Professionals supporting your family

An eye doctor who specialises in the treatment and diagnosis of children’s eye conditions. They treat these conditions by prescribing medicine or by surgery. 

Specialises in eye conditions, in both adults and children and helps with diagnosis and treatment. They treat eye conditions by prescribing medicine or by surgery.

Assesses the development of vision and treatment of eye movement disorders in children, most commonly squints. They’ll see your child in the eye department at the hospital, following diagnosis by the Ophthalmologist. If your child has a squint, the Orthoptist may prescribe spectacles and patching. 

They’re trained to find abnormal eye conditions and vision impairment. They report to the general practitioner (GP) and the eye specialist when they uncover an eye condition. Optometrists will prescribe spectacles to treat your child’s vision impairment.

They are based in eye hospitals and eye clinics and are there to offer support following a diagnosis of an eye condition and to help you and your child understand what the diagnosis means. 

Following consultation, the ECLO provides helpful information about the eye condition, benefits information and where to find help. They’ll also explain some of the difficulties your child might experience and provide emotional support for all your family during the early stages of your child’s diagnosis. 

The ECLO works closely with nursing and medical practitioners and can also help liaise between the hospital eye department and the local social services sensory support teams. They also provide information about local services and support groups. They’re not based in all hospitals and larger hospitals may have a family support officer or a specialist clinical liaison officer instead.

Also, known as your GP. They help with the general health of your child and can advise and arrange further examinations. 

When you find out your child has a vision impairment, the paediatrician will be your first point of contact. They’re doctors who specialise in working with babies and children and may also refer your child to other specialists.

They assess the level of sight in your child’s eye and provide glasses to correct errors of the focusing system of the eye.

The Occupational Therapist assesses the sensory, perceptual, social and emotional wellbeing of your child and through activities and play help maximise their abilities, leading to greater self-esteem and independence. They also provide advice on equipment and adaptations to your home to help with independent living. 

Suggest routines to help development with crawling, walking, posture and encourage your child to move confidently. They can also help develop good muscle tone in children with other physical problems. The physiotherapist can advise on aids to support your child’s development.

SALT helps children who may have difficulties with the development of language and communication skills and give advice on feeding and swallowing problems.

They usually work with the children with disabilities team, and they’ll help your family with any problems that might arise in the early months and years relating to your child’s vision impairment. 

A trained nurse that can provide experts and their contact details in your area. They usually visit you and your child at home and can support in identifying a vision impairment and encourage your GP to take further action. 

The Education Psychologist might also be a qualified teacher and will assess your child’s learning needs and social skills and often co-ordinates assessments for your child. They’re usually involved with your child after the age of two when many children are statutorily assessed before early educational support. 

Contact The Sensory Support Service and Special Education Sensory Support Service. They have qualified teachers of visual impairment and early years’ specialists.

A qualified teacher for children with a vision impairment who provides support and advice to parents, teachers and pastoral staff. They'll support your child throughout their school years and visit your home or your child's school in the first few years of diagnosis.

A home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with disabilities. They provide support to your child by assisting with the development of play, communication and relationships, and create a programme to build on. However, portage workers are not available in all areas of the UK. 

ROVIC help children with life skills and independent living. For example, teaching them how to cross roads and use a cane safely.

A staff member in a school who co-ordinates all the special educational needs provision. In smaller schools, the head teacher or deputy head may be the SENCO.

Habilitation Specialists help children with mobility, orientation training and the life skills needed to perform everyday tasks. Including personal care such as washing and dressing, taking part in family activities and organising their belongings. They also provide sighted guide training.