Vision Impairment Team
The Vision Impairment Team supports children and young people aged 0-25 years with a vision impairment at home, in early years settings, mainstream and special schools. This support continues throughout school and into further education. This forms part of Staffordshire's Local Offer and is part of the Sensory Team.
Qualified and experienced Specialist Teachers of the Vision Impaired, Mobility Officers, Intervenors (who work with children and young people with sensory impairments with additional needs) and Communication Support Workers (Specialist Teaching Assistants) work in partnership with parents/carers, teachers and other professionals to provide support to each individual.
The video below gives an overview of living with sightloss.
Who we are
Teacher of the Vision Impaired
These are qualified teachers who have undertaken specialist training to obtain the mandatory qualification for teachers of children and young people with a vision impairment MEd/Postgraduate Diploma.
They are responsible for the management of a caseload of children and young people with vision impairment across the age range 0-25 in both mainstream and special schools.
Communication Support Worker
These are specialist teaching assistants who have undertaken specialist training in visual impairment. They work for the service for the vision impaired but are based in school with the children and young people. We also have Communication Support Workers that teach ICT- general skills, keyboard shortcuts, speech and magnification software.
Intervenor
These are specialist Communication Support Workers who work in homes and in special schools, they work with children and young people with visual and multi sensory impairments.
Mobility Officer
We have two mobility practitioners offering support and training who deliver mobility and life skills for independent living. They work as part of a team delivering a high quality mobility service including environment assessments, orientation and mobility.
Talk Time Co-ordinator
The Talk Time Co-ordinator provides an opportunity to explore emotional worries and concerns with an experienced Specialist Teacher of the Visually Impaired who also has counselling skills training.
Resource and IT Technician
We have an ICT Technician trained in the use of assistive technology. Our ICT technician also maintains our service laptops and computers.
VI Role Model
We employ an adult with vision implairment who visits pupils in school and gives advice and training on assistive technology. He promotes a positive Blind identity.
What we do
Our aim is to provide appropriate support for inclusion. Input is designed to ensure that the specific needs of each individual are met. Careful assessment is made and the level and type of support is reviewed regularly.
Support may include:
- visiting homes, pre-school groups, nurseries, schools and colleges
- providing advice, information and support to parents/carers and professionals
- assess and monitor functional vision
- offering training to the setting
- assessing and monitoring functional vision
- providing advice for teachers and parents/carers on access to the curriculum in mainstream and special schools
- teaching of specialist skills: e.g. Braille or Moon
- assessment of the need for specialist equipment and training in its use
- mobility assessment and life skill training
- ICT advice and touch typing training
- training in the use of low vision aids
- specialist advice to Local Authority as part of any assessment process such as Education Health and Care Plans
- provide opportunities for sensory impaired C&YP to access activities and to meet together
How can I access the service?
We accept referrals primarily from health agencies but also from parents/carers, schools and other agencies but always with reference to medial advice regarding vision loss.
What happens when I become an adult? / Post 16 Support
Advice and support from Teachers of the Visually Impaired may continue to be available to young people with vision impairment in Further Education and other post school settings.
This may include
- How to access mobility assessments and training
- Advice on careers and work experience and apprenticeships
- Information on benefits and services such as, Disabled Students Allowance(DSA), Access to Work
- Signposting to organisations who can help with independent living
In addition the visual impairment team works closely with ASSIST (Autism and Sensory Support In Staffordshire) to ensure needs are met appropriately.
ASSIST provides support for people over 16 years of age who have hearing or vision loss, are deafblind, or who have an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
Parental Feedback
Below are just a few positive comments from parents about the service that we provide.
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My child has been previously in a different VI service catchment area and the services that we have received from Staffordshire County Council VI are far more superior at all levels.
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Always supportive, act on any issues, efficiently and promptly and feedback always given. Training school staff was excellent.
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Regular support in place with an excellent understanding of my sons’ needs.
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Child has made progress in terms of learning new things and becoming independent.
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Child’s VI Teachers have always been excellent. I know exactly how to get hold of them and always feel confident in their support to us and our family. We value their input greatly.
Useful Links
Action for Blind People
Action for Blind People is a national charity that provides free and confidential support for blind and partially sighted people in all aspects of their lives. One call to Action ensures that visually impaired people receive help with anything from finding a job, applying for benefits, housing issues, aids and adaptations, holiday breaks or information on local services. We can also offer advice to people who have a visually impaired friend or family member. Whatever the need, Action can help: Action for Blind People
Blind Children UK (formerly National Blind Children’s Society)
Blind Children UK helps children and their families tackle the challenges of young sight loss so that they can enjoy their childhood and realise their potential as adults: Brent Council - Blind Children UK (formerly National Blind Children’s Society)
Clear Vision Project
ClearVision is a postal lending library of children's books designed to be shared by visually impaired and sighted children and adults: Clearvision Project
Guide Dogs UK Charity for the Blind and Partially Sighted
Guide Dogs provides a wide range of services for children and young people, including mobility and life skills, large print books and grants for specialist technology. And we're here for the whole family, providing support and advice on a range of issues, including education: Guide Dogs UK Charity For The Blind And Partially Sighted
National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NatSIP)
NatSIP, the National Sensory Impairment Partnership is a partnership of organisations working together to improve outcomes for children and young people with sensory impairment: NatSIP - Home
RNIB Bookshare
RNIB Bookshare opens up the world of reading in education for learners with a print-disability, including those with dyslexia or who are blind or partially sighted: UK education collection | RNIB Bookshare, accessible books for print disabled learners.
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people: RNIB - See differently -
For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential: Home | Sense, for people with complex disabilities
VICTA
If you are the parent of a child who is blind or partially sighted, or a young adult aged 29 or under who is visually impaired, VICTA is here to help: VICTA – Empowering Children and Young Adults who are Blind or Partially Sighted
Further Information
Please see below a list of our Information Leaflets which are available on request:
V01 - Families - Support and Advice
V02 - Vision Loss - Teacher Guidelines
V03 - Visual Perception - Teacher Guidelines
V04 - Primary - Teacher Guidelines
V05 - Secondary - Teacher Guidelines
V06 - Mobility - Tips for Parents
V07 - Mobility - School Environment
V08 - Mobility - Teacher Guidelines
V09 - Teacher Guidelines - Cerebral Palsy
V10 - Teacher Guidelines - Down Syndrome
V11 - Teacher Guidelines - Monocular Vision
V12 - Teacher Guidelines - Squint
V13 - Teacher Guidelines - Colour Blindness
V14 - Talk Time - Listening Service
V14A - Talk Time - Listening Service Where Next
V15 - Referral and Permission Form
V16 - Multi-Sensory Impairment
V17 - Specialist Support Service - Visual Impairment Team
If you, or someone you know, would like a copy of these leaflets either in large print, braille, an audio tape or in languages other than English, please contact the Vision Impairment Team by phone on 01785 356830 or by email: sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk
Who to contact
- Contact Name
- Samantha Turnbull
- Contact Position
- Head Of Sensory and Autism Outreach Teams
- Telephone
- 01785 356830
- sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk
- Notes
Donna McNaughton
Deputy Head of Sensory (Lead VI)
01785 356830
Where to go
- Name
- Specialist Support Service - Vision Impairment Team
- Address
-
2 Staffordshire Place
Tipping Street
Stafford
Staffordshire - Postcode
- ST16 2DH Get Directions (This link opens in a new tab)
Other Details
Availability
- Referral required
- Yes