Steps to independence: the mobility and independence needs of children with a visual impairment Full research report September 2002 by Sue Pavey Graeme Douglas Steve McCall Mike McLinden Christine Arter VISUAL IMPAIRMENT CENTRE FOR TEACHING AND RESEARCH School of Education Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT Funded by: Contents Acknowledgements................................................................................iv Glossary................................................................................................. v Report overview ........................................................................1 Key recommendations.................................................................3 Introduction .............................................................................5 Background...........................................................................................5 Aims......................................................................................................6 Reporting protocol and key people.........................................................7 Methodology.......................................................................... 11 Research approach............................................................................... 11 Management group and advisory group ............................................... 11 Project timetable ................................................................................. 12 Summary of the data collection............................................................ 18 Chapter 1 – Defining the mobility and independence needs of children with a visual impairment............................................................ 21 Purpose and overview.......................................................................... 21 Broad framework ................................................................................. 21 National picture of the breadth and depth of mobility and independence curriculum provided............................................................................. 24 Adding content to the curriculum framework........................................ 29 Chapter 2 – Mobility and independence delivery cycle...................... 35 Purpose and overview.......................................................................... 35 National picture of mobility and independence education provision in the UK....................................................................................................... 35 The delivery cycle: an overview ............................................................ 40 Referral ............................................................................................... 41 Assessment.......................................................................................... 50 Programme design ............................................................................... 59 Intervention......................................................................................... 61 Review ................................................................................................ 79 Completion.......................................................................................... 86 Chapter 3 – Other factors affecting delivery .................................. 88 Purpose and overview.......................................................................... 88 Pre-school children.............................................................................. 89 Post-school and Further Education provision........................................ 92 Children with multiple disabilities and a visual impairment.................... 98 Cultural background ...........................................................................101 Special schools for visually impaired pupils..........................................103 Different agencies ..............................................................................105 Providing a coherent ‘Mobility and Independence Service’...................115 Mobility and Independence Education – Research Report i Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.........................................120 Chapter 4 – Training and defining key people ...............................125 Purpose and overview.........................................................................125 Background of current training routes.................................................126 Current training routes........................................................................127 Challenges regarding training..............................................................133 Defining the mobility and independence educator and identifying other professionals involved in delivery ........................................................135 Good practice and potential developments for training........................140 Good practice recommendations for identifying staff to deliver mobility and independence ..............................................................................144 Implications and good practice recommendations for those training key staff ...................................................................................................145 Good practice recommendations for training and defining key people..147 Chapter 5 – Funding implications ...............................................149 Purpose and overview.........................................................................149 Funding of mobility and independence posts.......................................149 Funding of training needs of the mobility and independence educator .153 Chapter 6 – Further research .....................................................154 Recommendations for further research................................................154 References............................................................................155 Appendix 1 – MISE Checklists....................................................158 Screening Checklist A..........................................................................158 Screening Checklist B..........................................................................160 Screening Checklist C..........................................................................162 Appendix 2 – Useful resources...................................................164 References .........................................................................................164 Mobility and independence policy and curriculum documents ..............165 Appendix 3 – Good practice recommendations for service delivery.....166 Good practice recommendations for referral ........................................166 Good practice recommendations for assessment ..................................167 Good practice recommendations for programme design.......................168 Good practice recommendations for intervention ................................168 Good practice recommendations for review.........................................170 Good practice recommendations for completion ..................................171 Good practice recommendations for pre-school services ......................171 Good practice recommendations for post-school and FE provision .......171 Good practice recommendations for MDVI provision............................173 Good practice recommendations for culturally sensitive provision ........173 Good practice recommendations for the role of special schools for visually impaired pupils ...................................................................................174 Mobility and Independence Education – Research Report ii Good practice recommendations when considering the role of different agencies .............................................................................................174 Good practice recommendations for the construction of a mobility and independence policy ...........................................................................175 Good practice recommendations for identifying staff to deliver mobility and independence ..............................................................................176 Implications and good practice recommendations for those training key staff ...................................................................................................177 List of tables and figures Table 1. Summary of number of people interviewed: agency by occupation/role and the project objective......................................... 18 Table 2. Summary of data collected: type of data by amount and the project objective ............................................................................... 20 Table 3. Regions from which replies were received .................................. 36 Table 4. Breakdown of providers in the 83 services/schools from which replies were received ........................................................................ 37 Table 5. Summary of main provider involved in 29 mobility and independence services to mainstream education................................ 38 Table 6. Examples of programmes leading to the qualification of Rehabilitation Officer ......................................................................128 Table 7. Examples of training programmes for working with children in mobility and independence ..............................................................129 Table 8. Examples of programmes for teaching children with a visual impairment......................................................................................131