Surrey Association for Visual Impairment. Making a visible difference in Surrey.
Child Mobility
Children & Young People's Service
If you are a young person or parent of a child with a visual impairment, you may already have had a visit from a member of SAVI staff to discuss your needs and/or to offer registration.
SAVI can provide information and advice for young people and parents, e.g. on benefits, services and equipment available. SAVI's Resource Centre includes some specially adapted games and videos for children.
Child Mobility Training
Another service is Orientation and Mobility training. This special training is a fundamental and integral part of a child/young person's development programme. It enables children to build up their abilities to use their other senses and build on their awareness of their environment. Through developing these skills, children can learn to move independently.
It is important to start mobility as soon as possible. As parents you will play a vital role in helping your child to develop his/her active independence. By encouraging small steps in independence you are giving your child the best start.
Each child/young person may vary in the amount of Orientation and Mobility training they need. Some may have a lot of training and be taught how to use a long cane or symbol cane. Others may benefit from advice on how to use their existing sight or low vision aids, such as a monocular.
When at school, training can be given to help familiarise the child with their class, playground and school. When they are at the age when they want to be going out short distances alone, e.g. travel to school, to a friend's house or to the local shops, specific training can be given on routes, including bus and train travel.
Safety is always of paramount importance in all mobility training and the Mobility Officer for Children/Young People is happy to advise on any safety issues.
LOOK is a national organisation offering a wide range of help and support to parents and their visually impaired children. Visit their website on www.look-uk.org
SAVI works in partnership with Education - the Physical and Sensory Support Service Vision - and Social Services. In particular we are working together to identify school leavers who have a visual impairment and to offer them a specialist assessment to prepare for the transition from school to further education or employment.
Looking Ahead
This guide, launched in 2004, has been produced for young people with a visual impairment in Surrey. It has been designed to help teenagers in secondary education make essential choices about their future. 'Looking Ahead' complements the "Options" file which Surrey Children's Service sends to all 13 year olds on Surrey's Children With Disabilities Register, and gives specific information about services which may be of interest to young people with a visual impairment.
Young people known to SAVI will automatically receive a hard copy of Looking Ahead as they approach the age of 13. It is available in different languages and formats on request.
Go back to Vision Support page
Head of Rehabilitation Services Profile
Find out more about SAVI Head of Rehabilitation Services, Sandra Gregory
Sight Loss
Learn about the most common eye conditions that can cause visual impairment.
Macular Disease
Cataract
Diabetic Retinopathy
Glaucoma
