Visual Impairment Scotland Report

A New System of Notification of Childhood Visual Impairment and the Information it has Provided on Services for Scottish Children.

September 2003

This report was written by members of the Visual Impairment Scotland Team.

Published by Visual Impairment Scotland

ISBN 0-954608-0-0

Acknowledgements

Visual Impairment Scotland would like to thank all the parents and children for taking the time to provide information for this report. We would also like to thank the many committed and hard working professionals from health, education, social services and voluntary organisations who have made the effort to complete data collection forms. We hope that the effort both parents and professionals have made will seem worthwhile now and in the future.

Visual Impairment Scotland would also like to thank Greater Glasgow Health Board, The Scottish Executive, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and the Royal Blind School, Edinburgh, for their support and help in developing the Project.

Executive Summary
1 Background and Origins
2 Development of the VIS Notification System
3 Information and Support Service: Development & Results
4 General Notification Information
5 Aetiology: when and how a child acquires visual impairment
6 Anatomical Site of Impairment and Diagnoses
7 Educational Placement and Record of Needs Status
8 Educational Service Provision
9 Input from Other Services
10 Low Vision Aid Use
11 Blind and Partial Sight Registration
12 Conclusions, Future Developments and Recommendations
Glossary of terms and definitions
References

ISBN 0-954608-0-0