To provide tailored support to someone with sight loss and learning disability it is vital that you, and the carers you work with, understand how sight loss may be impacting on your child's day-to-day life. Our specialist centres offer two assessment routes:
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A one day a week assessment (six hours) for 10 weeks
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A one day a week assessment (six hours) for 20 weeks
The level of assessment will depend on the individual needs of your child, which we can discuss with you. At the end of the assessment period you will have a detailed report that will give you a clear understanding on how sight loss may be impacting on your child's day-to-day life and what support should be in place to ensure they reach their full potential.
We help our service users and carers understand:
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How someone is using their sight - this includes supporting people to access professional eye care services
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How someone's sight loss might be affecting their ability to get around independently - we also provide specialist mobility training to service users, their carers and involved professionals
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How someone's sight loss might be affecting their day-to-day activities - we also provide advice on adaptations and specialist technology that aid independence
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How someone's sight loss might be affecting their ability to communicate - we aim to ensure people stay connected to those in their life by drawing up a support plan that provides best practice guidance to support their communication needs.
Assessment can be undertaken by attending RNIB Visual Impairment and Learning Disability Services for one or two days per week for 20 weeks. This intensive period of assessment provides opportunities for a full functional assessment of vision coupled with support for a clinical assessment by a local optometrist. Assessments may be undertaken in a day service, home or local community.
Plain English reports
The information gathered during this assessment period is compiled into a plain English report providing easy to read information on the sight problems experienced by the person with a learning disability. Practical advice is offered on how to make adaptations and changes that will improve opportunities for the individual.
Information on registration
Due to the prevalence of undetected sight loss many people with a visual impairment and learning disability are not registered as blind or partially sighted. This can deny the individual and their carers access to benefits and support services. Our information service provides information, support and practical advice for carers and families.
Environmental assessment
Our specialist rehabilitation workers can offer practical advice in a number of areas:
The living environment
To achieve independence in an environment an individual needs to be able to interpret the environment, through any remaining residual vision or through physical contact if they have no vision. Environmental advice considers the person's level of vision, and suggests ways in which information about the environment can be made more accessible to the person. This enables the levels of independence and understanding to be maximised.
Lighting
By ensuring the correct lighting is used, the use a person can make of their remaining sight can be dramatically increased. Glare is often a difficulty for people with a sight loss and practical advice is provided on how to minimise this.
Contrast
Effective use of contrast in the environment enables people with reduced vision to carry out everyday tasks. This includes ensuring that walls, floors, doors and furnishings all stand out clearly against each other.
Aids and equipment
There is a wide range of aids and adaptations available for everyday life that can help reduce the strain and stress of everyday tasks. These aids, when used correctly, can increase independence, ability and self-confidence.
Further information
For information on services and funding options, please contact us to discuss your needs.