Who's Who

If your child has sight problems you will meet many professionals associated with your child's individual needs. Medical and health professionals are there to provide support within the hospital environment. There are other professionals you will be introduced to you who work in the community, and there will be others you meet who support your child with early education matters. This is a basic guide to those people you may meet along your journey.

Medical

The Paediatric Ophthalmologist – the eye doctor who specialises in the treatment and diagnosis of children’s eye conditions. Paediatric Ophthalmologists may treat eye conditions with both medicines and by surgery.

The Ophthalmologist – specialises in eye conditions, in both adults and children, and helps with diagnosis and treatment. Ophthalmologists may treat eye conditions both with medicines and by surgery.

The Orthoptist – assesses the development of vision and treatment of eye movement disorders in children, most commonly squints. The Orthoptist sees children, normally within the eye department in a hospital, following diagnosis by the Ophthalmologist and appointments are usually on a regular basis. The Orthoptist may treat squint patients with spectacles and patching.

The Optometrist – is trained to detect abnormal eye conditions and defects of eyesight. Optometrists report to the General Practitioner and to the Eye Specialist when they detect an abnormal ocular condition. Optometrists prescribe spectacles to treat eyesight defects.

The Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) - is based in some eye hospitals and eye clinics. ECLOs may be employed by voluntary organisations or the NHS. The role of the ECLO was created because eye care professionals and organisations believed people needed support and information at the time of diagnosis of a serious eye problem, to enable understanding of the implications of the diagnosis and to support and assist individuals to understand the eye condition

Following consultation, the ECLO is able to provide information about the eye condition, registration, benefits information and where to find help. The ECLO can explain about difficulties your child may experience and provide emotional support for parents during the early stages of your child's diagnosis. The ECLO works closely with nursing and medical practitioners and can also help to liaise between the individual, the hospital eye department and the local social services sensory support teams, and provide information about local services and support groups. They are not based in all hospitals. Some of the larger hospitals may have a Family Support Officer or a Specialist Clinical Liaison Officer.

The GP, Family Doctor – your family doctor (also known as GP or General Practitioner) is concerned with general health of your child and can advise and arrange further examinations.

The Paediatrician – a doctor who specialises in working with babies and children. They are often the first point of contact for families who find out their child has a sight problem.

Paediatricians sometimes work in hospitals and sometimes for community health services. It’s usually a Paediatrician who refers your child on to any other specialists that they need to see.

The Optician – is someone who dispenses spectacles to correct errors of the focusing system of the eye following assessment of the level of sight. These people usually have high street practices or an outlet within a larger shop, for example larger Boot’s Chemist branches.

Health

The Occupational Therapist – is aware of the unique educational needs of the visually impaired child with visual impairment, particularly with regard to sensory and motor skills. The Occupational Therapist assesses the sensory, perceptual, social and emotional wellbeing of the child and through activities and play helps to maximize the child’s abilities, leading to greater self-esteem and independence. Occupational Therapists can provide advice on equipment and adaptations to your home to promote independent living.

The Physiotherapist – can suggest routines to help development with regard to crawling, walking, posture and the encouragement for visually impaired children to move confidently. They can also help develop good muscle tone in children with other physical problems. The Physiotherapist can advise on aids to help development.

The Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) – helps children who may have difficulties with the development of language and communication skills and advise on feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Community

The Social Worker – a Social Worker may be allocated to you. The Social Worker may help with any problems with regard to the whole family, which may arise in the early months and years especially associated with your child with a visual impairment. The Social Worker most likely to support will be from the Children with Disabilities Team.

The Health Visitor – is a trained nurse who may be able to provide you with a list of experts and their contact details in your area. The Health Visitor normally visits you and your baby at home and can be very supportive in identifying visual impairment and in encouraging your General Practitioner to take further action.

Education

The Educational Psychologist – is employed by the Local Authority and may be a qualified teacher. The Education Psychologist is the person who will assess a child’s learning needs and social skills and often co-ordinates assessments of children for Statements. This person is most likely to be involved with your child after the age of two when many children are statutorily assessed prior to early educational support.

The QTVI (Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired) – a qualified teacher of children with a visual impairment who provides support and advice to parents, teachers and statementing officers throughout the child’s school years and will visit at home or at the school your child attends. The QTVI will most likely follow your child throughout the education years and may visit you and your child at home in the early years following diagnosis.

The Portage Worker – a home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with disabilities, providing support to your child assisting with the development of play, communication and relationships, by providing a programme to build on. Portage Workers are not available in all areas of the UK.

The Rehabilitation/Mobility Officer/ROVIC (Rehabilitation Officer Visually Impaired Children) – helps to train children with visual impairment in life skills and independent living skills both indoors and outside, for example, how to cross roads and may also introduce programmes to include cane techniques.

The Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator (SENCO) – is a staff member in a school who co-ordinates all the special educational needs provision. Every school has to have a SENCO. In smaller schools, the head teacher or deputy head might be the SENCO.

For further information contact 0800 781 1444