Meet Annie and Angie, sisters thriving at Beyond Blindness.
Creating a community that is inclusive for all children and their families is a core value at Beyond Blindness. For sisters Annie and Angie, who have very diverse needs, being able to play and learn together on the same campus is helping both girls thrive!
Born premature at 27 weeks, three-year-old Annie has complex medical needs including impaired vision and cerebral palsy. She attends her preschool class in a wheelchair (which mom brightly decorates for seasonal celebrations) and benefits from “hand over hand” guided instruction from her teachers in order to learn and engage with objects. She loves being part of classroom activities and lights up around other children.
Angie, on the other hand, is a typical two-year-old who is part of the toddler class. She has an expanding vocabulary and a growing desire to assert her independence.
Both girls benefit from a curriculum that teaches early academic concepts while also emphasizing positive relationships with peers of all abilities.
“There are so many benefits to including children of all abilities in the same classroom,” says teacher Stephanie Aviles. “Children learn from each other. A typical child can inspire a child with disabilities to learn a new skill or socialize with new words. But more importantly, all children benefit from learning friendship skills, positive self-image and respect for others.”
For mom Stheysi, being able to bring both girls to one location for school, childcare, and Annie’s specialized therapies is a huge bonus that simplifies their family routine and increases their time together at home.
“Beyond Blindness is great with each individual,” says Stheysi, the girls’ mother. “The staff takes their time to learn about their needs and always reach out with questions and insights on their development. It makes me happy that the girls are in one place where each of their needs is met with such care.”
