Visual impairment
Who are we?
- A team of experienced teachers with specialist qualifications in working with visually impaired children
- Learning support officers and learning support assistants trained to work with visually impaired children
- Braille communicators
- Mobility/rehabilitiation officer
- Resourcing technician
What can we offer?
- Help and advice after diagnosis in how to play with and stimulate your pre-school child
- Advice in choosing the right nursery and support and advice to nursery staff
- A continuum of support throughout your child's school life
What sort of support in school?
- Direct support to the pupil
- Advice and training to school staff
- Individual support plans
- Specialist equipment and resources, including ICT
- Extra support for SAT's, GCSE's, A levels etc.
- Contribute to statements of Special Educational Needs
- Mobility and lifeskills support
- Close co-working with colleagues in ophthamology and optometry at Alder Hey
- Joined-up working with any other professionals your child may be involved with
Our aim is to ensure that, as far as possible, your child's visual impairment is not an obstacle to attaining their full potential at school.
What is 'Developmental Vision Team'?
Developmental Vision Team is a team of professionals from different backgrounds who may all be concerned in the support of your child at some point. It includes an ophthamology consultant, an optometrist, an educational psychologist, the advisory teachers, a mobility officer and a representative of a leading national visual impairment charity. The team meets every month during school term time to take new referrals and update everyone on children's progress. Your child will not be discussed by the team without your formal consent.
A useful and informative assessment tool, aimed at children with a visual impairment and severe learning difficulties, has been developed by a well qualified and experienced teacher.
This tool is linked to PIVATS, (Performance Indicators for Value Added Targets), which is a curriculum and assessment tool developed by Lancashire to give credit to children who have severe/profound learning difficulties.
The tool is broken down into small steps of achievement, identifies the milestones of visual maturation, and makes reference to the importance of hearing and touch. It is also important to note that it can be useful as an on-going record of progress, following the child/young person through school, and also as a summative record of their achievements.
The information refers to, and is guided by, highly regarded authorities in this field of development, such as Professor Gordon Dutton, and Lea Hyvarinen.
It is easy to use, and lends itself to linking in to the Special school targets and curriculum by close referencing to PIVATS.
For any queries, or to purchase the CD, at the cost of £50.00 plus VAT, please E-mail lynnette.deakin@liverpool.gov.uk