Within this section find out about how you can help your child or young person at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Familiarise yourself with the Curriculum Framework For Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI). You can download a copy here: Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment | RNIB | RNIB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Develop social skills by encouraging interactions with friends and practising communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practise school routines at home. This includes packing their school bag, completing homework and listening to instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practise raising hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Play turn taking games to support group activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Talk about the school day, including arrival, break times and home time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practise using the toilet and dressing. Mention that in the toilets, the acoustics may make it sound echoey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Encourage asking for help e.g. I need to move closer to the board, the print size is too small, I need to have my back to the light so I can see your face etc..<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visit the school before your child starts so they feel comfortable in their new environment. For younger children, you could create a book with photos of key areas in school and key staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meet the teachers. You can discuss your child’s needs and what helps. You could ask about topics covered to support conversations at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Establish a good routine that provides structure and predictability. This will help to reduce any anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read aloud together every day.<\/strong> Choose times and places that are quiet, comfortable and free from distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To reduce visual fatigue, read to your child or young person<\/strong>. Ask questions about the text or story. This will help to develop audio skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choose books that relate to your child’s own experiences<\/strong>. Discuss words and concepts that your child might not be familiar with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use multi sensory approaches<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make it fun<\/strong>: Engage in simple repetitive songs, rhymes and discussions about the world around them to encourage their imagination and early literacy development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Borrow <\/strong>large print, Braille versions of books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use technology<\/strong>, such as a tablet to help customise the appearance of text including text size and background colour. For braillists, consider e-text with refreshable braille displays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use magnifying reading aids<\/strong> – contact your local low vision clinic at the hospital for advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ClearVision Project: ClearVision is a postal lending library of children\u2019s books designed to be shared by visually impaired and sighted children and adults. For more information use the following link: Clearvision Project<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Living Paintings: Free library of tactile books with braille and audio description: How We Help Parents and Children with Tactile Books for Blind People (livingpaintings.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Calibre Audio provides free audio books to under 18’s who are print disabled: How we help – Calibre Audio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDeveloping a love of reading at home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Useful links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n