CVI Resources

Cortical or cerebral vision impairment (CVI) is an umbrella term used to describe visual issues that are caused by damage or injury to the brain. This page contains a growing collection of resources for those supporting students who have CVI.

Active Learning

Active Learning is a developmentally appropriate approach to learning for students who have complex needs. Students are able to independently explore an enriched environment that either surrounds them or is placed in front of them. The Active Learning approach emphasizes that all individuals learn best by active participation. All activity, especially in the earliest stages of development, actually ‘wires our brains’ and establishes critical foundational concepts and skills necessary for all future learning.

This approach is closely tied to evidence-based research, such as the work of Jean Piaget’s developmental stages of learners. It views the child’s development holistically, including not only motor, cognitive, and sensory skills, but also social and emotional development.

Equipment

Below are links to Active Learning equipment that you can make.

• Active Learning Equipment

• Aprons, Vests and Gloves

• Position Boards

CVI online resources

• CVI for the TVI (Perkins) (TVI is the name for a Visiting Teacher in the USA)

• What’s the complexity? Webinar  

• CVI Scotland has resources on understanding, assessing and supporting students with CVI

• CVI Book Nook has a range of high contrast resources available

• Roman Word Bubbling

• Instructions on How to Make Tri and Black Felt Boards

• Paths to Literacy has resources to modify on the fly for CVI

• CVI-SIM Virtual Reality Videos

Resources to support class learning 

• You Doodle – drawing on photos (salient features), black background screen and writing in preferred colour 

• Bubbly – CVI literacy (uses outline shape of letters and words)

• PowerPoint/Google Slides - to create uncluttered slides with coloured backgrounds, real photos, accessible font 

• iPad camera/photo album – create an album for anchor charts, wall displays, word banks etc

Multisensory stories

• Information, tips and strategies regarding turning picture books into multisensory stories

• Free resources can also be found on the Rhyming Multisensory Stories website

• Creative Story Buckets use real objects to support early literacy learning opportunities for children with vision impairments

• Transition from objects to photographs

Feelix Library

Information about the Feelix Library and how to join is available through Vision Australia.

Marvin’s Storytime

Marvin’s Storytime Show is an online accessible show that promotes literacy access to all children. The stories incorporate characters developed by Gwyn McCormack (creator of the Positive Looking program). Each story is filled with repetition, colour, high contrast and songs to develop children’s visual attention and engagement.

Marvin’s Storytime can be accessed free of charge when registered through the website.

Visual efficiency skills

The Positive Looking to Go app and the Positive Eye website have a comprehensive collection of skills, resources and courses to support school staff to teach visual efficiency skills.

CVI apps for students

• Paths to Literacy iPad Apps for Kids with CVI

• 25 Apps for Kids with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)

• Tap-n-See Now

• My Talking Picture Board

• Sensory Light Box

• I Love Fireworks

• Peekaboo Barn

• Counting Bear – visually marks each item as it is counted 

We’re always on the lookout for more good ideas! If you know of a helpful resource that is not on this page, please let us know by emailing svrc@education.vic.gov.au