Support and advice for families of children with a visual impairment

Specialist support service

The Visual Impairment Team supports children and young people with a visual impairment at home, in early years settings, mainstream and special schools. This support continues throughout school and on to further education.

Qualified and experienced Specialist Teachers of the Visually Impaired, Mobility Officers and Communication Support Workers (Specialist Teaching Assistants) work in partnership with parents and other professionals to provide support to each individual.

We provide

Early years

• we visit homes, pre-school groups, nurseries and schools.
  
  
• we give advice, information and support to parents, carers and teachers.
  
  
• we advise parents and carers on different ways to support their child’s development. This includes encouraging the child to make the best use of their vision.
  
  
• we offer training to the setting attended by the child.
  
  
• we talk to and work with other professionals who may be seeing your child.

“I think it is vitally important to have contact with the Service as soon as possible after birth. I always found the help invaluable; no matter what came up you were my first port of call.”

(Parent of two VI children.)

In school

• assessment and monitoring of functional vision
  
  
• assessment of educational need
  
  
• advice for teachers and parents on access to the curriculum in mainstream and special schools
  
  
• awareness raising and INSET (In-service training) for teachers and other professionals
  
  
• teaching of specialist skills: e.g. Braille, Moon
  
  
• assessment of the need for specialist equipment and training in its use
  
  
• advice on and provision of adapted materials and large print, Braille or Moon
  
  
• mobility assessment and training
  
  
• screen assessments for ICT
  
  
• touch typing lessons
  
  
• training in the use of low vision aids
  
  
• advice and support for students post-16.

Useful contacts

RNIB

Royal National Institute of the Blind
Helpline: 0845 766 99 99
RNIB website

LOOK

The National Federation of Families with Visually Impaired Children
Phone: 0121 427 9800
LOOK website

RSBC

Royal Society for Blind Children
Phone: 020 3198 0225
RSBC website

Eye specialists

• Ophthalmologists are doctors based in a hospital who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of eye defects and diseases.
  
  
• Orthoptists specialise in correcting vision by non-surgical means. They often work with ophthalmologists in hospitals. They test sight, look at eye movements and check for squints.
  
  
• Optometrists or ophthalmic opticians specialise in testing sight and prescribing glasses. They can identify eye diseases.

Further information

Further help and advice is available from the Specialist Support Service Visual Impairment Team:

Address:

Phone: (01785) 356830
Minicom: (01785) 356835
Fax: (01785) 356841
Email: sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk

If you, or someone you know, would like a copy of this in large print, braille, an audio tape or in languages other than English, please contact the Visual Impairment Team on 01785 356830.