Vision Support Team

Description

The Vision Support Team is part of the Specialist Support Team within the Inclusive Curriculum and Teaching Team. The Vision Support Team works with children and young people up to age 18 without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC plan), and up to age 25 for those with an EHC plan, provided they remain in an educational placement.
Referrals for young people aged over 18 who have an EHC plan but have not previously been referred under Children’s services criteria will be signposted to adult services.

The Vision Support Team has members based across the County and consists of:

• Qualified Teachers of Visual Impairment (QTVI)
• Habilitation Specialists
• Specialist Support Advisors

The service works closely with Ophthalmologists, Orthoptists, Sensory Loss colleagues, Therapists, Educational Psychologists and voluntary agencies such as RNIB and Somerset Sight.

The team members will visit children and young people in their homes, pre-school settings, schools and colleges.

Qualified Teachers of Visual Impairment (QTVI)

QTVIs can assess functional vision. This can provide information about the child or young person’s vision and inform strategies to support access to the curriculum.

Following the assessment, the QTVI can:

• Provide information about the child or young person’s visual condition and how this may impact their learning.
• Provide information about strategies to support access to learning and independence.
• Provide information about adaptations and equipment to support inclusive access to learning.
• Provide direct support, teaching, training and advice to equip the child with necessary skills.
• Refer for support and reinforcement from the Specialist Support Advisors

Habilitation Specialist Team

The Habilitation Specialist equips a child or young person with the knowledge, skills and strategies essential for independent living. A full programme includes mobility, orientation, route learning and living skills such as dressing, cooking and shopping to increase independence.

The Habilitation Specialist can assess the child or young person’s mobility needs, develop, monitor and evaluate habilitation programmes, carry out environmental audits and provide child or young person specific training.

Accessing

• hospitals can refer using a Sight Registration Form or short referral form
• educational settings can refer using an EHA including ophthalmologist paperwork
• information can be requested by settings through the Inclusion Advice Line
• parents and settings can also find information on the SSE website

Type of provision

Targeted - Extra help for some people, usually after someone has made a referral

Contact information

• Website:Vision Support Team website