Eleanna’s Story

Eleanna’s mom, Anna, noticed when Eleanna was a baby that her daughter’s eyes didn’t seem to be tracking anything. A diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia and septo-optic dysplasia when Eleanna was three months turned Anna’s world “completely upside down.”

Anna says, “When I got her diagnosis, I was very scared.” Then she found Vision Forward. “Coming into contact with an organization like Vision Forward makes you feel like you are not alone at all.” Vision Forward’s highly-specialized early intervention team helped Eleanna learn to sit up, crawl, and develop other foundational skills. While in Vision Forward’s preschool, Eleanna began to learn braille and was taught how to go up and down stairs with her white cane, preparing her for when she enrolled in her local elementary school.

Anna describes her now fourth grader as “bright, beautiful, outgoing, and unique.” Eleanna brings her sparkling personality into all the Vision Forward activities she is a part of including Braille Games, Braille Challenge, and our weeklong summer Rainbow Day Camp.

Even though Eleanna’s vision diagnosis means she has blurred vision and poor depth perception, she and her mom appreciate that when they take part in Vision Forward activities, they know sensory aspects will be included so Eleanna can fully participate.

Anna sometimes experiences worry as she thinks about Eleanna’s future, but she knows after seeing adults at Vision Forward receiving services that Vision Forward will always be here for their family.

Eleanna says, “Vision Forward is the place where you feel love, you feel appreciated, you feel like it’s a family. Vision Forward is changing the world as we know it.”