Planting the Seeds of Change: The Heart Behind Little Dandelion Press

by Rachel Worden

When my daughter Moira was about nine months old, an ophthalmologist handed us a sheet of paper. Scribbled at the bottom were the words: “Possible CVI.” That was it. No explanation. No resources. No urgency.

It would be over six months before we were connected with a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and Orientation & Mobility specialist who introduced us to Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment—not just as a diagnosis, but as a new way of seeing the world through my daughter’s eyes.

Once I understood what CVI really meant, everything changed. I dove into research, made modifications to our home, and began adapting materials so Moira could actually access them. But when it came to books—those magical, everyday tools for bonding, learning, and joy—I hit a wall. I found nothing. So, I made my own.

A Coloring Book Was Just the Beginning

The first time I felt the pull to create something wasn’t when I saw a gap in the bookshelf—it was when I saw a child in occupational therapy at the NAPA Center in Austin, working on fine motor skills. I thought to myself: “Can children with CVI even see a coloring book?”

I loved coloring as a child. In many ways, it’s what made me the painter I am today. But when I asked around, almost every parent I spoke to said the same thing: “My child with CVI hates coloring.”

That didn’t sit right with me. I started to wonder—what if the problem wasn’t the act of coloring, but the design of the coloring book?

So I created one. A high-contrast coloring book. I gave a sample to a therapist at NAPA. That day, the parent warned the OT: “She doesn’t like coloring. She never colors.” But when the OT returned from the session, the child had colored two pages—one with help, and one completely on their own.

I still get tears in my eyes thinking about it.

That moment changed everything. I realized our children work so hard in school, in therapy, and in everyday life. They deserve access to joy, to creative play, to the same childhood moments so many take for granted.

That was 2023. And it’s what planted the first seed of what would become Little Dandelion Press.

Rooted in Lived Experience

What started as a personal mission quickly became something bigger. As I shared the coloring books, I heard the same thing over and over: “There’s nothing else like this.”

By 2025, I officially launched Little Dandelion Press—a publishing imprint grounded in accessibility, joy, and belonging. Our goal is to create books and resources from the ground up for children with CVI, visual impairments, and developmental differences—while still being enjoyable for all children.

One of our first storybooks, What Lives in the Ocean, was inspired by Moira’s preschool habitat unit. None of the classroom books were accessible to her, and I wanted her to be part of the experience—not just a quiet observer in the room. That book became the first title in our ‘Habitats’ Series.

Understanding the Exhaustion

As a medical parent, I know the deep, all-consuming exhaustion—mental, emotional, and physical. I know how overwhelming it can be to add one more thing, even if it’s “just adapting a book.”

I see it on the faces of other parents every week at therapy.
The conversations are almost always the same:
“My child was just diagnosed with CVI… and they also have CP… or a rare disorder… or a brain injury… and I just don’t have the bandwidth to take on anything else.”

I get it. I’ve lived it.

That’s why everything we create at Little Dandelion Press is about lightening the load—offering ready-made resources that are thoughtfully designed, so parents don’t always have to build everything from scratch.

Not every child has a TVI. Not every therapist is CVI-informed. Our books are here to help bridge those gaps and give families and educators tools that can be used right now—without needing a redesign.

A note about CVIs uniqueness

We also want to say this clearly: not every book will work for every child.

CVI is complex and highly individualized. What works beautifully for one child may not resonate for another, simply because of where the damage occurred in the brain. That’s okay. That’s expected.

You’ll see a variety of materials across our site—some that lean into bold color, others that minimize visual clutter, and some that explore different font types and sizes. We’re always evolving and creating based on feedback and real-world experience.

And we want your feedback. If there’s something your child needs—or something you’ve always dreamt existed—reach out. We’re listening. We’re learning. And we’re building this with you.

Why this matters

Children with CVI deserve to be prioritized—not just included. They deserve to open a book and see themselves in it, not only in the story but in the design.

And families deserve tools that support joy, play, and connection—not more work.

Little Dandelion Press isn’t just a publishing company. It’s a response. A love letter. A hand extended to families like mine, saying: “You’re not alone.”

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, therapist, or advocate, if you have an idea—or a wish for a book that doesn’t yet exist—we’d love to hear from you.

To order the book What Lives in the Ocean? and visit our website

For more information about CVI please visit CVI Now