Deafblindness

We have a duty to:

• Identify, make contact with and keep a record of children and young people living in Devon who have multi-sensory/deafblind impairment
• Undertake specialist assessment for children and young people (0-18 years) who have multi-sensory/deafblind impairment (deafblindness)
• Ensure that appropriate services are recommended, and provided, to children and young people who are assessed with a multi-sensory/deafblind impairment and who may not be able to benefit from mainstream services, or services aimed primarily at blind people or deaf people who are able to rely on their other senses.

How can we help?

ROVICs assess the functional visual responses and behaviours of infants, children and young people. We encourage and monitor the developing functional abilities in relation to movement and independence, determining whether a visual difficulty is likely to impede access to or achievement of inclusion, independence, social interaction, orientation, mobility and navigation.

We promote understanding, confidence and independence of each individual’s visual and non-visual abilities so that they can develop, progress and use vision to their fullest functional potential.

We can also provide information relating to care and support for deafblind children, local services and support and awareness training.

The ROVIC service is proud of the children and young people we have worked with who have developed independent skills within their particular capabilities. For some children this might mean learning how to make a sandwich for themselves, for others, this might be moving about their secondary school independently with the use of a long cane.

Some young people have progressed to the Royal National College for the Blind and through the early skills they developed with our support, have felt more empowered in their independence.

What happens next?

We aim to respond to all requests for service within 14 days of receipt, including where this is a requests for Certification of Visual Impairment. Once a child/young person is accepted onto our waiting list, we try and see all children/young people within 6 weeks of the request.

For the children and young people who meet the criteria an assessment of their needs will report on advice, information and functional ability and may result in a personalised skills development programme/plan.

Every child is different so there is no ‘one size fits all’ plan. A personalised plan might include skills development and progression in the areas of:

• Functional / useful vision
• Movement / orientation and mobility
• Self-esteem and independence
• Personal / daily living activities
• Inclusion and communication
• Access, navigation and interactions within settings

We may also offer support and awareness training to other professionals working with your family.

Self referral

You can now self-refer your child into this service. For more information please view this guide on how to self refer.

For details of what the service supports and what supporting documentation you require for your referral, please view the request criteria page.

What is the process?