These are some common questions that RNIB is asked by professionals working with blind and partially sighted children.
Careers with blind and partially sighted children
I work with visually impaired children. What training is available to me?
Visit our Events and Training pages for details of our training opportunities, including Partners in Learning, an accredited BTEC level 3 course in supporting visually impaired children. Understanding Visual Impairment in Children and young people is a new online course for people seeking a foundational training to their work with VI children. We also operate a number of Professional Networks which enable professionals to meet for training and development. The Certificate in Contracted English Braille (grade 2) is also available through a distance-learning programme from RNIB for sighted people learning Braille in order to support a VI learner.
Supporting children at school
How can I find details of my Local Authority (LA) Visual Impairment Teaching Service?
The RNIB Sightline Directory or RNIB Helpline can provide details of your Local Authority Visual Impairment Teaching Service, (which may be known as the Sensory Service or similar.) Parents can self-refer to this service, though most children who are blind or partially sighted should automatically have been referred by the Eye Department at the Hospital. This service will assess the child and then provide support to the child and the child's teachers on a peripatetic or visiting-teacher basis, depending on their needs. Many LAs provide this service from birth - initially supporting the child at home before they attend school or nursery.
Do you have information about supporting children and families in the Early Years?
We have an Early Years Education section which includes information about accessible toys, treasure baskets, learning through play, guidance about early mobility and early years settings.
How can I find children's books in alternative formats?
Classroom resources has details of the materials available to people teaching children who use alternative formats, including electronic textbooks. The Books for the classroom and Books for Leisure sections have details of library services and a downloadable version of Ways of Reading which lists all of the contacts for other organisations that provide childrens' books in alternative formats.
What toys are suitable for children with VI?
Many generally-available mainstream toys are suitable for children with VI - you do not necessarily have to look for specialist toys. We have a regular Toy Recommendation column in every edition of Insight magazine, which lists high-street toys that have been chosen as suitable for VI children by a panel of specialists. You can also download our guidance leaflet about Toys and Play for children with visual impairment.
How do I find resources to teach my specific subject to a VI child in my class?
Visit our Education Professionals section for a range of advice documents and resources, including effective practice guides about teaching specific subjects. You may also like to subscribe to Insight magazine, which contains a Curriculum Bitesize supplement.
What considerations should be made before a VI pupil takes tests and exams?
Visit our access to exams and tests guidance page for important information about supporting pupils in public exams.
Do you have information on teaching Braille to children?
We have a range of courses and resources for children learning Braille. You may also be interested in joining our Professional Network for people involved in teaching and supporting braille learners.
Where can I find out about access technology and ICT for VI children?
We have a range of Beginner's Guides to access technology and supportive ICT for blind and partially sighted people, including the interactive whiteboards, laptops and computers. You may also find our access to education section useful for wider information about teaching resources.
Do you have information about supporting children with VI and additional or complex needs?
Our complex needs professionals section contains a range of effective practice guides on a range of topics including communication, mobility, ICT, multi-sensory impairment, assessment, the classroom environment and specialist support services and schools.
Mobility, independence and leisure
How I can I support the mobility and independence of children with VI?
Our effective practice guidance about mobility and independence at school gives advice on supporting children in developing these skills from a basic to advanced level, including developing independent living skills and enabling access to leisure activities.
You can also find out about the new qualification in Habilitation Studies which is the first specialised professional qualification available in mobility and independence support for children.
How can I help VI children become involved in leisure and social activities?
Actionnaires are sports and leisure clubs for blind and partially sighted children aged 4-16, and their siblings which meet in locations throughout England on a regular basis. They are run by our associate charity Action for Blind People.
Advice and guidance about social inclusion may help you and the children in your care to tackle barriers in joining in activities.
We have information about reading, audio-described film and theatre, sport and fitness and other activities in our main Leisure section.
Transition
Do you have information about supporting pupils in transition from school to college or university, or into life after school?
Bridging the Gap is a guidance document that has been produced to support pupils in transition. It can be downloaded from the website or is available in hard copy.
Linking with other professionals
How can I meet with other professionals who work with visually impaired children?
Vist the Education networks pages, for information about groups for people supporting pupils who use braille, for those supporting pupils in secondary mainstream education and for those supporting pupils with complex needs. We also have a directory of networks operated by other organisations that may be of interest.
How can I receive regular updates about developments in education of VI children?
Subscribe to our free education newsletter, which is produced termly and emailed to subscribers. It contains policy updates, details of training opportunities and new resources.
Supporting parents and guardians
Where should I direct the parents of a newly-diagnosed child with VI for support and advice?
Starting Point is a shared initiative between RNIB and National Blind Children's Society which is leaflet and website that signposts parents at point-of-diagnosis.
The Local Authority's Visual Impairment Teaching Service (may also be known as a Sensory Support Service) is an essential referral, which should have been made from the hospital, but it is worth making sure that this link has been made. The RNIB Helpline can give you the contact details for the child's LA VI service.
It will also be valuable for the parents to be in touch with their location Action for Blind People Children and Families Support Co-Ordinator to find out about local activities events and groups. Action for Blind People is an associate charity of RNIB Group.
What support is available for visually impaired parents?
Visit the Parents with a sight problem section for case studies, links and guidance for parents who are blind or partially sighted parents.
Research, facts and figures
How many children and young people in the UK are blind or partially sighted?
Visit facts and figures for the latest statistics on the UK population of blind and partially sighted children.
Where can I find recently published research relating to blind and partially sighted children?
We publish links to key external research reports and our own RNIB research reports .
What current research is being done relating to work with visually impaired children and how can I become involved?
You can keep up with current research activity in our Research section.
Policy and government strategy
Does the RNIB have specific policy relating to aspects of supporting VI children?
Find RNIB's position statements in our Research and Policy pages.
Where can I find out about the latest government proposals relating to supporting children with special educational needs?
Visit Government policy in education for details of new proposals relating to blind and partially sighted children. You can also read RNIB's responses to government consultations.
Do you have any information about the impact of public sector spending cuts on services for children with VI?
We have produced information and guidance about the impact of public sector spending cuts on services for blind and partially sighted children. This includes research figures, quality standards and strategies that can be used to defend service provision in threatened areas.