Judith’s Story
Judith’s Journey: Walking Toward Independence with Vision Forward’s Support
How collaboration, creativity, and courage helped one young girl thrive
A Lifelong Connection Begins
When Judith first came to Vision Forward at just 9 months old, no one could have imagined the incredible journey she would take over the next decade. Now 10 years old, Judith—who has Cortical Visual Impairment—has grown into a determined, joyful, and active young girl who continues to make incredible strides thanks to a dedicated team, innovative solutions, and the unwavering support of her family.
A Full Team Behind Her
Over the past nine years, nearly every corner of Vision Forward has had the joy of working with Judith—from Early Intervention and Preschool to PT, OT, Speech, Vision/O&M consultations, and even Music Therapy. Each therapist and specialist who’s been part of Judith’s life has played a role in helping her move closer to independence.
A New Goal: Independent Family Walks
In August 2022, Judith’s journey took an exciting turn. Though she had been walking independently for some time, she often leaned forward and didn’t always stay aware of her surroundings. Her mom had one big goal in mind: to be able to go on walks as a family without having to hold Judith’s hand the whole time. With that in mind, she reached out to the Children’s Team for help.
Introducing the Pediatric Belt Cane
Together with Jenna (PT), Tina (COMS), and other specialists, Judith began learning how to use a pediatric belt cane—a mobility tool that helps children with vision impairments detect obstacles and navigate more safely. As she grew more confident, it became clear she was outgrowing the standard cane sizes. That’s when the incredible team at Safe Toddles stepped in, building Judith a custom-sized belt cane tailored just for her.
Tackling the Stairs—One Step at a Time
Jenna, who’s worked with Judith since she was just 2 ½ years old, has also been helping her tackle stairs—a challenging skill for any child, let alone one with vision impairment. After two years of hard work, trial and error, and creative thinking, the team came up with an idea to add tennis balls to the cane. This simple but brilliant modification helped Judith improve her balance and gave her the ability to lift and move her cane more easily.
Success That Shines
And it worked! Judith is now walking up and down stairs on her own—with her cane—and beams with pride at every step. Seeing Judith succeed has been a true team victory, not only for those of us at Vision Forward but also for her family and our partners at Safe Toddles.
More Than Just Mobility
This story isn’t just about mobility—it’s about the joy that comes with independence, the power of teamwork, and the unstoppable spirit of a young girl who continues to amaze us all.