Sight loss charities Visibility and RNIB Scotland are providing support to families with a child who is blind or partially sighted.
Scottish Charity Award winner Visibility has teamed up with fellow sight loss charity RNIB Scotland as part of a three year Big Lottery funded project.
The charities are working in tandem to provide support projects for families with a child who is blind or partially sighted.
Visibility's children and families team will be working across the west of Scotland and consists of a development worker, a habilitation specialist and an early years play worker.
Beyond diagnosis, it will provide ongoing, responsive and tailored support for any child, young person and their families.
The projects are in their infancy but we're already seeing the significant differences that our services, and the partnership approach, are making
The range of services – from toddler groups, and mobility training to emotional and practical support – are aimed at giving young people increased confidence in their abilities, which then opens up more opportunities for them and their families.
RNIB Scotland's IRISS (Identify, React, Intervene and Sustained Support) project is employing two people to work closely with families across the west and central belt.
Its paediatric vision support officers will offer initial emotional support, a listening ear and develop a 12-week programme, based on each family's individual needs.
This could include visual impairment awareness training, making sure the home is safe and accessible for a child with sight loss, understanding what special toys and resources are available, play techniques, and signposting to other sources of help and information.
Both new initiatives will also give families the chance to take part in family fun days, residential weekends and peer support groups.
Clare Sweeney, development worker at Visibility, whose Let’s Get Digital project won Digital Dynamo award at last year’s Scottish Charity Awards, said: "The projects are in their infancy but we're already seeing the significant differences that our services, and the partnership approach, are making.
“Both organisations are benefitting through sharing resources and information, which will have greater impact on the children and families we help."
Charities gave mum a clearer outlook
Gemma, from Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire, began to worry when she noticed her six-week-old son Riley was not focusing or reacting to objects in the same way as his older brother Ethan, and that he was extremely sensitive to light.
She raised her initial concerns with their health visitor in 2013, but it took some months for them to get the final diagnosis of ocular albinism. At the point of diagnosis, the family did not know of any other supporting organisations, and they felt very much in the dark about Riley’s diagnosis and were anxious about the severity of his sight loss.
“We got really worried when we were told of his visual difficulties and we kept wondering what we could do to help him,” Gemma said.
Gemma and her family set about doing their own research into the condition and looked for ways they could get help for Riley. They were put in touch with a visual impairment specialist in September 2015 who referred Riley onto Visibility’s toddler group, Little Explorers.
When they came along to the group, Gemma really enjoyed the social aspect of meeting other parents in similar situations and commented: “The group was great for meeting parents and kids going through the same thing, our concerns were eased through speaking to staff”
She was given a greater insight into Riley’s condition from talking with staff and became familiar with sensory toys and equipment which her and Riley could play with. Riley is now 2 years old and is really active and sociable with other children at the group. He loves copying everything his big brother Ethan does too and doesn’t let his sight loss hold him back!
Gemma said she would have loved the support and guidance that the IRISS project can now offer families at diagnosis, and thanks to Visibility, Gemma has a clearer and more positive outlook about Riley’s future.
