General Information
Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments
1750 S. Big Bend Boulevard
Richmond Heights,,
MO 63117
(314) 776 1300
[email protected]
http://www.dgckids.org
Brief Description
The Delta Gamma Center has been serving children with visual impairments since 1951. Our mission is to help children who are blind or visually impaired reach their full potential through family-centered, specialized services and community support. We provide services to children birth through high school graduation and support to their families.
Early intervention services for children under three include education, therapy and support for families. We also provide programming for school-aged children and youth, that supports the development of social skills, friendships and independence through fun community activities. Individual and group family support services are available to families of children with visual impairments of all ages. They include helping with the challenges of raising a child with a visual impairment, and perhaps other disabilities, and learning about and accessing needed resources and services.
Services are provided to eligible children and their families living within a 50-mile radius of our Richmond Heights office, including parts of Missouri and Illinois. Based on DGC provider availability, limited services may be provided to those living outside our service area. Information and referral services are available, upon request, to anyone who has, or serves, a child with a visual impairment of any age.
Services Offered
- Information and Referral
- Provides information and referral services to families of children with vision concerns and professionals who serve them.
- Counseling
- Provides short-term counseling for families of children with visual impairments.
- Community Outreach Programs
- Provides free vision screenings for children 6 months to 6 years of age.
- Assessment
- Provides Global Assessments, Functional Vision Assessments (FVAs) and Low Vision Evaluations (LVEs) and Orientation & Mobility assessments, when appropriate, for children birth to three years of age.
- Advocacy
- Provides advocacy services for children and families including advocacy for educational and medical services.
- Early Intervention/Infant Services
- Provides individualized services for eligible children through Missouri and Illinois Early Intervention programs. Services may include vision, orientation and mobility, developmental therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and family support.
- Library Services
- A small lending library with story boxes, twin vision books, braille books, and parent resources is available to children and families served.
- Low Vision Services
- Provides Low Vision Evaluations.
- Recreation Services
- GRADS, DGC’s program for school-aged children and youth, supports the development of social skills, friendships and independence. GRADS activities often include recreational activities, such as rock climbing, snow skiing, hiking, and tandem cycling.
- Summer/Day Camps and After-school Programs
- GRADS, DGC’s program for school-aged children and youth, supports the development of social skills, friendships and independence. GRADS activities occur on weekends, weekday evenings, and include summer offerings, such as summer challenge trips.
- Support for Parents
- Provides individual and group support for parents of children (birth to high school graduation) with a visual impairment.
- Support Groups
- GRADS, DGC’s program for school-aged children and youth, supports the development of social skills, friendships and independence through fun, recreational activities. This often includes discussion and support times during groups, allowing young people with visual impairments to learn from each other and grow together.
- Travel/Orientation and Mobility
- Provides individualized orientation and mobility services for children under the age of three.
- Volunteer Services
- Volunteer opportunities are available.