Residential Rehabilitation Centre

 

The objective of this service is to enable teenagers, young people and adults with a visual impairment function to the best of their abilities. For some service users, particularly for those with sudden or traumatic vision loss, we’d like to offer intensive residential based training.

This would allow us to simulate all the tasks of daily living and provide training across the full range of independence skills. It would allow us to compliment training input with peer support, the value of which is widely recognised

 

Did you know?

  • Adults with sight loss are 5 times more likely to experience depression and poorer health outcomes.
  • Students who are blind or visually impaired account for less than 2% of the third level population.

The Challenges

Experiencing sudden sight loss has a profound effect on the individual and adjusting to this takes time, support and skills. For some, intensive training is required where the value of peer support is available.

Accessing education outside of state support is an uphill challenge as universities, colleges and training programmes are not always designed for people with disabilities in mind.

The Solution

Develop a National Residential Training Centre (4-6 bed residential unit) for adults and young people who require an intensive training input whichwould help with their adjustment to sight loss and make access to furthereducation easier.

Training would focus on increasing the independence,confidence and knowledge of learners through the provision of training,orientation and access to information sessions. The 7 14 day residentialtraining would primarily focus on the following groups;

  • Teenagers and young adults who require intensive input during school holiday periods to support the acquisition of independence skills such as independent mobility, self -care, assistive technology, self-advocacy, etc.
  • Adults who experience sudden/traumatic vision loss who need an intensive skill acquisition input across the daily living and employment skills to reduce the impact of vision loss on their lives.
  • Adults with vision loss who have difficulty in gaining skills over a protracted period.
  • The centre could also be used by frontline and managerial staff of transport operators to provide awareness training and understanding of the needs of people with physical, mental, cognitive or sensory impairments.

The Residential Training Centre will both upskill service users to adapt to a life with low vision as well as provide an opportunity to learn and connect with others in a similar situation. – Mary, Vision Ireland Residential Training Centre staff member.

hands holding a braille lego piece

How can you help?

If the impact of a Residential Training Centre, supporting young people with a disability transition to education resonates with you or your organisation and you would like to find out more about how you could support the work, we would like to hear from you.

InfoLine 1800 911 250