Service for Children and Young People with Vision and Multi-Sensory Impairments
Features
Feature of 1
The Service for Children and Young People with Vision and Multi-Sensory Impairments offer support to young people, who have a diagnosed visual, or multi-sensory impairment, in education, up to the age of 25.
We are part of the Sensory and Physical (S&P) Service within the Specialist Education Service.
Our Specialist Teachers provide assessment, and advice for curriculum and technology access, and the teaching of Braille. Our Sensory Support Practitioners provide additional one-to-one input with children and young people.
We also provide training on awareness of types of sight loss, practical ways to support visual access, and how to adapt learning environments to increase independence. Our training sessions are available to families, schools, other Suffolk County Council agencies and to voluntary groups.
What we offer
Pre-school children
We support children aged 0-3 and their families and we hold an informal drop-in group for pre-school visually impaired children and their families, providing play activities and an opportunities for parents to meet our team, and each other.
Schools and Colleges
We provide specialist assessment and advice to children and young people attending all schools and colleges, including specialist provisions – Suffolk schools, Academies and Free Schools. For Independent schools we have a Traded Offer, following an initial consultation for which there is no fee.
You can read our Making Classrooms Accessible for Pupils with Sight Loss guide here.
Intervenor Service
Our Intervenor Service provides one-to-one Intervenor support to children and young people who have a combined significant visual and hearing loss (Multisensory Impairment). Intervenors support sensory and communication access in school settings. This is a paid for service. Read the criteria for the service.
Braille Literacy
We provide Braille tuition and Braille resources for all children and young people learning Braille. We also offer training and support for school and setting staff learning Braille and provide on-going support for the use of Braille technology for pupils, students, and their educational settings. We support families in learning and using Braille as well.
Habilitation - Mobility and Independence
Our Habilitation Specialist provides one-to-one mobility, travel, and independence skills training for children and young people. We also provide mobility training for school and setting staff.
Our Habilitation Specialist also carries out visual access environmental audits for schools and setting, to help them be fully accessible for children and young people with visual needs.
ICT Access
We provide specialist visual access technology to children and young people with visual impairments such that they are not able to use the adaptive access features in typical digital devices, e.g. Laptop computers.
We provide one-to-one training and support to children and young people, their families, schools, and settings, in the use of the visual access features found in typical mainstream technology with access features.
Contact and referral details
We accept referrals from education settings or directly from families.
Schools should refer to the Service using the Inclusion Service Referral Form. For a more detailed overview of the Service, please refer to the Service Specification.
If you are a family, then to contact us in the first instance, please email cypsensorycomm@suffolk.gov.uk.
Our team comprises:
Service for Vision – Children and Young People
Cathy Tatum - Joint Service Lead - One page profile
Rachel Lewis - Joint Service Lead - One page profile
Jenny Goode – Specialist Teacher
Helen Cain – Sensory Support Practitioner
Lydia Garside – Sensory Support Practitioner
Rachel Harris – Sensory Support Practitioner
Laura Picknell – Sensory Support Practitioner
Steve Giddings – Habilitation Specialist (Mobility and Independence)
Service for Multisensory Children and Young People
Hollie Osborne – Service Lead - One page profile
Tanya Turner – Lead Intervenor
Kirsty Goodchild - Intervenor
Hanna Smith – Intervenor
Lucy Walsh – Intervenor
Lizzie Maxwell – Intervenor
Amy Bond – Intervenor
Amelia Hale – Intervenor
Tracey Fryatt – Intervenor
Anna Hartley – Sensory Support Practitioner
Steve Giddings – Habilitation Specialist (Mobility and Independence)
Resources for Families
Guide Dogs
Guide Dogs provide a wide range of advice and support for children and young people with sight loss and their families.
Look
Look are an independent organisation supporting young visually impaired people and their families, through mentoring, events, youth forums and parent support groups. Look also link to other charities and organisations who can help you access the support you need. Visit the Look website here.
RNIB
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) provides a wide range of support and advice for adults, children, and young people with sight loss. Visit the RNIB website here.
Thomas Pocklington Trust
An independent organisation providing support and information for people of all ages who have sight loss – including children and their families. Visit the Thomas Pocklington Trust website here.
VICTA Parent Network
The VICTA Parent Network Facebook group is a space to share experiences, seek encouragement and provide support. Visit the VICTA Facebook group here.
Resources for Education
Making Classrooms Accessible
Scottish Sensory Centre
The SSC provide support and learning resources for everyone involved in the education of children and young people who have visual impairments or who are Deafblind. Visit the Scottish Sensory Centre website here.
Paths to Literacy
Paths to Literacy is a US based website that has a great deal of useful information and ideas for supporting VI children’s education at home. Visit Paths to Literacy here.
Perkins School for the Blind eLearning
Perkins School for the Blind, Massachusetts, United States of America was founded in 1829. The website provides information and learning resources for visually impaired and Deafblind children and young people. Visit the Perkins website here.
Positive Eye:
Positive Eye is an independent provider of training and resources designed to support the learning and development of children and young people who have sight loss. Visit the Positive Eye website here.
RNIB Bookshare
If you have a child who has a print disability that affects their reading, RNIB Bookshare can help with access to curriculum and leisure titles in accessible formats at all educational levels. They are making lots of content available for families at home during COVID-19. Click here to find out more about RNIB Bookshare.
VIEW
View are working with other sensory impairment charities to provide support during the Covid-19 crisis. The following page shares links to information on school closures and home learning resources. Viewweb's COVID-19 page.
Resources for Sensory Development
Speech Education and Inclusive Learning have an A-Z of sensory learning activities.
Twinkl also have some free Sensory resources.
Learning and exploring through play have lots of sensory play ideas and activities.
Rainy Day Mum has ideas for fun activities for all ages.
Barefoot Books – activities to download and singalongs.
Resources for Mental Wellbeing
Go Noodle
Go Noodle provide movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. Visit the Go Noodle website here.
VIEW
View are working with other sensory impairment charities to provide support during the Covid-19 crisis, including mental health support. Click here to view their resources.
We Do Listen Foundation
Videos, songs, interactive questions and more to help young children be better listeners, learn important life lessons and feel good about themselves. Visit the We Do Listen website here.
Young Minds
Young Minds’ mission is “to make sure all young people can get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.” Visit the Young Minds website here.
The Youth Intervention Centre
The Youth Intervention Centre is a private service aimed at supporting young people through mental health and emotional difficulties. They work with Moorvision to provide electronic or large print files of resources.
Resources: Audiobooks and Apps
Audiobooks
The following organisations all allow you to download digital books or audiobooks via a device:
Accessible apps for iPad
We have also compiled a list of visually accessible apps for iPad, which you can view here.
Multi-Sensory Resources
Support for families, children and young people
The National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NatSIP)
The National Sensory Impairment Partnership work with lots of organisations to provide information and training resources for multi-sensory impairment. Visit the multisensory section of the NatSIP website here
Sense
Sense is a charity based organisation which supports learning and development of deafblind children and young people by providing information, advice and learning opportunities. Visit the Sense website here.
Deafblind UK
Deafblind UK provides support such as emotional and mental health support, technology, and social skills for deafblind individuals. Visit the Deafblind UK website here.
Deafblind International
Deafblind international are a non-profit organisation who aim to support professionals (such as educators, administrators, researchers, medical specialists, etc.), families and people who are deafblind to raise awareness of deafblindness. Visit Deafblind International here.
Positive Eye
Positive Eye is an independent provider of training and resources designed to support the learning and development of children and young people who have sight loss. Visit the Positive Eye website here.
We recommend the following Positive Eye resources in particular:
Sensory Processing 101
Sensory Processing 101 provides information and support strategies to families and professionals. You can download a free sensory processing starter kit on their website - this is also available in book form ("Sensory Processing 101" by Dayna Abraham)
Look
Look are an independent organisation supporting young visually impaired people and their families, through mentoring, events, youth forums and parent support groups. They also link to other charities and organisations who can help you access the support you need. Visit the Look website here
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) provides a wide range of support and advice for adults, children, and young people with sight loss. Visit the RNIB website here.
Websites providing classroom advice / educational resources
Scottish Sensory Centre (SSC)
Provide support and learning resources for everyone involved in the education of children and young people who have visual impairments or who are Deafblind. You can visit the SSC website here.
Positive Eye
Positive Eye is an independent provider of training and resources designed to support the learning and development of children and young people who have sight loss. They have lots of resources including:
Positive Eye's Idea Machine - Videos | Facebook
Positive Eye – Activities with buckets
You can download the Positive Eye inclusive lesson resources here.
Paths To Literacy
Paths to Literacy is a US based website that has a great deal of useful information and ideas for supporting your VI child’s education at home. You can visit the Paths to LIteracy website here.
Perkins School for the Blind eLearning
Perkins School for the Blind, Massachusetts, United States of America was founded in 1829. The website provides information and learning resources for visually impaired and Deafblind children and young people. You can visit the Perkins website here.
Stephen Hawking School Learning Resources
The Stephen Hawking school is a school for 2-11 year olds with profound learning difficulties. Following is a link to the differentiated learning resources and outreach opportunities that they provide : Stephen Hawking School - Outreach Handouts
Phonak - The Listening Room
The listening room is an online resource aimed to support speech and communication development for people with a hearing loss. Visit the Listening Room here.
Multi-Sensory Story Making Information – PAMIS
PAMIS (promoting a more inclusive society) have created an information booklet about creating a multi sensory story experience for young people, full of ideas and information. Multi-Sensory Storytelling (pamis.org.uk)
RNIB Bookshare
Accessible home learning with RNIB Bookshare during COVID-19.
Special Needs Jungle
Information regarding Coronavirus information for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Twinkl
Twinkl provide materials to help you teach all areas of the National Curriculum. Visit Twinkl here
Topmarks
Topmarks is an independent educational website for children, teaching professionals and parents, providing online games and activities. Visit Topmarks here
VIEW
View are working with other sensory impairment charities to provide support during the Covid-19 crisis. The following page shares links to information on school closures, home learning resources: www.viewweb.org.uk/covid-19
Websites to support communication
Phonak - The Listening Room
The listening room is an online resource aimed to support speech and communication development for people with a hearing loss. Visit the Listening Room here
Canaan Barrie On Body Signs
Sight Scotland have got a wealth of videos demonstrating how to communicate using Canaan Barrie On Body Signs. Sight Loss Advice, Help & Guidance From Sight Scotland
Poetry in BSL Magic Hands
Magic Hands is a CBBC children’s programme which uses BSL to support the telling of familiar poems. View Magic Hands on BBC iPlayer here.
ITV Signed Stories
ITV have created animated videos of traditional and modern children’s stories with British Sign Language. View the ITV Signed Stories here
Clicker
Clicker is a program for computers or iPads that is easily accessible with a speech function to help with communication skills. Find out more about Clicker here
Websites supporting access to reading
These all allow you to download digital books or audiobooks via a device.
RNIB Large Print Lending Library
Websites to support early sensory development
Activities for Children and Young People with CHARGE Syndrome
Gail Deuce's website provides a variety of advice and activities for families and professionals supporting someone with CHARGE Syndrome.
Massage Stories
Massage stories are a great session to include as part of your school curriculum or as a home activity. Below are some links to learn more about them.
Spread the Happiness
From the creator of Dough disco “Spread the Happiness” has some fantastic sensory activities and fun resources for development. Dough Disco ™ - Spread the happiness
Learning and Exploring Through Play
Learning and Exploring through Play have lots of ideas for sensory play activities.
Imagination Tree
Imagination Tree provides a variety of sensory activity ideas.
Inclusive Teach
Inclusive Teach provides a variety of lesson ideas and fun inclusive activities for at home and at school.
Rainy Day Mum
Rainy Day Mum has ideas for fun activities for all ages.
Hey Bear on YouTube
Hey Bear is a YouTube channel with lots of simple videos with high contrast images on black background to engage a young child with a visual impairment.
Barefoot Books
Barefoot Books have a variety of activities to download and a fantastic youtube channel full of sing-a-longs.
Websites supporting Sport and Exercise
Positive Eye
Positive Eye have produced the following resources:
Tips on supporting a child with a visual impairment during gymnastics.
Top Access Tips for planning a PE lesson
British Blind Sport
'British Blind Sport prides itself on making a visible difference through sport as we know that taking the first step into participating in a sporting or recreational activity can change lives for the better.’ Visit British Blind Sport here.
Metro Blind Sport
Metro Blind Sport provide Audio Exercise Programs – Metro Blind Sport. All programs are free, showing you how to stretch, strengthen, condition, and tone your body, all without the benefit of eyesight. Visit Metro Blind Sport here.
Websites for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Go Noodle
Go Noodle provides movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. Visit Go Noodle here.
ELSA-Emotional Literacy Support Assistants
The ELSA programme is a fantastic resource for staff members, it provides training and resources to support young peoples understanding of their emotions and tools to manage their feelings through literacy work. Visit the ELSA archives here
We Do Listen Foundation
Videos, songs, interactive questions and more to help young children be better listeners, learn important life lessons and feel good about themselves. Visit We Do Listen here.
Young Minds
Young Minds’ mission is “to make sure all young people can get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.” Visit Young Minds here.
The Youth Intervention Centre
The Youth Intervention Centre is a private service aimed at supporting young people through mental health and emotional difficulties. They work with Moorvision to provide electronic or large print files of resources.
Visit the Youth Intervention Centre here
Visit the Moorvision website here
Useful Facebook Pages
Gwyneth McCormack Positive Eye | Facebook
Positive Eye's Idea Machine - Home | Facebook
Charge Syndrome (UK) 'supporting each other' | Facebook
The Charge Syndrome Foundation - Home | Facebook
Messy STUFF - Tuff Tray Ideas | Facebook
Story Massage Programme l Facebook
Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Awareness | Facebook
Cortical Visual Impairment Professionals | Facebook
Interoception: The Eighth Sensory System | Facebook
The Zones of Self Regulation in Action | Facebook
Sport and Exercise
Eastern Region Contacts for VI Accessible Activities and Sports
Activities A – Z
Archery
Abbey Bowmen (Romford, Essex)
All sight level supported
Boxing
Ipswich Boxing Club
All sight levels supported
07787 507791(Martin Cherington)
Climbing
VI groups for 6-10 year olds and older group for 11-18 year olds.
Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre (Saturdays)
01449 674980 (Richard Bond)
Cycling
Charlotte’s Tandems
Free hire
Driving
Explore 4 x 4
Offroad driving experience, no licence needed
01787 320640
Gliding
Rattlesden Gliding Club
07586 818775 (Kostas Kostalampros)
Goalball
Suffolk
Equipment/training available
Steve Giddings, Clare Burman, Mark Lynch
01473 611011 / info@suffolksight.org.uk
Essex D4S Goalball Cub
Colchester
07922 885632 (Abigail Saxon)
abigail@disability4sport.co.uk
Cambridge Dons Goalball Club
All sight levels supported
07939 181288 (Warren Wilson)
Norfolk & Norwich Goalball Teams
07876 145918 (John Milligan)
Gymnastics
Cambridge Gymnastics Academy
07971 864653 / Cambridge Gymnastics Academy website
Pipers Vale Gymnastics Club, Ipswich
01473 433676 / clubcontact@pipersvale.co.uk / Pipers Vale website
Martial Arts
Adaptive Martial Arts
All sight levels supported
Neil Kirland – info@adaptivemartialarts.co.uk
Ipswich Judo Club
All sight levels supported
01394 670254 (Andrew Topliss) andrew.topliss@btinternet.com
Tiger Tastic Karate
07494 403472 (Bex Minns)
Rowing
Cantabrigian Rowing Club
Adaptive rowing
adaptive@cantabsrowing.org.uk (Gill Cooper)
Running
Bungay Black Dog Running Club
All sight levels supported
accessiblesport@bungayblackdogrunningclub.co.uk (Sue Potter)
Jaffa Running Club (beginners courses/guided running)
01473 748182 (David Smith)
Orwell Panthers Athletic Club
01473 433611
Sailing
Deben Yacht Club
All sight levels supported
01394 385221 (Frances Alexander)
EAST – East Anglia Sailing Trust (age18+)
Yacht Harbour Ipswich
07872 907719 (Trevor Williams)
vicruisingrecruitment@e-a-s-t.org.uk
Shooting
Beccles Rifle Club
All sight levels supported
info@becclesriffleclub,org,uk
Felixstowe Rifle Club (age11+)
Skiing
Suffolk Leisure Park, Bourne Hill, Wherstead, Ipswich IP2 8NQ
01473 602347 (Simon Wells)
Norfolk Snowsports Club
01603 662781
adaptive@norfollksnowsports.com
Sports Club for the Disabled (Pat Hoy)
01473 690834
Swimming
City of Cambridge Swimming Club
All sight levels supported
City of Cambridge Swimming website
Ipswich Swimming Academy
07764 223226 (Nick Tyson)
ipswichswimmingacademy@gmail.com
West Suffolk Swimming Club
development@westsuffolkswimming.co.uk
Tennis
East Anglia Tennis & Squash Club
All sight levels supported
01603 453532
East Anglian Tennis & Squash Club website
Ipswich Tennis Club
01473 251143
Theatre
Unscene Suffolk 18+
Caroline Roberts (theatre)
Emma (singing)
caroline.unscenesuffolk@gmail.com
Mousetrap Theatre Group
02076324111 (Jo Pelly)
Windsurfing
Alton Water Sports Centre
01473328408
Miscellaneous contacts
Anyone Can (sports events)
Harry Macdonald
07788259104
Cam Sight
01223 420033
Essex Sight
01206 548196
Eyes Free Fitness (YouTube channel)
Channel containing guided fitness sessions from HIIT sessions to pilates and yoga
Suffolk Sight
01284 748800
Vision Norfolk
Providing wide range of sporting activities and walking groups
01603 573014 (Emma Dean)
Thorpe Woodlands
Outdoor activities including low and high ropes, and a myriad of other activities.
British Blind Sport
'British Blind Sport prides itself on making a visible difference through sport as we know that taking the first step into participating in a sporting or recreational activity can change lives for the better.’ Visit the British Blind Sport website here.
Metro Blind Sport
Metro Blind Sport provide free Audio Exercise Programs, showing you how to stretch, strengthen, condition, and tone your body without the benefit of eyesight. Visit Metro Blind Sport here.
News and Events
Virtual ‘Moving on’ Workshops for Year 11 to 13 Every Wednesday 4-6pm Starting 6th October. Download the flyer for more information.