Who Does What?

When your child is diagnosed as having a visual impairment there are a number of services that will support them. As new parents we all found it hard to understand who does what? We have laid out below some of the main organisations that may support your child at various times in their life, so you can understand who to contact and when. Remember if you are unsure drop us an email or put a query on our Facebook Group page and we will point you in the right direction

Vision Ireland (Formally NCBI) – Children and Young Persons Team

When you child is diagnosed as having a visual impairment, they will be entitled to support from Vision Irelands Children and Young Persons Team. This team will provide assessments and individualised intervention plans to help maximise your child’s potential. These are based on meeting the distinctive needs of visually impaired learners. Vision Ireland also hold workshops, webinars, children’s camps, and individual interventions throughout the year. Referral to Vision Ireland can be made by clinicians, family, or self-referral by ringing 1800 911 25

Visiting Teacher Service for the Blind – VTVI will support your child in school

The NCSE’s Visiting Teachers (VTs) are qualified teachers who offer support to students who are blind/vision impaired from referral all the way through school. They will advise the school on how to support your child so that they can reach their potential and be fully integrated into school life. Support for babies and young children is usually provided in the home in collaboration with the parents.

Valid Conditions for Referral:

  • A best corrected visual acuity of 6/18 or worse in the better eye and/or
  • A deteriorating visual condition and/or
  • A significant visual field loss

Not Eligible for Referral:

  • Visual difficulties satisfactorily corrected by the wearing of spectacles and/or contact lenses
  • Visual Acuity better than 6/18
  • Monocular Vision where vision in one eye is better than 6/18
  • Colour Blindness without a Valid Condition for Referral
  • CVI

If your child meets the above criteria you can refer them yourself (Click here). Alternatively, the HSE, School, and Vision Ireland may refer them. The form should be sent directly to the VTVI in your area

ChildVision

If you have a clinical therapy concern, please do not hesitate to contact ChildVision. The clinical team is comprised of:

  • Functional Vision Assessors
  • Orientation and Mobility instructors
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Speech and Language Therapists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Nursing  

ChildVision’s Clinical Therapy Team are available to:

· provide ongoing, specialist, dynamic assessment for those aged 0-18 years with a visual impairment by profiling their individual needs so that they can be better supported at a local level within their community.

· provide differential diagnostic service which includes adapted cognitive assessments and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children with a visual impairment

· Support Community Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), Primary Care Teams (PCTs) and education providers to develop their knowledge and understanding of optical or neurological visual impairment so that they can offer appropriate supports in the community

Click here for to self-refer

Support Agencies