Daily Life
Visual Impairment and Learning Disability Services (VILD)
Summary: Service for people with sight loss and a learning disability - identifying sight loss, creating opportunity.
Latest news - Learning Disability Week - 15-21 June 2008
At least one in three people with a learning difficulty will also have serious sight loss.
We believe the figure may be significantly higher. Over the last ten years RNIB has assessed the vision of more than 500 people with learning disabilities. We found approximately 80 per cent had some degree of sight loss. Often this sight loss had previously gone undetected.
Our aim is to ‘Identify Sight Loss and Create Opportunity’ by increasing awareness of:
- the prevalence of under-detection of sight loss
- the consequences for people with a learning disability.
Visual Impairment and Learning Disability Services (VILD) have a recognised excellence in supporting people with a visual impairment and learning disability. Watch our 4-minute DVD to see how we support people, from their functional vision assessment through to practical rehabilitation support.
We also have specialist expertise in providing sight tests for people with a learning disability.
Services
We provide the following services across the UK:
- for services users, parents and carers
- to support professionals and organisations working with people with a learning disability and sight loss.
See also information about children with complex needs.
We are also partners in Look Up, an information service which aims to transform the quality of eye care for the 1.5 million people in the UK who have a learning disability.
Consultancy and training
The National Practice and Development Team offers a range of award-winning specialist training, consultancy, information and rehabilitation services for all those who are supporting adults and children who have a learning disability and suspected or confirmed sight problems.
Research
We have been involved in a number of research projects that have provided clinical and practice-based evidence of the extent of undiagnosed sight loss in the learning disability population. We aim to continue working with partners to develop robust evidence of the nature and extend of this problem.
Our story
VILD have been addressing the needs of people with learning disabilities and suspected or confirmed sight loss for over 12 years. The unique expertise within this team was recognised in 2006 when we won the prestigious Scottish Care Accolade for ‘Innovative or Imaginative Training’ in the annual awards of the Scottish Social Services Council. VILD's history - find out more.
Contacts and further information
Read the frequently asked questions about our services or contact VILD to find out how we can help you.
Content author: learningdisability@rnib.org.uk
Last updated: 04/09/2008 10:30
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Your stories
Jill's story - Jill lost her sight 12 years ago at the age of 19. “The experience left me feeling isolated. I often felt like my life was pointless." Now, as a presenter on Insight Radio, she uses her experiences to help others. “My prayer is that what we do helps those who are going through sight loss. Even the tiniest piece of information can make a huge difference. If my show can help do that, then my journey has not been in vain.” Jill's full story
