Iliana, a happy, energetic preschooler, is just one of the many youngsters introduced to the nation in People magazine's June 15th feature story on Lighthouse International's Child Development Center (CDC).
Iliana gives the day's weather report
Pretty in pink and reporting the day's weather to her classmates based on how she felt outdoors -- not on what she saw in the sky -- Iliana is visually impaired. So are half of her fellow preschoolers who are learning side by side with children who are sighted in the Lighthouse Universal Pre-K Program.
Launched in 1995, our integrated program, which benefits all, is a pioneering model, counted among only a handful in the country. With some classroom and teaching adaptations that "level the playing field," children with total blindness or who have low vision master the same curriculum as sighted children do through touch, sound and other senses. Students develop social, literacy, and early math, science and computer skills -- all within an enriched, nurturing educational environment.
Lighthouse preschoolers line up for gym, as seen in People magazine
When learning letters and numbers, for example, children with vision impairments may do so in Braille or with the help of large print -- via whatever learning medium is right for each child. Ultimately, they learn to navigate a sighted world more confidently, so that they can take the all-important first steps toward independence.
Lulu, back row, center, stands by Iliana, as their class prepares to graduate
Children with sight learn invaluable life lessons at a wonderfully young age, including compassion and how to lend a hand. They also discover that while not everyone sees in the same way, they share so many more important things in common.
When our unique preschool was also featured on ABC TV's "Good Morning America," one of Iliana's friends who is sighted, Lulu, expressed this so perfectly. She said, "I like to come with Iliana because I want to help her. I hold her hand because sometimes ... sometimes, she needs help."
