Learning

RNIB Physiotherapy Support Service

Summary: Supporting blind and partially sighted physiotherapy students, lecturers, and people working in the profession.

• Overview
• How can we help you?
• What do we offer?
• Our Resource Centre
• For further information please contact:

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Overview

Blind and partially sighted people have been training as physiotherapists for over 80 years. It has proved to be a good career choice providing many opportunities for employment on completion of a recognised physiotherapy course. Blind and partially sighted physiotherapists work in all areas of the profession including high levels of clinical speciality, management, private practice, sports clinics, research and teaching.

Our team operates within RNIB as the Physiotherapy Support Service (PSS). We offer a wide range of support to blind and partially sighted people in a number of areas. These include people who are thinking of applying for a physiotherapy course in a mainstream college, physiotherapy students and qualified physiotherapists undertaking in-service and post graduate education. We also offer support to qualified physiotherapists in the employment setting.

PSS is managed by highly experienced physiotherapy lecturers with expertise in the education of blind and partially sighted people and who both hold counselling qualifications. Our service, in conjunction with RNIB’s Technical Officers, also offers information, advice and training on a range of specialist equipment. We have a Resource Centre equipped with a full range of access technology that can be used for study, training and demonstration purposes. These facilities are available to all blind and partially sighted physiotherapy students and graduates in the UK.

How can we help you?

Our aim is to tailor our services to your needs. We can provide you with information, advice and/or practical help. These services are available if you are an individual, a group or an organisation that is interested and/or involved in physiotherapy as a profession. We can also offer you consultancy services on disability related issues.

What do we offer?

If you are intending to apply to study physiotherapy we can:

• Provide you with information on the range of physiotherapy programmes
• Discuss your applications and advise you on interview techniques
• Give you information about the Disabled Students’ Allowance
• Help you to prepare for your time in higher education
• Suggest strategies for organising any mobility training and orientation that you may need in your new environment.

If you are a student on a physiotherapy programme we can:

• Provide you with advice on the different study methods you may need to use in higher education
• Offer you support when you are in college and when you are out on clinical placements
• Support you in obtaining learning materials in a wide range of accessible formats e.g. large print or braille, if you require them
• Work with your tutors if they are unfamiliar with teaching blind or partially sighted learners
• Assist your tutors by providing information on how to produce teaching materials that you can access easily
• Arrange for you to attend demonstrations of a variety of specialised access equipment and software, both hi- and low tech
• Provide you with some portable equipment on a short term loan basis
• Give you information about the Disabled Students’ Allowance
• Offer short term counselling if you require it
• Support you in preparing for employment including the practice of interview techniques.

If you are a parent, carer or teacher of people who are blind or partially sighted we can:

• Offer a consultancy service in health related careers.

If you are a physiotherapist on an in-service or post-graduate programme we can:

• Provide you with general information and advice
• Produce a limited amount of material for you in your preferred format
• Assist your colleagues/tutors by providing information on how to produce teaching materials that you can access easily
• Help you to arrange training on specialised access equipment and software
• Provide you with some portable equipment on a short term loan basis
• Work with your colleagues/tutors if they are unfamiliar with teaching blind or partially sighted learners.

If you are a qualified physiotherapist in the employment setting we can:

• Provide you with information about the Access to Work Scheme
• Loan you some equipment on a short term basis for use in the workplace
• Advise you and/or your employer on reasonable adjustments and modifications to your working environment
• Help you to establish links with support networks in the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Offer short term counselling if you require it.

If you are a university or clinical physiotherapy tutor we can:

• Provide you with general information on visual impairment and its implications for physiotherapy education
• Advise you on participation in interview panels if requested
• Provide guidance on supporting blind or partially sighted students
• Help you to develop inclusive teaching strategies if you are unfamiliar with the requirements of blind or partially sighted learners
• Advise you on the production of accessible teaching materials
• Provide links with some external agencies who can produce accessible materials
• Deliver training and consultancy services with an emphasis on visual impairment issues.

If you are an educational establishment, employer or other professional we can:

• Advise you on reasonable adjustments and modifications to the general environment and specific work areas
• Provide you with consultancy services on disability issues related to blindness and partial sight in the health care setting
• Suggest links with some external agencies who can provide information on disability related issues.

Our Resource Centre

We are based at the University of East London. The centre is designed to cater for the access requirements of blind and partially sighted people. It includes the following:

• A compact working area
• Examples of many types of hi - and low - tech access equipment
• A range of anatomical models
• Facilities for the production of some materials in accessible formats
• Low vision equipment
• Colour photocopying and printing facilities.

For further information please contact:

Jane Owen Hutchinson
Manager Physiotherapy Support Service

Mobile 07748 657457
Email jane.owenhutchinson@rnib.org.uk

or

Karen Atkinson
Manager RNIB Resource Centre

Telephone 020 8223 4950
Email k.a.atkinson@uel.ac.uk
At the:
RNIB Resource Centre, University of East London
Romford Road
Stratford
London E15 4LZ

Content author: pcet@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13