Sense offers free support helps children who are deafblind or who have complex disabilities access education, playgroups and holidays, so they have the same life experiences as everyone else.

Information and advice – Sense

Tactile signing will benefit children with multi-sensory needs:

Learn tactile signing | Sign language for deaf blind (ndcs.org.uk)

Deafblind Manual is a way to communicate using touch only, not sight or speech. Words and sentences are spelt onto your hand using individual letter signs. Deafblind Manual – Sense

RNIB | Homepage of the Royal National Institute of Blind People

A range of resources and links can be found to support children with MSI: Sensory and Physical – Family Hub (torbayfamilyhub.org.uk)

Habilitation Assessment and Support for Visually Impaired Children: Qualified Habilitation Specialist who works with children and young people (0-18 years) with a visual impairment. They can help your child develop a broad range of skills, including early years development, independent life skills and moving around (orientation & mobility). They assess all of your child’s needs and deliver a holistic program to cater to them. They will often work closely with other professionals, as well as you as the parents, to ensure your child receives the right support across the board. They offer support in the home, nursery, school, college and in the local community and they will often work closely with your child’s QTVI to support their key transitions into and through education.

Referrals for a Habilitation assessment for a child living in Torbay are made via a referral to Torbay’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) for the Children with Disability (CWD) Team to make arrangements with Guide Dogs with whom Torbay has a contract for Habilitation assessments and support.

Portage is a home teaching service for families with pre-school children who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). The success and popularity of Portage is based on the premise that it promotes parents/carers as the key figures in the development of their child Torbay Portage Service – Family Hub (torbayfamilyhub.org.uk)

ROVIC (Rehabilitation Officer for Visually Impaired Children) service 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.

Visual impairment – Children and Family Health (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)

ROVIC email address: cfhd.devonspa@nhs.net

Occupational Therapy – Children and Family Health.

Children’s physiotherapy – Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions