developmental assessments with early intervention (EI) agencies
learning Media Assessments to determine both the sensory channels a child prefers for learning and to establish the need for braille instruction
consultation with the family and/or community service providers, therapists, etc.
direct services to the child & family, including services from a developmental vision specialist and/or orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist
developmental intervention strategies to support the development of visual/compensatory visual skills
information about blindness and visual impairment
referral & resource information for families
participation in Infant Family Service Plan (IFSP) and other team meetings
transition support from Birth-to-Three program into preschool programs
support for parents, including assistance finding a pediatric ophthalmologist for diagnosis
training for child-specific teams, as well as for organizations seeking additional knowledge about vision and its impact on development
Who should be referred to NMSBVI?
Any child between the ages of birth and three years old who:
has been diagnosed with a visual impairment
has an established condition that places him/her at risk for visual impairment (including but not limited to):
prematurity
syndromes
family history of visual impairment
traumatic events such as oxygen deprivation, meningitis, or shaken baby syndrome (SBS)
has a family or team concerned about some aspect of the child’s vision
has results on the New Mexico Vision Screening Tool indicating a need for referral
Who can make a referral to NMSBVI?
anyone who has concerns about a child’s vision and has the family’s permission
early intervention agency providers with knowledge about the child’s need for support services
medical professionals
Click the link for a list of New Mexico Pediatric Eye Specialists
Who do I contact to make a referral?
1-800-437-3505, ext. 3066
or call the Developmental Vision Specialist responsible for an agency’s referrals
Click the link for a list of specialists by areas of the state
Trainings
vision training is available for New Mexico Early Intervention (and other) agencies serving children birth to three years old
NMSBVI Foundation Eyeglass Fund
The NMSBVI Foundation provides some limited funds to purchase eyeglasses for children who are visually impaired and who do not have private insurance or Medicaid coverage to pay for eyeglasses. Application can also be made to the fund if children break their eyeglasses and a replacement pair is not covered by private insurance or Medicaid.
To qualify Eyeglass fund:
a child/student must have a diagnosis of visual impairment and must receive services as a child with a visual impairment through an IEP or IFSP
frames must be chosen from the Medicaid-approved selection, at a price not to exceed $120; lenses must not exceed $180.
only one pair of eyeglasses per fiscal year may be purchased for each child.
For more information about the Birth to Three ~ Family Infant Toddler Program, to make a referral or request vision training: