A Shared Vision

A nonprofit organization

100% complete

$25,000 Goal

Your gift will help identify and support families with young children who are blind or visually impaired. A Shared Vision is the leading, and in some regions, the ONLY provider of early intervention vision services in Colorado. All gifts qualify for a 50% Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit.

Testimonials

"We are beyond fortunate and grateful to have A Shared Vision as our vision provider through our local Denver County early intervention program. Our son's vision diagnosis has been very scary to say the least, and so far in just a few short months a reassurance and much needed confidence has been gained with A Shared Vision. We will figure out what's going on. The biggest blessing for us, however, has been our vision provider. She is a rock star! One of the hidden gems in the world -- bright, fun, beyond passionate for her work and finding success (and answers!) for any given need our son has had. She goes above and beyond every time. A rare trait anymore. We absolutely love and appreciate our vision provider and are so lucky she's the vision teacher in our lives! Thank you for all you do, and for your organization's dedication to its kiddos.” (A parent from the Front Range)

“Our vision teacher has been the number one resource for our child's developmental growth and overall happiness. Vision drives learning, and it's comforting to know we are not alone!” (A parent from the Western Slope)

"As a member of a group of 'pioneers' developing services for 'blind' babies in Colorado over 30 years ago, I highly encouraged the establishment of A Shared Vision. They have the unique training and experience to be the backbone for families to be informed on vision specific topics. They help connect families to their communities and medical/ophthalmology teams. Their staff represents years of training specific to visual impairment, orientation and mobility, and early child development, and they are passionate in all that they do.  They are geared to truly sharing and learning together, doing whatever it takes for each baby to grow into a fulfilling life." (JC Greeley, Retired TVI/COMS)

"I have collaborated with the founders of A Shared Vision for many years and was excited when they started this exceptional non-profit organization to provide in-home and community services to families of infants and toddlers who are blind or visually impaired. They are very passionate and caring individuals who strive to maximize their clients' potential to succeed in life and educate the parents about everything from explaining their child's diagnosis to navigating federal and state programs, advocating for their child, and transitioning into a school setting. They value a multidisciplinary approach and work to integrate my or other doctors' recommendations into their treatment plans to ensure their clients have the best opportunity to make the most of their lives." (Kara Hanson, OD, FAAO, Director, Low Vision Rehabilitation Service, Assistant Professor, UCHealth Eye Center)

"A Shared Vision stepped in when there was a real chance that children in early intervention (EI) would go without home-based vision services. Not only did they fill that gap, but their staff also fully embraced the EI philosophy of building the family's capacity to support their child through coaching and truly listening to and addressing family concerns. They strive to be great EI providers and they are! They are dedicated to assuring that every single child in Colorado who needs vision services receives them. They have outreach services in place that reach all corners of our wide and diverse state! This often results in a financial cost to them, but it feels like a small (or not so small) miracle to me to say that any child anywhere in our state can be served by their passionate and dedicated staff. It has been my pleasure to have been involved with A Shared Vision from the start, and I look forward to our continuing and enthusiastic collaboration!" (A former member of the EI Colorado State Team, Colorado Department of Human Services)

Mission

A Shared Vision educates, inspires, and empowers Colorado's families to nurture the development of their very young children who are blind or visually impaired so that all children may discover their brightest future.

Our goal is to ensure that all families of children with visual impairments, from birth to age three, have access to and receive early intervention services from a community of highly skilled and collaborative professionals.

Background Statement

Founded in 2016, A Shared Vision was created by two dedicated Early Intervention Teachers of the Visually Impaired (EI-TVIs) who saw that families with very young children who are blind or visually impaired were not receiving the crucial early intervention services they needed. Although blindness and visual impairment occur less frequently than other disabilities, vision is fundamental to a child's development across physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains. Early intervention is essential because it builds a foundation for lifelong success, benefiting academic performance, behavior, and even future career opportunities.

Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), early intervention services are federally mandated, yet vision services in Colorado are still not reaching many families due to significant challenges. These include a shortage of qualified vision professionals, limited vision screening, and the complexities of delivering in-home or telehealth services as required by IDEA.

Today, A Shared Vision leads the state in providing early intervention vision services. In 2023 alone, we delivered nearly 70% of all such services statewide. Since our founding, we have supported 742 children and conducted over 11,000 educational service visits, partnering with 17 of Colorado’s 20 Local EI Brokers, which collectively serve 85% of the state’s population. By working closely with families in homes, community settings, and through telehealth, our licensed teachers provide family-centered, strengths-based services that empower families and nurture each child’s unique abilities for a lifetime of success.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

A Shared Vision

other names

A Shared Vision

Year Established

2016

Tax id (EIN)

81-4227664

Category

Education

Organization Size

Medium Organization

Colorado State Tax Credits

Colorado Child Care Credit

Address

10135 West 101st Drive
Westminster, CO 80021

Service areas

CO, US

Phone

303-349-1961

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