The KSSB Family Infant-Toddler (FIT) program, in partnership with the Kansas Early Childhood Developmental Services, offers high-quality vision services for Kansas children who are blind or visually impaired, ages birth to three, at no cost. Our collaboration allows us to provide comprehensive support and ensure that every child and their families receive the specialized care they need during these crucial early years.
TERI CHANEY
- TSVI
- North Central Kansas
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Serving: 13, 15, 22, 23, 31, 32
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Cell: (913) 558–6294
- tchaney@kssdb.org
BRANDI SMITH
- TSVI
- North Central & Northeast Kansas
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Serving: 5, 12, 17, 28, 33, 38
- Cell: 913-415-0678
- brandismith@kssdb.org
DE MCDOUGALD
- COMS
- Cell: (913) 558-9342
- dmcdougald@kssdb.org
ANGIE HILT
- TSVI
- South Central Kansas
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Serving: 2, 30, 32, 35
- Cell: 913-415-8598
- ahilt@kssdb.org
MARITES ALTUNA
Director of Family Infant-Toddler Services
We support children with visual impairments from birth to age three and their families across Kansas. Our services are offered in collaboration with Kansas Early Childhood Developmental Services at the the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Infant Toddler Services of Kansas.
Our team consists of certified teachers of students with visual impairments and orientation and mobility specialists with extensive experience working with children who are blind or visually impaired, including those with Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI).
Located throughout Kansas, our team is licensed to serve children from birth to age 21, ensuring that families can access quality vision services wherever they are.
- Assessments/Evaluations: Understand how visual impairments, including CVI, affect a child’s use of vision.
- Targeted Interventions: Support the development of functional vision within daily routines.
- Transition: Provide vision-related information as children transition to preschool.
- Resources: Provide essential tools and CVI resources to support families and providers.
- Education: Offer training and information to help families and providers better understand visual impairments and effective support strategies.
- Family Support: Provide educational resources to help families nurture their child’s functional vision and facilitate opportunities for family connection through engagement activities and the Discover CVI Parent Group.
Any child from birth to three years old with:
- Confirmed vision impairment diagnosis.
- Family or team concerns regarding a child’s vision.
- A pre-existing condition that increases the likelihood of vision impairment may include but is not limited to prematurity, syndromes, a family history of visual issues, or traumatic events like oxygen deprivation, meningitis, or shaken baby syndrome.
- Outcomes on the Kansas Vision Screening suggest a referral is necessary.
- Providers from Infant Toddler Services of Kansas
- Medical practitioners, with the family’s permission
- Parents with concerns about their child’s vision
When a family or medical provider refers to FIT, we promptly notify the local Infant Toddler Program in the family’s area. The local program will then contact the family to start the process.
If the referral comes from the local Infant Toddler Program, the FIT team member serving that region will contact and work with the local provider to provide the appropriate vision support.
Email: fit@kssdb.org
Telephone: (913) 645-5645
Download the Outreach Services Map in PDF
HEATHER PEDERSEN
- TSVI
- Northeast Kansas
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Serving: 10, 29, 33
- Cell: (913) 558-3926
- hpedersen@kssdb.org
MELISSA SCHLEGEL
- TSVI
- West Central Kansas
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Serving: 1, 3, 5, 19, 36
- Cell: (913) 558-4995
- mschlegel@kssdb.org
TAMMY WARFORD
- TSVI
- Southeast Kansas
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Serving: 11, 26, 34
- Cell: (913) 558-6164
- twarford@kssdb.org
LAURA WOHLHUTER
- TSVI
- JoCo, WyCo, and Douglas County
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Serving: 7, 16, 21, 37
- Cell: (913) 558-4547
- lwohlhuter@kssdb.org