Recommendations

A survey to "discover the various ways in which education, training and employment of the vision impaired aged 0-25, who live in Sussex, could be helped by financial input from Blatchington Court Trust" was undertaken by the Trafford Centre for Medical Research between 1993 and 1995.

The recommendations of that survey have been summarised as follows:

 

Principles of General Recommendation

 

Blatchington Court should develop a logo which could be used as a form of publicity and even advertisement for them on the side of each of their proposed vehicles, as well as in many other places, to the advantage of the Trust.

 

In relation to leisure pursuits, first, the Trust shall recognise that the inclusion of sports, hobbies and interests of the youngsters must be regarded as educational. Secondly, that the interests of the youngsters featured in the survey are seen as relevant to the Trust and are included in any decisions concerning help for those of post-education age and status.

 

When the Trust is asked for financial backing by one or more of the Support Groups for major projects it is essential for the Trustees to relate all such claims very firmly to the results of the survey. There must be particular reference to the work that other such groups are doing in the same field to ensure there is no doubling of the service being suggested.

 

In the pre-school years in relation to the provision of special equipment in the home and adaptations to it, I recommend these should not be supplied or even offered across the board, but at an individual level, and only with reference to some form of comprehensive list of those items and adaptations which are currently available, along with their cost, their function where appropriate and where they can be found. The costings must also include training in its use where deemed necessary.

 

An insurance policy is funded by the Trust to cover all equipment lent by the schools for homework use outside the school or owned by the Trust which is needed by a VI child wherever it is sited.

 

Immediate Giftings (1994-5)

 

A percentage of the total annual monies available is kept separate for individual provision for children not able to benefit from a group project.

 

Large Print Dictionaries of a type suitable to their age are given to each VI child on the survey who answered that he would use one at home if he had one. This should include foreign language ones where needed.

 

A comprehensive list of relevant names and addresses and associated information is created. This should supply details of both local and national Support Agencies of innumerable types etc .. It should be presented in all forms, be advertised as being available and be updated regularly.

 

A totally blind person shall be employed full-time to act as an ambassador for the blind and partially sighted of the two Counties.

 

An "ex gratia " gift of a fixed sum to one of the special schools annually in rotation, so that they would each receive a gift about every 5-10 years to which they could look forward and plan around. Even £1000 would be much appreciated.

 

Individual Specialists (1995-6)

 

The creation of a set of highly trained and motivated persons who would become local peripatetic experts to the young VI families but in close association with the specialised VI Nursery Unit.

 

A VI Trained Professional Counsellor for the 0-25s and their families across both Counties.

 

An advocate for the VI child and his family is developed.

 

The breadth and depth of the level of the VI young adults' failure a). to obtain jobs and b). to grasp Higher/Further Educational Opportunities are both looked at in much more detail by the Trust. Their aim should be to provide one or more specialist individuals who, with training could become able to work with the VI young adults as suppliers of employment facts, as advisers, mentors and trainers in social skills. This last may even have to include mobility skills. Their work with them should include encouraging initiatives for higher education as well as employment initiatives and going into the work situation with them as necessary. Part of their brief would also be as advisers and counsellors to the potential and actual employers in their area.

 

The suggestion of an Advocate for the parents and child in the earlier years has already been made, but this person's role is considerably different and could well bear the title of Adviser or Employment Adviser.

 

Resource Centre (1996-7)

 

To provide a Resource Centre for the use by the schools whenever they have VI children in them, both direct and through their LEAs. It could also be used by the families and other carers of the VI.

 

The Resource Centre should have a small section for the aid of class teachers and their non-teaching assistants.

 

In close conjunction with the school or, since the school article may have been supplied by the LEA, with the LEA, the Trust shall either buy or rent a duplicate of the VI child's special non-portable school equipment for homework use which shall be kept at home.

 

Future Plans (1997 and onwards)

 

A small contingency fund should be provided through which small items such as a spare pair of specs could be bought and kept at school. The Fund could also be used to buy additional supervisory time to enable certain children who would benefit by so doing, to do their homework and to pursue leisure activities.

 

To provide help with travel by the VI youngsters and their families.

 

The setting up of a Formal Assessment Centre where the entire formal assessment of a VI child could be accomplished at one time.

 

The provision of one (full-time or part-time) Educational Psychologist for the VI. This would be for the purpose of co-ordinating the process of Formal Assessment and Statementing and so speeding them up.