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Home   >   Training  >  "Focus" Talks
Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI
 
Adults Living with Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and the Daily Impact on Life
Presenters: Ali Mahady, M.S., Manager of Outreach and Engagement
CVI Center at Perkins School for the Blind and Tina Zhu Xi Caruso, CVI Advocate, Adult with CVI, Photographer
  • ​CVI is a common cause of blindness and low vision, yet it is poorly understood and largely underdiagnosed. It often co-occurs with other medical diagnoses, including Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, developmental delay, autism, and genetic anomalies. Learn when to suspect CVI, some general support and adaptations, and hear directly from an adult with CVI, Tina, who will share her personal CVI story.
  • Recorded at the "Focus" Conference on October 7, 2025. ​
  • Length: 40 minutes
  • CEUs: None available. Certificate of Attendance by request
  • If ASL Interpretation is needed, please contact [email protected].
  • Resources:
    • ​Adults Living with CVI Slides (PDF)
  • REGISTER to view this free session. Please Note: The date you will see when registering for the "Focus" Talk is the date that the presentation was recorded. All "Focus" Talks are available for viewing immediately after registration. 
 
Vision Beyond 20/20: Exploring Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)​
Presenter: Jem Martin, OD, FAAO
Assistant Professor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry
Attending Optometrist, NECO Center for Eye Care Perkins School for the Blind & NECO Center for Eye Care Commonwealth
  • This lecture reviews Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) with an overview of epidemiology, risk factors and associated conditions, and then reviews signs and symptoms potentially related to CVI in a case-based approach.  
  • Recorded at the "Focus" Conference on October 7, 2025. ​
  • CEUs: None available. Certificate of Attendance by request.
  • Length: 59 minutes
  • If ASL Interpretation is needed, please contact [email protected]. 
  • Resources: 
    • Vision Beyond 20/20 Slides (PDF)
    • Perkins CVI Provider Directory 
    • TeachCVI Screening Survey
  • REGISTER to view this free session. Please Note: The date you will see when registering for the "Focus" Talk is the date that the presentation was recorded. All "Focus" Talks are available for viewing immediately after registration. 
 
CVI: Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment  An Introduction to CVI
​
Presenter: Ali Mahady, M.S., Outreach and Engagement Manager, CVI Now, Perkins School for the Blind
​CVI Parent
  • In this Introduction to Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) you will learn what CVI is, when to suspect CVI, challenges of getting a CVI diagnosis, some general supports and adaptations, and additional resources. Perspectives from adults with CVI are also shared. 
  • Recorded as a "Focus" Talk on April 18, 2025
  • CEUs: None available. Certificate of Attendance by request.
  • Length: 25 minutes​
  • If ASL Interpretation is needed, please contact [email protected]. 
  • REGISTER to view this free session. Please Note: The date you will see when registering for the "Focus" Talk is the date that the presentation was recorded. All "Focus" Talks are available for viewing immediately after registration. 
 
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) and the Visual Behaviors of Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment
Presenters:  Lisa Miller, MS. Ed, TVI, COMS, CLVT, Perkins School for the Blind
and Kristen Clark, M.Ed., COMS, Perkins School for the Blind
  • Addressing Orientation and Mobility skills is a required component of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) for individuals who are visually impaired. In this workshop, the presenter will describe the visual behaviors of Cortical/Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) in relation to Orientation and Mobility and considerations for assessment for individuals with CVI. Individuals with CVI may have difficulties which impact visual attention, recognition of people and information in the environment, visual fields, visual clutter and crowding, perception of motion, and visual guidance of the upper and lower limb. These difficulties may impact an individual's participation, engagement and travel in school and in the community as well as unfamiliar places and/or crowded environments.
  • Recorded at the "Focus" Conference on October 3, 2023
  • CEUs: None available; Certificate of Attendance by request
  • Length: 53 minutes​
  • Resources: 
    • ​References (PDF)
  • REGISTER to view this free session. Please Note: The date you will see when registering for the "Focus" Talk is the date that the presentation was recorded. All "Focus" Talks are available for viewing immediately after registration. 
For more information please contact: 
Lisa DiBonaventura,  M.A.,  COMS
Statewide Director Vision & Vision Loss Services
Department of Developmental Services  (DDS)
131 Emerald Street, Wrentham, MA 02093

Email: [email protected]
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"Focus" on Vision and Vision Loss: Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability
  • MCB/DDS
    • About >
      • Site Accessibility & Download Policy
      • Vision Loss Terminology
    • APH Federal Quota Account >
      • APH Activity Ideas
    • DDS Collaborative Eye Care Centers
    • Orientation & Mobility/Low Vision Services >
      • Areas Served
      • COMS Log In
    • Let's Walk Together
    • Vision Loss Support Groups
    • EOHHS Resources
  • Eye Care
    • Find an Eye Care Provider >
      • By Town >
        • Ayer
        • Beverly
        • Boston
        • Burlington
        • Cambridge
        • Chelmsford
        • East Bridgewater
        • East Harwich
        • Fairhaven
        • Fall River
        • Falmouth
        • Fitchburg
        • Framingham
        • Franklin
        • Gardner
        • Greenfield
        • Holyoke
        • Lowell
        • Marlborough
        • Melrose
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        • Newton
        • North Dartmouth
        • North Reading
        • Plymouth
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        • Salem
        • Sandwich
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        • Spencer
        • Sturbridge
        • Sudbury
        • Taunton
        • Tewksbury
        • Waltham
        • Watertown
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        • Worcester
    • Holyoke Vision Center
    • Center for Adaptive Eye Care SEMA
    • MCPHS Eye and Vision Center
    • DDS Vision Care Guidelines
    • Eye Health & Safety
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