When a baby is diagnosed with a visual impairment (VI), it can be overwhelming for parents. For a start, the incidence of VI in children is so low, they are very unlikely to have had any experience of a child of any age who has a diagnosed visual condition. It can also be difficult to get a precise diagnosis until babies are older, so this can be a difficult time for parents - not knowing exactly what is causing difficulties and what to expect for the future.
A VI professional can provide an important bridge between the medical professionals and the home/nursery environment. They help to explain the visual condition, reassure parents around how their child is likely to develop, implement strategies to support the family and signpost them to local and national support groups.
VI at any age is not well understood in our communities, let alone in babies and young children. Contact with professionals who have prior experience of working with similar little ones can be invaluable.
Support for visual impairment
This relationship can give new parents the confidence to be aspirational and learn new skills, putting the best support in place. We all want our children to reach their full potential. The early years are where the foundations for later life are built.
VI professionals often work alongside other practitioners in the home to ensure that any strategies they want to put in place are going to be effective for working with a visually impaired child.
Parents can often feel that it is more difficult to build a relationship with a baby who cannot make eye contact, smile and giggle when they see them and follow them with their eyes around the room. This can lead to some initial difficulties, which need to be addressed in the very early days.
For children, . If the visual channels are not working well, the physical and social development of a baby is at risk; alternative strategies are needed to support development. If the child has some residual vision, it is important to understand how to make optimal use of it.
VI professionals will work with parents on a wide range of developmental areas, demonstrating how they can best interact with their child. These include developing physical skills such as movement, discovering cause and effect, learning to communicate effectively and learning to play and develop appropriate social skills.
Fully sighted children learn many of these skills by using their vision. For example, a child will move towards an object of interest, such as a toy or a family pet, and be motivated to reach towards them and explore.
This leads to learning about their environment, builds their strength and movement and encourages communication to let you know they’re enjoying themselves, or are feeling frustrated when they don’t reach the object. Without the necessary level of vision, development needs to be extended by alternative means: sounds, bright lights, smell, the use of touch and movement.
Without these interventions there is the fear that children can become passive, and will not be learning about the world around them or gaining skills of autonomy and independence.
Helping with transition to school
VI professionals support the family to set goals and understand the progress that is being made. And when the time comes for a move to nursery or school, the transition to the new placement will be well informed and properly planned.
Having a VI professional working alongside a family from the point of diagnosis allows a young child the opportunity to reach their best visual function and develop at an appropriate rate, and it supports the family in their essential care-giving role.
Sight Scotland and Hearts and Minds recently launched , an innovative play-based service designed for children aged up to 3 with a VI and their families. This service is a crucial step in ensuring that children with VIs and their families receive the early support they need.
This pioneering programme, which is being piloted in Edinburgh and Glasgow, provides a supportive and engaging environment tailored to address the unique challenges faced by these children and their parents. Play and Connect combines the expertise of Sight Scotland’s specialist qualified teachers of the visually impaired (QVTIs) and experts with Hearts and Minds’ renowned approach.
This collaboration, which draws on over a decade of partnership between the two organisations, creates a nurturing space where families can engage in sensory play involving rhythm, music, stories and sounds.
The sessions focus on building confidence in non-verbal communication and creative play, while also fostering connection and support among families. At the end of each session, a debrief is provided, giving parents the chance to reflect on the session, discuss any concerns and receive practical tools to support their child’s development at home.
Referrals can be made directly to Sight Scotland and are open to parents, carers or professionals from across Scotland, for a child aged up to 3 with a VI diagnosis.
Lucy Chetty is head of education at The Royal Blind School in Edinburgh
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