Services available to professionals working with pre-school children with sight loss
Summary: There are a number of services and supports available to various professionals working with a child who has sight difficulties. Here, we have included a list of these services, describing each of them briefly. Depending on a child’s particular situation or circumstances one or all of the below may be of assistance to you. If you require any further information, call NCBI on locall 1850 334353.
Visiting Teacher Service
The Department of Education and Science provides a regionalised visiting teacher service. This service is available from birth and follows through to third level. A visiting teacher visits children with sight loss in their own home or pre-school. The visiting teacher will carry out an assessment of a child’s needs and provide guidance on the implications of sight loss on teaching and learning. Emphasis is placed on working as a partner with families enabling them to make informed choices in the education of their children.
Apply to the visiting teacher service (vision impairment) on Tel: 090 6474621
Find out more about the visiting teacher service.
Community Resource Worker
NCBI community resource workers are a resource for a child with sight loss and his or her family and also to other services and professionals working with the child. A community resource worker can visit a pre-school to offer support and practical advice and to provide awareness training for staff working with the child. Find out more about our community resource worker service.
The Early Learning Centre
The NCBI’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) in Clondalkin caters for children with sight loss from the ages of 0 to 6. Children attend the centre from one session (one morning or one afternoon) to 5 sessions a week depending on their individual needs and circumstances. Children attending the centre may be attending another pre-school or service. The ELC also caters for children who have additional disabilities. If you would like some advice or additional information on working with a pre-school child with sight loss please call the staff at the ELC on 01 4056950 or email the ELC at elc@ncbi.ie.
Family Therapy Service
NCBI’s Family Therapy Service offers an opportunity to have conversations relating to sight loss. A team of professionally qualified family therapists run this service. Parents or guardians or other family members of a child with sight loss can avail of this service if they feel that it would be beneficial to talk to someone about their situation. Referrals to the service can be made through NCBI local community resource worker, by individuals themselves or through professionals from other agencies. Find out more information about the family therapy service.
Other Services available to you
Below is a list of other services which you may find useful.
- A family’s local public health nurse.
Family Resource Centre
Family Resource Centre in St. Josephs School for the Visually Impaired offers an extensive calender of event for families who have a child with sight loss. Read more about the Family Resource Centre.