Learning

Sources of help - Learning

Summary: Sources of help on learning for blind and partially sighted people of all ages, for parents or professionals.

• Parents and families
• Professionals - how we help
• Other organisations who can help

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Local Authorities quite often team up with voluntary organisations to offer support. Which ones they are depends on your area. Contact your Local Authority or Visual Impairment service - email helpline@rnib.org.uk for their contact details.

Parents and families

We work in partnership, train and raise awareness with Local Authorities, teachers and other people who work with you.

The support you can get varies depending on where you live. If we can't help with in a particular situation, we'll aim to help you find someone who can.

Family services

Our Family Services Officers are here to support you, your child or young person and the whole family. We offer:

• information and advice
• parent support groups
• trips, events and activities including days out for the whole family. Recent events have included tobogganing, trips to the farm, bowling, dance workshops and lots more!
• residential activities, including vacation schemes and family weekends
• support for leisure providers and leisure industry training and consultancy to ensure activities are accessible and inclusive for all children.

Professionals - how we help

Curriculum Access

Our Curriculum Access Service works with education professionals to ensure children get the same standard of education as their fully sighted peers. We provide information, forums, courses and training and more.

Magazines and newsletters

Insight magazine is all about education, aimed at both parents and professionals. We hope to help you feel confident in working with your child's school, let us know if there is anything we are missing!

Books for Professionals has essential guides on education, plus a monthly newsletter on new publications for anyone working with blind and partially sighted people.

Other organisations who can help

• Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA) - general questions about the special educational needs (SEN) Code of Practice and advocacy support.
• Contact a Family - charity for families with disabled children. Information on specific conditions and rare disorders, including the Contact a Family Rare Eye Conditions Directory.
• Early Support - government resource for families with young disabled children. It is the Government’s recommended approach to co-ordinating services across England.
• Henshaws Society for Blind People - care and support for blind and partially sighted people.
• LOOK (National Federation of Families with Visually Impaired Children)
• National Blind Children’s Society (NBCS)
• Portage - home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional support needs.
• Sense - charity for people with deafblindness and associated disabilities.
• Visual Impairment Scotland.

Content author: children@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 22/07/2008 10:47