About VIPS Louisville
Before 1985, children who were blind or had low vision in Kentucky & Southern Indiana had no access to early intervention services for their vision-specific needs. That all changed when a group of concerned citizens, led by Sharon Bensinger, formed the idea to start VIPS. Mrs. Bensinger had no personal connection to anyone who was blind, other than being employed by American Printing House for the Blind Research Department. However, it was in that job that she took countless numbers of phone calls from desperate parents looking for services for their child with blindness
With $20,000 in startup grants from WHAS Crusade for Children and Metro United Way, VIPS was born! Mrs. Bensinger was the first employee and began with a caseload of 14 families. Since that time, VIPS has grown into an impactful agency, serving hundreds of families a year across two states, with office locations in Louisville, Lexington, and Indianapolis. VIPS Louisville operates Kentucky’s only full-time preschool for children with visual impairments, a nationally accredited program, and Jefferson County, KY’s first five-star rated child care facility.
Have a question?
Contact the VIPS Louisville office for more information!
Why is early intervention so critically important?
DID YOU KNOW?
90% of what a child learns
is through their vision.
85% of the foundation of learning happens the first 5 years of their life.
How does your donation benefit a child who is blind or visually impaired?
Your donation directly impacts the life of children who are blind or visually impaired in Kentucky and Indiana.
Wish List
- Clorox Wipes
- Lysol Spray
- Hand Sanitizer
- Face Masks
- BlueTooth dual pairing Speaker set
- Cricut Maker Machine
- Cricut mats
- Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets, 9" x 12”
- Astrobrights Cardstock, 8.5" x 11", 65 lb “Vintage" 5-Color Assortment
- All colors of cardstock especially white and black
- White construction paper
- Adhesive Hook and Loop Velcro, Black, 1-Inch x 10-Foot Industrial Grade and Wear and Tear Resistant
- Crayola Silly Scents Twistables Crayons, 24 Classic Crayola Colors Non-Toxic Art Tools for Kids 3 & Up, Scented Self-Sharpening No Mess Twist-Up Crayons
- Washable Glue
- Colored duct tape
- Elmer’s Jumbo Glue Sticks
- Dry Erase Markers (black) thick and thin
- Scented markers
- Play-doh (small containers)
- Large paint brushes (large handles)
- Washable paint
- Acrylic paint (all colors)
Recently Posted Articles
A Legacy of Love: Laurie Roselle’s Dedication Transformed VIPS Indiana
In September 2016, Indiana Director of Community Outreach & Advocacy, Meredith Howell, received an email that said, “I am the Director of Fundraising for the Indianapolis Alumnae of Delta Gamma and we’d like to sponsor a fundraiser for VIPS! We’d love to manage a Trivia Night on Friday, February 3, 2017, with all the proceeds…
Read More
Leading the Way for Best Practices
By Kathy Mullen, VIPS Director of Education The VIPS community was well-represented at the 2024 AER Biennial International Conference this year. Five team members traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina in late July to share news on the exciting things happening within the VIPS community and to learn from our amazing collaborators from across the country…
Read More
“Little Medical Miracle”
Written by Natalie, mother to VIPS child Gatlin Meet Gatlin, our little Medical Miracle. At just 2 years old, Gatlin faces immense challenges, including Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and Severe Vision Impairment. Despite his non-mobile and non-verbal state, he finds joy in life. After a healthy pregnancy, his birth required emergency surgery, leading to a roller-coaster…
Read More