Dear Friends,

Each May, as we finalize our annual report, the world outside begins to bloom. Grass turns green. Trees bud. Snow melts on the Rocky Mountains. Families are outside again, reconnecting with nature. Whether they’re visiting an accessible playground, hiking a favorite trail, or simply exploring the backyard, these outdoor sensory experiences are essential for a young child who is blind or has low vision. Even the simple act of touching tree bark builds the tactile awareness that can one day support braille literacy.

River, age 3, exploring a tree

Just as tiny hands explore a tree, A Shared Vision’s team of Early Intervention Teachers of the Visually Impaired (EI-TVIs) touched many lives in 2024.

We reached 211 children and their families through 1,890 home visits – a 24% increase in children served and a 2% increase in visits from the year prior. Growth was strongest in rural areas, where we served 43% more children than in 2023.

Behind these numbers is the heart of our mission: a committed community of teachers who feel supported and empowered in their work with families. That sense of connection and purpose is what makes our services not only effective but lasting.

This year, we also expanded how we support families beyond our direct services. We added new Spanish-language resources to our website and continued to feature tools and resources in our monthly newsletters used by both caregivers and professionals. These resources, along with our unique Quick Response visits, provide a critical bridge for families waiting to be matched with a teacher.

A cornerstone of 2024 was the successful update of our Vision Screening Protocol©, now more user-friendly, effective, and actionable. Developed with input from experts, including leading pediatric ophthalmologists and optometrists across Colorado, it is already improving early identification efforts across the state.

We also welcomed four new board members, each bringing deep insight and a strong connection to our work. Maggie Tucci and Kevin Gaertner are parents of children supported by A Shared Vision. Dr. Emily McCourt is a pediatric ophthalmologist at Children’s Hospital. Samantha Thuis is a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments in the St. Vrain Valley school district and an EI-TVI with A Shared Vision. Together, they reflect the growing urgency and energy needed to ensure that every child with blindness or low vision receives the support they deserve.

Like a tree, our work continues to grow, renew, and take root in communities across Colorado. Thank you for being part of this journey.

With gratitude,
Your Board of Directors

2024 Impact at a Glance

Children

Served

Children by

Geography

Counties

Supported

Home

Visits

Percent of All

Visits Statewide

Caregiver

Recommendations

We collaborated with Anchor Center for Blind Children to serve the Denver/Boulder area. By mutual agreement, the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) serves the Colorado Springs and Pueblo communities. The percent of all visits statewide is from 2023 data.

Home Vision Services Program

Across Colorado, our teachers provide home- and community-based early intervention services to families of children, birth to age three, with blindness or low vision.

The goals are kindergarten readiness and a positive developmental trajectory across cognitive, social, emotional, and physical domains.

Learn more about our services to families here!

Jack, age 3, coloring with his brother Charlie

Chinmayi, age 2, with mom

A Teacher's Touch

Charlie with mom Maggie, Devin, and brother William

"Our teacher is my child’s biggest advocate. She goes above and beyond to make sure that my daughter’s needs are met at home and when she’s in daycare.  We are beyond thankful for her knowledge and kindness.

She has provided me with so many great resources, tools, and advice. I like that we work on building Charlie’s strengths and how we can do activities that include her four-year-old brother William.” Maggie Tucci, mom and board member

"Vision services are the most seamless to integrate into other therapies and our daily life. We’ve seen much more improvement in Noah’s vision than we thought possible. What we’ve learned will remain with our family for years to come.” Kevin Gaertner, dad and board member

Noah with Kevin and Kim

Family Support Program

Our Family Support program complements our in-home services and supports families who are waiting for a teacher to become available for in-person visits.

We continued to invest in our monthly newsletters, curated online resources, group activities, and social media to strengthen caregiver resilience, knowledge, and emotional well-being. We also published our first book, Esmeralda’s Day.

A Shared Vision’s website is my “go-to resource for all very young children regardless of their delay or disability,” commented Margaret Davey, Assistant Director and Early Intervention Coordinator with Community Options based in Montrose.

Grant, age 2, exploring nature

Click on the pictures below to learn more!

Easter Egg Hunt

In March, A Shared Vision co-sponsored an accessible Easter egg hunt in Grand Junction with the Orchard Mesa & Fruita Lions Clubs and the Center for Independence Low Vision/Blind Program.

Education Program

Through our Education program, we equip early childhood and pediatric providers to better identify and support young children with blindness or low vision.

In 2024, we updated our Vision Screening Protocol©, creating the new standard for effective, user-friendly, and actionable vision screening for children under age three.

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions by these experts in shaping the updates to the Vision Screening Protocol©:

• Tanni Anthony, Ph.D., Colorado Department of Education, Director State Consultant on Blindness, Denver.
  
• Patrick Arnold, MD, Eye Center of Northern Colorado, Fort Collins.
  
• Kiley Berry, OD, Southwest Eye Consultants, Durango.
  
• Rebecca S. Braverman, MD, CU School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora.
  
• Kara Hanson, OD, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, Aurora.
  
• Erin Major, OD, Children’s Hospital, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora.
  
• Emily McCourt, MD, Ponzio Family Chair for Pediatric Ophthalmology, Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora.
  
• Anna Steele, MD, Children’s Eye Physicians, Denver.
  

One year old exploring his white cane

Our Team

Our statewide team included 13 part-time licensed EI-TVIs, supported by dedicated leadership and a growing board of directors. Learn more about our team here!

Janet Anderson (EI-TVI, COMS, ECSE)
Suzan Barlow (EI-TVI, COMS)
Sally Burch (EI-TVI, COMS)
Lorraine Chevarria (EI-TVI, COMS)
Julie King (EI-TVI, COMS)
Paula Landry (EI-TVI)
Katie Lindauer (Communications Manager)
Steven Lindauer (Executive Director)

Janis Mountford (EI-TVI, COMS)
Kimala Rein (EI-TVI, COMS)
Wendy Stoltman (EI-TVI, COMS)
Samantha Thuis (EI-TVI)
Maggie Tutt (EI-TVI, COMS)
Teresa Vu-Fountain (ECSE, VIB Endorsement )
Liz Wieder (EI-TVI, COMS)

Our Board

Matthew, age 3, touching a tactile book

In 2024 we added four new members to our board expanding our representation and expertise.

• Kevin Gaertner
  
• Stefanie Hamilton, Board Vice President
• Paula Landry, Board Secretary
• Steven Lindauer, Board President
• Emily McCourt
• Susan Raymond
• Samantha Thuis
• Maggie Tucci
  

Our Financials

Since 2016, A Shared Vision has provided in-home early intervention services guided by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C. We are not a center-based program with capital expenses. Families never pay tuition or fees for our services.

While IDEA Part C and state funds cover some of our costs, they do not fully fund the work we do. Donor support remains essential to sustaining and expanding the impact of our programming.
In 2024, we continued investing in programs that benefit both families and early intervention professionals. Remaining pandemic stimulus funds allowed us to maintain key services and strengthen our infrastructure.

We also received a capacity-building grant of $57,000 from the James Hynd Trust for the Blind. This support will help us launch a tuition assistance program to grow the workforce of Early Intervention Teachers of the Visually Impaired ensuring more families across Colorado get the services they need.

Review our annual and financial reports, including our IRS 990 filing for 2024.

Makenna, age 3, off to preschool!

Statement of Financial Position

Statement of Activity

Our Donors Touched Lives!

Theo, age 1, exploring his Little Room

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the many individuals and organizations who generously supported A Shared Vision. Your support has made a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of children and families in Colorado.

Myrna Ann Adkins
America Online Giving Foundation
Janet & Charlie Anderson
Anonymous
Anschutz Family Foundation
Denise & Tom Barnwell
George & Barbara Baumgarten
John Behan
Barry Berlin & Mary Reisher
Marti Bleidt
Buell Foundation
Sally Burch
Wayne Cascio
Mary Chambers
Lorraine & Nick Chevarria
Colorado Gives
Sarah & Nico Colson
Tom & Lisa Cummings
Beth & Paul Daughtery
The Denver Foundation
Disabling Barriers

Celeste & Scott Drinkard
Joyce Durol
Scott Elliott
Betsy & Tim Fecteau
William Freeman
Kevin Gaertner
Leslie Gaertner
Stephanie Gill
Judith Greeley
Stefanie & Lee Hamilton
Kara Hanson
Erin & Patrick Higgins
James Hynd Trust for the Blind
Ramalekshmi Jeyasankar
Linda Joy
Evangeline Kelly
Christine & Dave Kilpatrick
Tom & Virginia Kirkwood
Kroger
Paula & Jim Landry

Katie & Steven Lindauer
Shelley Lindauer
LONG Building Technologies, Inc.
MaryAnn & John Lundgren
Ray Martinez
Jill McCarren
Jeffrey Meier
PayPal Giving Fund
Jennifer & Brad Poltermann
Carol Puchalski
Susan Raymond
Valerie Reymann
Karen Roberts
Denise Robinson
Belinda Severtson
Kelly Stadille-Manley
Ann Stafford
Wendy Stoltman
TisBest Philanthropy
Brian & Erin Trujillo

Our Mission

We educate, inspire, and empower families to nurture the development of their very young children who are blind or visually impaired so that all children may discover their brightest future.