Welcome to Starting Point

Many of you will have linked on to this website after receiving the Starting Point guide that may have been given to you around the time of hearing your child had a visual difficulty.

A number of key organisations, including RNIB , Guide Dogs for the Blind , Sense , Action for Blind People and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, felt it was essential for parents to have access to support around diagnosis and during the following early years.

Because it was important that we consulted parents during the initial stages of producing the guide, a number with children under the age of five took part in a survey to tell us about their experiences in the early months after their child’s diagnosis with a visual impairment.

They welcomed the idea of a booklet to be handed out when their child's eye condition was first diagnosed, but after face-to-face feedback added that they would also like a web-based resource giving more information.

We would like to welcome parents, guardians and carers of children with a visual difficulty to this website, and hope the information it contains will help to make your journey easier by pointing you towards the knowledge and support you need.

We will add to this site on a regular basis, and welcome your feedback. Please email StartingPoint@nbcs.org.uk with your comments.