Austin McDowell Foundation

Help Us Change Lives for Children with Cerebral Visual Impairment

Every day, children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) face a world that doesn't quite see them. CVI is the leading cause of visual impairment in children in developed countries, yet it remains widely misunderstood and under-diagnosed.

We're changing that.

The Austin McDowell Foundation is a New Zealand-based charity dedicated to ensuring every child with CVI is recognised, understood, and given the support they need to flourish.

What We Do:

Early identification – We provide accessible vision screening tools to ensure children receive timely diagnosis

Education – We offer free resources and information for families, educators, and healthcare professionals

Advocacy – We drive awareness and policy change to improve access to services

Research – We advance understanding and evidence-based interventions for CVI

Why We Need Your Support:

As a not-for-profit, we reinvest everything back into our mission. We keep our costs low and provide free educational resources because we believe every child deserves access to information and support, regardless of their family's circumstances. Your donation helps us:

• Continue developing and improving our screening tool – the Austin Assessment

• Create free educational materials and resources for the community

• Fund research into better outcomes for children with CVI

• Build a stronger, more connected support community