Guide Dogs offers a range of services to children and young people who are visually impaired and their families:

• Our Specialist Family Support Service provides information, advice and guidance, including emotional support from early diagnosis throughout a child’s life, to parents/guardians of children with a visual impairment. The aim is to develop their confidence and knowledge so they can address the specific needs of their child, enabling them to achieve their full potential, within a supportive family unit.
• Our Specialist Education Support Service offers independent, tailored, impartial information, advice and guidance in relation to the education system and the SEND Code of Practice. We deliver this service directly to a young person with a visual impairment, or to parents and/or carers of a child who has a visual impairment and their families.
• Habilitation is the process of helping children and young people with a visual impairment to achieve as much independence as possible in their daily lives. We do this by providing personalised training and support in mobility, orientation and independence skills, often in partnership with the local authority.
• Our Access Technology Grant Service provides 90% toward the total cost of funding for equipment and software for children and young people with a visual impairment where no statutory funding is available.
• Our Access Technology Service offers independent expert advice and support on all accessible and standard technology and software for children and young people who are visually impaired.
• Our Recreational Activities enable children and young people who are visually impaired and their families to meet, share experiences and support each other whilst having fun in a relaxed environment with access to specialist advice from our Children’s Services team.

To access our range of support for your child with a visual impairment, please contact our advice line on 0800 781 1444 or via email cypservices@guidedogs.org.uk

• 0118 983 5555
• guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk
• http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/services/children-and-young-peoples-services