Habilitation and mobility

We have two registered and qualified habilitation specialists in our team. They provide one-to-one training and support to children and young people with a vision impairment to develop their mobility and independent living skills.

They work closely with families, qualified teachers for vision impairment, education settings and other professionals to assess a child or young person to determine if support with their mobility and/or independent living skills is required.

The QHS works across all ages, their work with babies and toddlers will often involve the implementation of early movement programs to help them to meet their gross motor skills milestones.  They have a specialist program for very young children called mini movers and have a yoga program for children in the Early years foundations stage.

Habilitation is included within the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with a Vision Impairment (CFVI).

Mobility

The habilitation specialists will assess the child or young person and, where appropriate, will create individualised programmes to develop skills. These could include:

• early movement programs for Early years foundation stage
• moving around settings safely 
• walking up and down stairs
• learning routes around school, college or the local area
• using public transport safely
• road safety
• sighted guide or long cane training
• transition support when moving to a new home or school

Independent Living Skills

Habilitation specialists also support the development of independent living skills. These are often learned through observation, practice and repetition which children and young people with a vision impairment may not be able to do. These include:

• making a drink
• preparing food
• using cutlery
• identifying coins
• locating goods in a supermarket
• dressing and undressing
• personal hygiene e.g., washing and drying hands, brushing teeth etc.
• financial literacy

Support for Education Settings

Our habilitation specialists work with nurseries, pre-schools, schools and colleges to identify any areas which may be potentially challenging for a child or young person with a vision impairment to safely navigate. Examples include:

• trip hazards such as low contrast edging
• unmarked pillars
• glare from the sun / classroom lights
• changes in levels and stairs not clearly marked
• low contrast door frames

Further information can be found in our information leaflet titled ‘Improving Access.’

Training and advice will be offered to staff in order to maximise the child / young person’s independence around the site and support is provided to ensure that any activities or trips are accessible.

Sport

The habilitation specialists have made links with the Braille Chess Association, Dorset Cricket, Dorset F.A, and sailing with the RYA and are working with the sports coaching department at Bournemouth University to equip future sports coaches with the skills they need to ensure their sessions are accessible.

Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN)

ASDAN are an educational charity with an aim to engage, elevate and inspire learners with diverse needs.

We offer some of our children and young people the opportunity to ASDAN Lifeskills Challenges in areas such as dressing, shopping, sport, and transport. 
Our habilitation specialists have also written mobility challenges covering the use of a long cane ranging from initial skills through to using a cane on public transport.  The Independent Living Skills challenges written by our habilitation specialists include fastening skills such as buttons, zips and socks.

Events

We try to hold events throughout the year for our children and young people. This provides them with an opportunity to meet others with a vision impairment and, over the years, have seen friendships develop between young people as well as between parents/carers. Recent events include:

• money workshop
• Blind in Business workshop
• cricket
• football
• chess
• sailing
• multi-sports

Some of our children and young people have also appeared on the television!

‘It’s the first time that sports day has been mentioned and she’s not cried’ – parent

‘It is inspirational’ – parent

‘It was truly a very rewarding day, and every single child gave it 100%’ – parent

‘We have left today with a spring in our step’ - parent

‘Can I come next year?’ – child

‘I have a best friend’ – child

‘I didn’t know I could do that’ - child