Blind Children’s Center Builds Brighter Futures Through Early Childhood Education
Every child deserves the opportunity and tools to thrive, regardless of background, income or life circumstances. With up to 80% of what we learn acquired visually, this is especially true for children with severe vision loss or other disabilities. For families across Los Angeles County, particularly those raising a child facing blindness, accessing early learning programs is essential to building lasting pathways to academic success.
The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) bridges the opportunity gap through its Head Start and Early Learning Programs, which serve more than 7,000 children from birth to age 5. As one of 16 LACOE partner agencies, the Blind Children’s Center (BCC) is a vital resource for children with vision loss and other disabilities.
“At BCC, we serve all children — some with vision loss and other disabilities, and some with no disabilities at all — together in the same inclusive classrooms. That’s the uniqueness of our school. Every child learns and plays alongside peers of all abilities, building empathy, confidence, language and social skills,” said Program Director Bianca Ciebrant. “For children with vision loss, this early exposure to inclusion and high-quality learning experiences is especially important, and sends an important message that they belong, to themselves and society.”
Early education helps children establish strong cognitive, social-emotional and physical foundations that support lifelong learning. According to First 5 California, more than 10% of California children under five years of age have a disability or special need that may affect their ability to play and learn. By addressing developmental delays early, schools such as BCC help children catch up with their peers, decreasing the need for intensive special education services later in their academic careers, according to EIEI.
Research consistently confirms the long-term value of early learning. Children who participate in birth-to-five programs are 39% more likely to complete college and 23% less likely to live in poverty. Head Start graduates are healthier, more likely to graduate high school and better prepared to enter the workforce.
Expanding on this vision, BCC provides comprehensive care for the whole family, with early intervention services for infants, toddlers, parents and even pregnant mothers, emphasizing the role of caregivers in shaping a child’s development, learning and school readiness.
“BCC isn’t just a preschool, it is a support system that is here for every step of the child’s journey,” said Chief Executive Officer Sarah Orth. “Parents of children with disabilities and complex needs face significantly greater caregiving demands, as their children often require more intensive supervision and require more health-care related support.”
BCC offers specialized toddler and preschool programs that help both sighted and visually impaired students build skills in literacy preparedness, mobility training, sensory development, speech therapy and early math education. Together, these programs form a structured early childhood pathway, offering care and guidance as families navigate their child’s first years.
“He loved his time at BCC, from his teachers to his new friends. Despite being completely blind, Oscar was just like a typical child growing alongside his sighted peers in the inclusive program,” said Meredith Kao, speaking about her son, who is a recent alumnus. “It gave us hope to know that he will do fine in public school and beyond.”
With continued support and investment, these early learning programs can help create a future where all children have the opportunity to succeed. To learn more about LACOE’s Head Start program, visit PreKKid.org. For more information about early childhood education at BCC, visit BlindChildrensCenter.org.
