Learn about CVI
Access webinars, presentations, and research-backed resources to deepen your understanding of cerebral visual impairment and how to support children and adults with CVI.
Looking for comprehensive CVI information? Our partner CVI Scotland provides extensive evidence-based resources, guides, and information about cerebral visual impairment.
NEXT WEBINAR
CVI: Why and how to put wellbeing first with Dr Sander Zuidhoek
Dates |Times
-
USA (PDT): Thursday 22 October, 11:00am-12:00pm
-
USA (EDT): Thursday 22 October, 2:00-3:00pm
-
UK: Thursday 22 October, 7:00-8:00pm
-
New Zealand: Friday 23 October, 7:00-8:00am
For: Individuals with CVI, parents, educators, therapists, clinicians
Sander Zuidhoek, PhD, is a neuropsychologist and researcher for Royal Dutch Visio Education in the Netherlands. His expertise spans CVI, autism, dyslexia, executive functioning and attention, and haptic spatial perception, with a special focus on wellbeing. He enjoys exploring complex matters from a broad perspective and creating new frameworks to better understand human behaviour and help people function and flourish. Outside of work, he treasures time with his wife Fleur and their three children, plays bass guitar in several bands, and seeks out nature whenever he can. It is here, especially, that he never tires of marvelling at existence and exploring life’s big questions.
About the webinar
Until recently, care for children and young people with (C)VI has focused mainly on educational progress and compensating for the practical consequences of their impairment. Yet recent studies paint a grim picture: up to two thirds regularly feel anxious, low or angry, twice as often as their sighted peers, and psychological problems often persist into adulthood. Those with CVI are particularly vulnerable, as their impairment is less visible, harder to understand and compensate for, and often accompanied by attentional, executive and motor difficulties.
This suggests that compensating for the impairment alone does not address what matters most: a sense of wellbeing. From early on, (C)VI undermines our basic needs for safety, connectedness, competence and autonomy, easily leading to anxiety and an impairment that becomes part of a child's identity.
This webinar argues that wellbeing should be our main focus from the start, introducing it as four interconnected domains: physical, psychological, social and cognitive, where small changes in daily routines can have a big, lasting impact. You will learn 45 prevention and intervention strategies in seven categories, and the key role of motivation and resilience in sustaining change.
Finally, a sneak preview of SEE-VI, a three-year Erasmus+ project starting November 2026, developing practical tools to help education professionals improve the wellbeing of students with a visual impairment, including CVI.
In this webinar you will:
• Learn why children and young people with (C)VI are at high risk of reduced wellbeing, and why this makes wellbeing the first priority in professional care
• Explore the four interconnected domains of wellbeing (physical, psychological, social and cognitive), and why small daily changes can have a big, lasting impact
• Discover 45 prevention and intervention strategies in seven categories, where and how to start, and the role of motivation and resilience in sustaining change
• Get a sneak preview of SEE-VI, a three-year Erasmus+ project starting November 2026, developing practical tools to improve the wellbeing of students with a visual impairment, including CVI
Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, clinician, or researcher, this webinar will deepen your understanding of CVI assessment and how it can shape support, strategies, and advocacy.
Webinar library
Access recordings to all our previous webinars here:
Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) in mainstream schools with Helen St Clair Tracy
October 2025 | 60 mins | For parents and professionals supporting children with CVI in mainstream schools (teachers, teacher aides, therapists, clinicians).
In introduction to supporting children with CVI in mainstream classrooms.
An Introduction to CVI Assessment with Professor Ravenscroft
April 2026 | 60 mins | For individuals with CVI, parents and professionals supporting children with CVI (teachers, therapists, clinicians).
How do we truly understand the visual world of a child with cerebral visual impairment - and what does meaningful assessment actually look like in practice?
A conversation about CVI with Professor Gordon Dutton
May 2026 | Two videos: One 55 minute recording and one 35 minute recording
For individuals with CVI, parents and professionals supporting children with CVI (teachers, therapists, clinicians).
An enlightening conversation with Professor Dutton about all things CVI. The highlights include hearing how the understanding of CVI has transformed over Professor Dutton's remarkable career, why empowering parents of children with CVI is so vital and the important role lived experience should play in CVI research and practice.
This was a pre-recorded conversation over two parts.
Understanding the Brain Behind the Vision
with Dr Corinna Bauer
June 2026 | 60 mins | For individuals with CVI, parents and professionals supporting children with CVI (teachers, therapists, clinicians).
Have you ever wondered what's actually happening in the brain when someone has cerebral visual impairment? This free webinar will take you inside the neuroscience of vision — making complex brain science accessible and directly relevant to understanding CVI.
Beyond Vision: Understanding the Wider Wellbeing of individuals with CVI with Dr Nicola McDowell and Professor John Ravenscroft
July 2026 | 50 mins | For individuals with CVI, parents and professionals supporting children with CVI (teachers, therapists, clinicians).
Watch this webinar to:
• Hear about international research into the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals with CVI
• Understand how everyday environments can affect individuals with CVI beyond their vision
• Explore what the findings mean for families and professionals
• Be part of an important and growing conversation
Understanding and Assessing CVI from a Neuropsychological Perspective with Dr Kathleen Vancleef
September 2026 | 60 mins | For individuals with CVI, parents and professionals supporting children with CVI (teachers, therapists, clinicians).
Watch this webinar to:
-
Build your understanding of the hierarchical visual system and how its stages link to
real-world behaviour -
Learn assessments, screening tasks, and observations for checking visual functions as
separately as possible -
See these ideas illustrated through real case studies of children with CVI
-
Get a clearer, more practical sense of what current assessment can and can't tell you
Presentations and speaking
Dr Nicola McDowell is available for presentations, workshops, and speaking engagements for organisations, schools, conferences, and professional development events.
Topics available
-
Understanding Cerebral Visual Impairment
-
CVI in Mainstream Educational Settings
-
The Austin Assessment: Research and Application
-
Evidence-Based Strategies for Supporting CVI
-
The Lived Experience of CVI
-
Vision Rehabilitation and Education
-
Inclusive Education Practices
-
Custom topics tailored to your needs
Format options
-
Keynote presentations
-
Professional development sessions
-
Conference presentations
-
Panel discussions
-
Customised content for your audience
Interested in booking a presentation?
Contact us to discuss your organisation's needs, available dates, and customised presentation options.
Research and publications
Dr Nicola McDowell's research explores the many facets of CVI, from screening and identification of education needs to educational support, lived experience, and impacts on mental and physical wellbeing. Her work spans children and adults, mainstream and specialised settings, combining rigorous academic research with insights from lived experience.
The impact of cerebral visual impairment (CVI) on mental well-being and physical health in adults: An exploratory study
British Journal of Visual Impairment 2026
This peer-reviewed study explored how cerebral visual impairment (CVI) affects adults' mental wellbeing and physical health, surveying 27 participants across seven countries. It found high rates of anxiety (83%), emotional regulation difficulties (67%), and CVI-specific meltdowns (73%), alongside physical symptoms like fatigue (95%) and headaches (76%). The findings highlight the need for holistic support that addresses vision, mental wellbeing, and physical health together.
Validation of the Austin Assessment: A screening tool for cerebral visual impairment related visual issues
Plos One, 2023
This peer-reviewed research validated the Austin Assessment as a screening tool for CVI-related visual issues, filling a critical gap in early identification. The study screened 270 children aged 5-13, established age-specific thresholds, and identified 17 children with clinical findings potentially indicative of CVI who had not previously been identified. The Austin Assessment demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity, making it effective at distinguishing children who need further evaluation from those with typical vision.
Hiding in plain sight: Children with visual perceptual difficulties in schools
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2024
This review explores why children with visual perceptual difficulties are often 'hiding in plain sight' in schools, unidentified and unsupported despite affecting up to 3.4% of children in mainstream education. The article proposes practical solutions to ensure these children receive the support they need to thrive.
Children with cerebral visual impairment related visual issues in the classroom
Kairaranga, 2023
This study investigated the impact of CVI on children in mainstream classrooms, finding that the vast majority experienced learning difficulties (82%), emotional challenges (100%), and social interaction difficulties (91%). The research identified promising support strategies including CVI education for teachers and parents, classroom decluttering, and calm breaks, though further study is needed to evaluate long-term effectiveness.
Hemianopia and features of Balint Syndrome following occipital lobe hemorrhage: Identification and patient understanding have aided functional improvement years after onset
Case reports in Ophthalmic Medicine, 2019
This case study documents how CVI, including hemianopia and dorsal stream dysfunction, can remain unidentified for years—in this case, 17 years following a brain haemorrhage at age 16. The turning point came when the patient, now Dr Nicola McDowell, recognised her own symptoms while learning about CVI in children, leading to proper assessment and the development of strategies that significantly improved her visual functioning and quality of life.
For a complete list of publications, research projects, and academic presentations, visit Dr McDowell's institutional profile.
Join us in creating change
Whether you're a parent, professional, researcher, or supporter, there's a role for you in improving outcomes for children with CVI.
Education Disclaimer
The Austin McDowell Foundation provides educational information only. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or clinical support. Webinars and resources are for educational purposes only and do not replace professional medical or educational services. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals for medical concerns.
Stay informed
Get updates on new webinars, research findings, and resources delivered to your inbox.