BABIES COUNT
Babies Count is a national registry of young children aged birth to 36 months of age with visual impairments that works in conjunction with public and private agencies to collect standardized epidemiological and demographic data regarding children, their visual conditions, and the systems created to support them and their families.

Our Story

Babies Count was first created in 1995 and is the only national database in the US to collect epidemiologic and demographic information on infants and toddlers between the ages of birth and 36 months who are blind or visually impaired. Information from this database has been used to make policy and budget decisions, to expand programs, to drive medical and educational research, and to track the changing face of blindness of children in our country today. The database is currently being reconstructed to reflect the ways that data is collected in the 21st century and to meet the evolving needs of participating agencies.

Noted feature changes:

  • The survey has been revised with input and collaboration from stakeholders for ease of completion and fidelity of responses.
  • Each question on the survey has available technical assistance and suggests ways to sensitively gather the information.
  • Data will be entered into the database directly from the survey using a computer, tablet or smart phone. The survey is compatible with both Microsoft and Apple products.
  • It is screen reader compatible.
  • In homes without Internet service, data will be saved in the survey offline and can be submitted after returning to an area with Internet accessibility.
  • Online webinar training will be available.
  • The survey will be available from this website: www.babiescount.org beginning March 1, 2016.

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The face of blindness is changing...

2025 Results

Babies Count National Registry of Children with Blindness or Visual Impairment (BVI) - aged birth to 36 months

Citation: Snyder, D., Rife, D., & Lyle, L. (2025). Babies Count National Registry of Children with Blindness or Visual Impairment, Aged Birth to 36 Months: 2025 Results. Babies Count. https://babiescount.org

Yearly Enrollment

NAT Population By Year

Most Common Eye Diagnoses

Population By Number of Additional Disabilities

Who Is Serving Birth To Three Children

Visual Diagnoses Tide to Additional Disabilities

Babies Count collects additional information including medical, family and educational characteristics. Researchers interested in utilizing this anonymized data should contact babiescount@babiescount.org for more information.

The Babies Count National Registry's effectiveness and reliability is dependent upon the quality work of each state and each service provider entering data. The basic structure is as follows:

  • Each state will assign a lead agency in the database and then enroll the individual agencies within the state that serve B-3 children who are blind/visually impaired.
  • Each individual agency will create its own system for completion of surveys and training its staff.
  • And finally, each agency, including service providers, must become committed to collecting this data for each child on his or her caseload, both at entry and at exit to the program.
  • Each state’s lead agency as well as each individual agency will have access to its own data for analysis and planning purposes.
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Participating States

Babies Count will only work if, together, we create systems in every state to help us collect this essential data. States currently enrolling children:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Nebraska
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming