Navigating education with a visual impairment

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Navigating education with a visual impairment can be difficult, especially when you are newly diagnosed and don’t know what support is out there. 


QTVI 

A QTVI (Qualified Teacher of Vision Impairment) is a specialist who comes to monitor a persons vision. They do not measure the same vision as what would be measured at a hospital appointment. They measure the vision that is usable on a day to day basis. 

They are the ones who let the setting know about any adaptions that you may need to your materials in order for the student to have the same access to education as their peers. 


Reasonable adjustments 

Reasonable adjustments give any who has a disability equal access to education and work. 

For those with visual impairments, in education, reasonable adjustments include, materials in larger font or braille, assistive technology and specific seating in classrooms. 

Reasonable adjustments can be changed as required. 


EHCP

An EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan) is a legally binding document that the education setting must adhere to. The document outlines adaptions that must be made to materials and in some circumstances. They are NOT specific for people with a visual impairment, they are able to be adapted for all disabilities. This also provides funding for specialist equipment to be purchased. The specialist equipment must be purchased by the setting as the funding does not go into the bank of the family or student, the funding can also be used for 1-1 support. 


DSA

DSA (Disabled Student Allowance) is essentially the funding element of an EHCP, the main difference is that the funding doesn’t go to the setting. The student must employ 1-1 support if needed and cover the first £200 of a laptop if this is required. This should only be used for further education as the local sensory impairment service or the setting should provide assistive technology if the student does not have an EHCP. 

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