When Megan Webber, Co-founder of KnowTheGlow (KTG), and Helene Dameris, KTG’s Director of Global Outreach, met with Pam Chapin, they were eager to learn about the meaningful work happening at Lighthouse Little Learners (LLL).
Pam, an experienced Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI) in Santa Clara County, described how Lighthouse Little Learners supports families with children who are blind or visually impaired from birth to age three throughout the. Bay Area and Central Valley. Services to infants and toddlers are part of California’s Early Start system, and are provided in partnership with Regional Centers and Local Education Agencies. For Pam, working with children from birth to age three is a highly specialized and rewarding field. Services are provided in the home and community and focus on learning through play and family routines. It is an important time for families to receive support as they learn to support their baby’s unique learning needs as they navigate medical care and special education systems. She explained that once children turn three, they “graduate” from early start programs and transition to their local school districts. Regional centers typically coordinate services for children with broader developmental delays, while school districts serve those with specific low-incidence disabilities, such as retinoblastoma. Many of these young children also receive support for physical, occupational, or other developmental needs. Pam stressed how critical early intake and screening are, noting that the intake coordinators, early intervention staff, and pediatric ophthalmologists that families typically meet first play an essential role in identifying vision issues early.
During their conversation, Pam and the KTG team spoke about the importance of raising awareness for conditions like leukocoria (The Glow) and retinoblastoma (Rb). Pam highlighted that while vision screening is required in programs like Head Start and state preschools, there is little consistency in how it is conducted across early childhood education systems. Megan agreed, sharing KTG’s dedication to strengthening these protocols nationwide, including through upcoming legislative efforts like the EDVI Act.
Pam described some of the powerful community events Lighthouse Little Learners organizes each year. In the spring, they partner with Guide Dogs for the Blind to host a Beeping Egg Hunt, creating a fun and inclusive Spring celebration. Each February, they hold the Lowenfeld-Akeson Early Years Symposium, bringing together pediatric ophthalmologists, educators, and parents for a day of learning and connection. And in June, they host the LLL Camp at Enchanted Hills in Napa, a special weekend retreat for families that offers opportunities for learning, respite, community, and joy. For many, it is their first time experiencing such an empowering gathering, and Pam shared how families often leave describing it as life-changing. These events are open to all families who have a young child who is blind or visually impaired and provide invaluable opportunities to build relationships and connect with resources.
Pam shared that entering the field wasn’t something she had planned until she met a child who was blind over 25 years ago and worked with her and her Vision Teacher. Pam shares that her greatest teachers have been the children and families she has worked with since then and her journey into this work has deeply impacted countless young lives. Sometimes, she reflected, it’s the paths we don’t plan for that become the most meaningful. As KTG and Lighthouse Little Learners look ahead, they share a clear vision: no child should lose their sight to a condition that could have been detected early…and hope that a Lighthouse and a Glow can help light the way.
