Vision support services for children and young people

Vision Support Services or VSS is a Department within Guide Dogs Operations Directorate and is responsible for managing service contracts with external agencies, primarily local authorities. These contracts cover services for both children and young people and adults who are blind or partially sighted.

Contracts for children and young people services

The contracts for children and young people are for a mobility and independence education service from birth through to the end of formal education, which is designed to provide essential aspects of a young person's learning, to better equip them to both make the most of their school years (academic and social), and enable them to enter adulthood with confidence.

Mobility and independence education services provided by VSS under contract include:

• Advice, support, signposting and training for parents / carers / teachers / classroom assistants
• Body awareness and movement, including early movement for babies and very young children
• Learning through play, which is an essential part of the child's development - learning how to interact socially, practising communication skills, and practising fine and gross motor skills
• Development of concepts relating to body space and the environment, which will help the child to understand, relate to and interact with the world around them
• Development and integration of all the senses - remaining sight, hearing, smell and touch - which are critical to understanding where we are in space and to independent mobility
• Improving balance, coordination, posture and stamina
• Traditional' mobility training at home, to and from school, at school, and outside home and school - sighted guide, body protection, orientation, cane skills, indoor and outdoor routes, obstacle avoidance, understanding traffic, crossing roads, using public transport, etc
• Helping to develop general independence skills - being able to get ready to go out, use of money, dealing with the public, using shops etc
• Preparation and support for the young person through the critical transition stages - to nursery and primary school, to secondary school and, where possible, to further education and / or employment / employment services
• Applying mobility and independence education to enable access to recreation and leisure activities.

These services make a substantial contribution towards helping children and young people achieve the outcomes they need to maximise their potential:

• Moving independently and safely - at home, to and from school, at school and outside home and school
• Being healthier, as a result of being more active
• Being able to access a wider range of activities, both in school and outside
• Making a more positive contribution - at home, at school and beyond school
• Achieving higher levels of self-esteem and self worth
• Maximising social integration and minimising social isolation
• Increasing self confidence
• Increasing academic attainment
• Enabling ease of transition between schools and on to further education and employment
• A greater likelihood of achieving economic wellbeing
• Reducing dependence on others - in childhood, adolescence and beyond.

For further information on contracts covering children and young people, please contact

Mike England on 07879 433 440 or mike.england@guidedogs.org.uk

Download 'Supporting children and young people with visual impairment' advice leaflet PDF (303kb)

Download 'Mobility and independence service for children
and young people with visual impairment' 16 page guide PDF (1.3MB)