Blind Children's Learning Center Was the Right Fit for Our Family

     Tahira Knight-Zaluske treasures her role as a mother.  Her daughter, four-year-old Xia, is her miracle.  Born with cerebral palsy and legally blind she is a little bundle of joy.  Xia is very social and extremely expressive.  If you have the opportunity to meet Xia you’ll quickly discover she demands face to face contact, which you instantly give her because she charms you with her fabulous smile and contagious laugh.     

    Xia loves her class in the Early Childhood Center program.  Tahira shared,”Xia squeals with delight when she knows she’s going to the Center. The interactions with her classmates and teachers have made her stronger. “

     Although doctors’ diagnosis for Xia have been that she will be totally dependent, Tahira and her husband Walter want their daughter to experience life.  Still very protective parents they are cautious.  Their first encounter with Blind Children’s Learning Center was in the safety of their home through the Infant Family Focus program.  Next they ventured out participating in the on-site Parent and Me classes held every Friday in the Therapy Services Center. 
    “I’d received high recommendations for Blind Children’s Learning Center from many sources.  After attending the on-site classes I knew the Center was a right fit for our family,” said Tahira.  “Any fears we had were relieved by the amazing calmness I witnessed by the teachers and staff.  Everyone was loving, kind and generous.  Walter and I felt secure in our decision.” 
     Xia now attends preschool classes daily and receives Occupational, Speech and Vision therapies all on site at the Center.  It could be overwhelming for a parent to schedule and transport their child to multiple locations for all the services their child may need.  Having everything at the Center relieves a tremendous amount of pressure for parents.
     “We are so grateful for the team work of all the staff at the Blind Children’s Learning Center.  Everyone goes above and beyond to support our family,” expressed Tahira.
     Tahira goes above and beyond in support of Blind Children’s Learning Center.  She has recently joined the Parents and Professional Advisory Council (PPAC) and is leading the fundraising for Team XYZ at the 8^th Annual Destination → Independence 5K Walk on Saturday, May 19.  If you’d like to support Tahira’s efforts click here to donate to Team XYZ.

Read more about Tahira and Xia in the Orange County Register. 

Dreams Do Come True

In May 2012 Blind Children’s Learning Center intern and alumni, Jenny Vincent will celebrate a life milestone – she’ll graduate from California State University Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Adolescent Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood.  She’s on her way to fulfilling her dream to lead a group home for infants and preschoolers with special education needs. 

Diane, Jenny’s mother has already seen one of her dreams for her daughter fulfilled - Independence. 

At six weeks old a doctor confirmed Diane’s suspicions that Jenny had vision issues.  Jenny was diagnosed with bilateral coloboma, a condition that occurs in about 1 in 10,000 births.  Bilateral coloboma  is caused when a baby’s eyes do not develop properly during pregnancy.  Immediately, Jenny joined the Center’s Infant Family Focus program and an Infant Development Specialist began weekly in-home sessions for Jenny and her mother. 

Adorable 4-year-old Jenny on the
Blind Children's Learning Center campus.

Visually impaired, Jenny transitioned into the Early Childhood Center when she was six months old.  As Jenny learned to walk, Orientation and Mobility Specialists taught her the skills to safely travel in her environment.  Like in any preschool, she learned socialization skills and at the Center her love for reading Braille was born.    

“I have wonderful childhood memories of my preschool days at Blind Children’s Learning Center.  Especially my mom joining us on new and exciting field trips.  I remember going to a zoo and petting an elephant.  Going ice skating and meeting Mickey Mouse for the first time.  My family could not afford to provide these types of experiences for me.  I’m grateful to the Center for these fantastic opportunities,” said Jenny.

When Jenny  successfully transferred to her local public school kindergarten at the age of six she didn’t break her ties with the Center.  She joined the Mentoring and Peer Buddies programs.  In 2007 she began volunteering at the Center and this fall she became an intern in the pre-kindergarten classroom five hours a week.   

 “I love interning at Blind Children’s Learning Center.  One of the greatest experiences has been seeing myself in many of the children and watching them successfully accomplish developmental milestones,” said Jenny.

Jenny is proof that early intervention and specialized education for blind or visually impaired children will empower them to become successful independent young adults. 

Mommy, why is it all black?

What do you say to your precocious two year old daughter when she has lost her eyesight and asks the unimaginable question, “Why is it all black?"

When Merlyn was born she had medical issues.  Melissa and Steve Hileman accepted that their little girl Merlyn would be visually impaired, but spent countless hours in hospitals and doctors’ offices trying to save their daughter's small amount of vision.   After dozens of surgeries they lost the battle to give Merlyn sight.  Devastated they now had to deal with total blindness. 

"Miss Independent" by Melissa Hileman

Merlyn was born full term, but with complications.  Her umbilical cord was wrapped across her chest and she was not breathing.  After being resuscitated, the doctors found that Merlyn had a dislocated hip, hole in her heart, and cloudy corneas.  After a week in NICU we traveled to Los Angeles to see specialists and it was revealed that Merlyn had congenital glaucoma and a rare eye condition called Peter’s Anomaly.  We were advised that she would need cornea transplants and possibly several other surgeries to help to establish vision.  Over the next two years we spent every week in hospitals and doctors’ offices. 

Once we knew our daughter was going to be visually impaired we contacted Blind Children’s Learning Center.  Fortunately we were familiar with the school because of a nephew who had attended the school several years earlier.  Merlyn immediately began services through the Infant Family Focus at home program.  When she turned a year old Merlyn attended the Early Childhood Center on the campus.  She was very sensitive to sounds so her first year of school was spent being rocked by “Grandma” Mary or in a hammock swing to help comfort her as she adjusted to the sounds of the room.  Over the years the teachers and therapists worked together to slowly integrate her into noisy situations.

Another obstacle to Merlyn’s learning was that her eyesight was constantly changing due to cornea transplants, lens removals, glaucoma and retina detachments.  After two years and dozens of surgeries, we lost the battle to give Merlyn sight. It was devastating time for us.  We accepted that our daughter would be visually impaired, but now we had to deal with blindness.

The one thing that really helped us cope with this new “problem” was Merlyn's ability to adapt.  Just two weeks after losing her eyesight, she was actively exploring her classroom.  She began trailing the walls and counting her steps.  She was getting around so well that we thought that she might have regained some sight. But after further testing and exams it was confirmed that she was still totally blind.  That’s when we realized just how quickly she had learned to adapt to her new situation. 

Merlyn is a very precocious young lady and after she lost her eyesight she asked me, “Why is it all black?” My husband Steve and I choose to tell Merlyn in simple terms the truth.  “You were born with eyes that did not work.  The doctors helped you to see for a little while, but then your eyes broke.”  As the years went on we started adding more medical terms such as glaucoma, cornea transplant, and retina detachment to explain why her eyes “broke.”

Over the next three years at Blind Children’s Learning Center Merlyn learned to use a cane and echo location.  She learned Braille, typing and how to ride a bike.  At very young age she learned to do a lot of things on her own.  She constantly told us that she was “ Miss Independent.” 

Merlyn was almost six years old when she graduated from the Center.  She transitioned into a public school first grade class, where she confidently explained to her sighted classmates although she couldn’t see with her eyes she can see with her hands, ears, mouth and nose. 

Today Merlyn is almost 13 and starting the 8th grade in the fall.  She's an avid reader.  Recently, she competed with students from across the country and Canada in the National Braille Challenge Competition.  Out of all 60 competitors she had the highest score in reading comprehension and was awarded the "KNBC 4 LA Braille Superstar Award for Excellence in Reading Comprehension" and received $1,000 cash award.

Merlyn’s not all books.  She is a member of the STARR Cheerleaders, the JAG Cheerleaders, Real Trex (outdoor adventures for blind teens), Cedar Valley Show Choir, and is a member of the Avengers Goalball Team.  She also volunteers at our county animal shelter.  She helps socialize puppies and has now decided her career goal is to become a veterinarian. 

Merlyn has come a long way and we are grateful to Blind Children’s Learning Center for providing teachers and specialists who are knowledgeable, dedicated and nurturing.  The Center gave Merlyn essential educational and social development skills that have helped her grow into an independent young lady.

Congratulations! Today is your day.



Hope is mastering Braille and now
speaks in complete sentences.
She dreams of becoming a "story-teller."

On July 27, 2011 Blind Children's Learning Center was abuzz with family and friends celebrating the Pre-K graduation and Kindergarten promotion of 19 incredible children from our Early Childhood Center (ECC).  Here are just a few of our shining stars.



Caiya wasn't a talker when she started school, but
now she is and verbalizes her needs.
She can write her name in Braille
and has learned to identify money. It's no surprise
she wants to grow up to be a banker!















Maya is a charmer, as you can see.
She has mastered Braille and knows
all her letters. Maya is inquisitive and determined. She has decided she wants to be a doctor.



William is a sighted peer.
He's learned to read and excels in art.
He loves to dance and
teach his classmates his latest moves.
Yes, you guessed it -
he wants to be a DJ when he grows up.












A unique aspect of ECC
is the presence of sighted peers.
Sighted children learn alongside
children who are visually impaired.

Note from Nurse Jill - July is Eye Safety and UV Protection Month

Do children need sunglasses?

Yes. Children are at special risk from harmful effects of UV Rays, since their eyes do not have the same ability as adults to protect from UV radiation.

Here are some helpful suggestions for choosing sunglasses for children:

• Check to make sure the sunglasses fit well and are not damaged.
• Choose sunglasses that fit your child's lifestyle - the lens should be impact resistant and should not pop out of the frames.
• Choose lenses that are large enough to shield the eyes from most angles.
• Find a wide brimmed hat for your child to wear along with the sunglasses.  This will give your child extra protection against the sun. NOTE: Wearing a hat can cut the amount of UV rays that reach the eyes in half.