Skip to main content

Vision Impairment Support

We have put together some useful information for children and young people with Vision Impairment.

National Support Organisations

LOOK

Mentoring, transformational events, youth forums, parent support groups

https://www.look-uk.org/

VICTA

Supports children and young adults from 0 to 29. Grants, support, advice, activities

https://www.victa.org.uk/

Guide Dogs

Family events, family support, CustomEyes Books, Guide Dogs for children, Buddy dogs for children, Education support

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/

RNIB Children and Young People

Advice, information, family events, workshops, digital books, RNIB connect online community

https://www.rnib.org.uk/advice/children-young-people-education

RSBC (Royal Society for Blind Children)

Families First support service, advice service, Live Life Go Further activities, Health and Wellbeing clubs.

 

https://www.rsbc.org.uk/

 

Thomas Pocklington Trust

Support for college and university students, events, networks, employment advice, coaching, technology advice.

https://www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/

 

SeeAbility

Information about eye care for people with learning disabilities and autism

https://www.seeability.org/

 

Sight Advice FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about living with sight loss for parents and families

https://www.sightadvicefaq.org.uk/

Sense

For children who have hearing and vision impairments (deafblind).  Information, advice, support, transition to adulthood, holidays, arts, sports and wellbeing programs.

https://www.sense.org.uk/

 

Blind in Business

Career advice for year 9 onwards, technology advice, support with CVs, support at University.

https://blindinbusiness.org.uk/

Infoshare

Recorded messages from people with sight loss with hints, tips and news about living with a vision impairment

https://www.infosound.org.uk/messages.html

Sightline Directory

Searchable database of services for blind and partially sighted people

https://www.sightlinedirectory.org.uk/Home/Index

Local Support

Partially Sighted Society Havering

Supporting and representing the visually impaired community in Havering

Sight Action Havering

Support, advice, input into local and national strategies

 

http://www.sightactionhavering.org.uk/index.php

London Vision

Supporting blind and partially sighted people who live, work and study in London

https://www.londonvision.org/

Queens Hospital Ophthalmology Department

Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions

 

https://www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/ophthalmology

 

Moorfields Hospital

 

diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions, information about eye health and eye conditions

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/service/children-s-services-paediatrics

Great Ormond Street Hospital Ophthalmology Department

 

Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions, information about eye and related conditions.

 

https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/wards-and-departments/departments/clinical-specialties/ophthalmology-information-parents-and-visitors/

Technology Support

Microsoft

 

Guide for people who are blind or have low vision. How to set up and use accessibility options

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/guide-for-people-who-are-blind-or-low-vision-11c8b979-f8cd-f65e-6406-6f03b613b94b

Vital tech

 

Advice and resources about assistive technology for blind and partially sighted people

https://www.vitaltech.org.uk/

 

My Computer My Way

Support to set up a computer for someone with a vision impairment

https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk/impairment/vision

Vision Impairment and computing

Information about how technology can support people with a vision impairment

 

https://abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets/vision-impairment-and-computing

TAVIP 

Technology Association of Visually Impaired People . Advice and information about technology solutions for people with a vision impairment.

https://www.tavip.org.uk/

 

Apple Accessibility: vision

How to use the accessibility features on iPads and iPhones

https://www.apple.com/uk/accessibility/vision/

AppleVIs

Tips and advice from a community of vision impaired Apple product users

https://www.applevis.com/

 

Google Accessibility

How to set up the accessibility features when using google products

https://www.google.com/accessibility/products-features/

Dolphin

Support and information for Dolphin technology

 

https://yourdolphin.com/en-gb

Humanware

Support and information for Humanware technology

http://www.humanware.com/en-united_kingdom/home

Sport and Leisure

British Blind Sport

Helping blind and partially sighted people to get active and play sport. Support for individuals and schools, activities.

https://www.tavip.org.uk/

 

Metro Blind Sport

London Based charity creating fun, accessible sport and physical activity opportunities for blind and partially sighted individuals of all ages and abilities

https://www.metroblindsport.org/ 

CEA Cinema Card

Allows a person with a vision impairment to get a complementary cinema ticket for someone to accompany them

https://www.ceacard.co.uk/

 

Goalball UK

National organisation promoting this competitive team sport played without using vision.

https://goalballuk.com/

 

The Amber Trust

 

Providing musical opportunities for blind and partially sighted children

https://www.ambertrust.org/

British Wireless for the Blind Fund

Free digital radio for anyone registered as blind or partially sighted, aged 8+ and in receipt of a means tested benefit

https://blind.org.uk/

 

Custom Eyes Books

Large print children’s books

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/getting-support/help-for-children-and-families/living-independently/customeyes-books/

Calibre Audio

Free Audio books for anyone who is unable to read print

https://www.calibreaudio.org.uk/

ClearVision

Postal lending library of children’s books in print braille or tactile formats

http://www.clearvisionproject.org/

Living Paintings

Free Postal library of Touch to See books

https://livingpaintings.org/

RNIB Bookshare

Free downloadable digital books

https://www.rnibbookshare.org/cms/

Seeing Ear

Online library for anyone who cannot read print books

http://www.seeingear.org/

Havering Talking Newspaper

 Local news stories in audio format.

 

Download the Talking Newspaper app from the Google play or App store and select London / Havering Talking Newspaper.  

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.org.blind.TalkingNews&hl=en_IN

 

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/talking-newspaper/id1441802700

Finance and Grants

VICTA Grants

 

Grants to support the purchase of equipment to help children who have a vision impairment

https://www.victa.org.uk/our-services/grants/

Guide Dogs Grants

 

Grants to support the purchase of assistive technology

 

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/getting-support/information-and-advice/how-can-technology-help-me/assistive-technology-grants-for-children/

TV Licence Concessions

If your child is registered as severely sight impaired (blind) then you can apply for 50% reduction in your TV licence

 

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/reducedfee?&WT.mc_id=mec_Search_Brand&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi6eK4dSb7gIVDLTtCh3UngQ2EAAYASAAEgIw5PD_BwE

RNIB Personal Independence Payment Toolkit

Support to apply for Personal Independence Payments (aged 16 or older)

https://www.rnib.org.uk/personal-independence-payment-toolkit

Fightback4Justice

Advice on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims

https://www.fightback4justice.co.uk/

Conditions

Albinism Fellowship

Information advice and support for people with Albinism and their families

https://www.albinism.org.uk/

Alstrom Syndrome UK

Family support and resources

http://www.alstrom.org.uk/family-support/

Aniridia Network

Supports people with anirida in the UK and Ireland

https://aniridia.org.uk/

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome UK

Helping those with BBS and their families

https://bbsuk.org.uk/

Charge Family Support Group

Support network of individuals, parents, families and professionals

http://chargesyndrome.org.uk/

Childhood Eye Cancer Trust

Support and financial help for families of children with retinoblastoma

https://chect.org.uk/

Childhood Cataracts

Information, email group, events

https://www.childhoodcataracts.org.uk/

Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Support and information

https://www.charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk/what-we-do/

 

The CVI Society

Support families of children with Cerebral Visual Impairment. Advice and support, training, raising awareness of CVI.

 

https://cvisociety.org.uk/

 

Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy

Support Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/272919732665/

Glaucoma UK

Providing help to everyone affected by glaucoma

https://glaucoma.uk/

Lebers Congenital Amaurosis Support Group

Support group for families affected by LCA

https://www.facebook.com/LebersCongenitalAmaurosisSupportGroup

Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

Information and support for people affected by LHON

http://lhonsociety.org/

Macular Society

Support and advice, telephone counselling

https://www.macularsociety.org/support/skills-seeing/

Microphthalmia, Anopthalmia and Colboma Support (MACS)

Emotional support, financial assistance , national and regional social events, activity holidays

https://macs.org.uk/about-macs/what-we-do/

Nystagmus Network

Support and information

https://nystagmusnetwork.org/

Optic Nerve and Septo Optic Dysplasia Support Group

Private Facebook group for families affected by ONH/SOD

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1776922049210179/

Retina UK

Information and support

https://retinauk.org.uk/

Retinopathy of Prematurity

Private Facebook group for families affected by retinopathy of prematurity

https://www.facebook.com/groups/161260317753157/

Stargardt’s Connected

Support and advice

https://stargardtsconnected.org.uk/

Stickler Syndrome UK

Information , conferences and family days

https://stickler.org.uk/

Usher Syndrome

Support, inform, connect and advocate for children with Usher syndrome and their families

https://www.usherkidsuk.com/

Uveitis

Information, support and advice for anyone affected by uveitis

http://www.oliviasvision.org/

Wolfram Syndrome UK

Advice and information

http://wolframsyndrome.co.uk/what-is-ws/

Give Us Your Feedback

A - Z of Services