Understanding VIPPSTAR: from clinical experience to personalised support for visually impaired children

What does more personalised support for visually impaired children actually look like in practice?

In a video from the University of Brescia, Prof. Elisa Fazzi, Professor of Child Neuropsychiatry and VIPPSTAR project coordinator, shares the vision behind VIPPSTAR and the challenges that led to its creation.

Drawing on many years of clinical experience in early diagnosis and rehabilitation, Prof. Fazzi highlights how the project originates from the real needs of children and families. As she explains, visual impairment in childhood often affects multiple areas of development, from motor and cognitive skills to communication, relationships and social participation, creating complex challenges in everyday life.

VIPPSTAR builds on this experience with the aim of developing more personalised and accessible approaches. By combining established clinical practices with advanced digital tools, the project seeks to support children throughout their development, from early childhood to adolescence.

Prof. Fazzi emphasizes the importance of early and continuous intervention. VIPPSTAR aims to make this possible through a digital platform that allows families to access rehabilitation activities directly from home, making support more intensive, more consistent, and easier to integrate into daily routines.

At the same time, the project explores the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools to enhance learning and wellbeing. These include serious games designed to support cognitive development, as well as tools focused on physical activity and healthy habits. As described by Prof. Fazzi, an AI-based assistant is also being developed to accompany adolescents in their daily lives, supporting self-care, autonomy and social interaction.

VIPPSTAR is built on a strong network of clinical and research partners across Europe, bringing together long-standing collaborations and multidisciplinary expertise. One of its key developments is the creation of a transnational data network, which will support long-term monitoring and contribute to more evidence-based and personalised care strategies.

This video, available in Italian, offers a valuable introduction to the project and the thinking behind it.