Support Services for 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, contact NCBI on LoCall 1850 33 43 53.
Visiting teacher service
The Department of Education and Science provides a regionalised visiting teacher service [ 1 ]. 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.
You can apply to the visiting teacher service (vision impairment) on Tel: 090 647 4621.
NCBI community resource workers
NCBI community resource workers [ 2 ] are a resource for a child with sight loss and his or her family and also for other services and professionals working with the child. A community resource worker can visit a pupil in school to offer support and practical advice and to provide awareness training for staff working with the child.
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 five 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 advice or additional information on working with a pre-school child with sight loss, please call the staff at the ELC on 01 405 6950 or email elc@ncbi.ie [ 3 ].
NCBI counselling service
NCBI’s counselling service [ 4 ] offers an opportunity to have conversations relating to sight loss. A team of professionally qualified 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 your local [ 5 ] NCBI community resource worker, by individuals themselves or through professionals from other agencies.
Other Services Available to You
Here are some other services which you may find useful.
- A family’s local public health nurse [ 6 ].
- NCBI library service [ 7 ]
Family Resource Centre
The Family Resource Centre [ 8 ] in St Josephs School for the Visually Impaired offers a calender of events for families of children with sight loss.
Links:
[1] http://www.education.ie
[2] http://www.ncbi.ie/services/services-for-individuals/community-resource-worker
[3] mailto:%65%6C%63%40%6E%63%62%69%2E%69%65
[4] http://www.ncbi.ie/services/services-for-individuals/professional-counselling-service
[5] http://www.ncbi.ie/about-ncbi/contact-us
[6] http://www.hse.ie/en/HealthServices/HealthServices/Category/HealthCentres/
[7] http://www.ncbi.ie/services/services-for-individuals/library
[8] http://www.stjosephsvi.ie/index.php?page=family-resource-centre-frc