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1.
There are 106,000 people living with sight loss in Wales. This is
predicted to double by 2050 (1). It is estimated that there are
1,935 children and young people aged 0-25 with a visual impairment
in Wales. At least 20 per cent of these will have additional
disabilities and/or special educational needs; a further 30 per
cent have very complex needs (2).
Additional
Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill
2.
RNIB Cymru welcomed the First Minister’s announcement that
the ALN Bill has been confirmed for introduction in the first year
of this Government’s Legislative Programme and believes that
Committee will have a vital role in the scrutiny and development of
this legislation which has been under development for a number of
years.
3.
We support the former Children, Young People and Education
Committee’s conclusion that the ethos of the Bill is
positive, but that much work is still required to secure
legislation that is effective in practice.
4.
It is likely that the ALNET Bill will be a major focus of
Committees work over the next few months and we are keen to work
closely with them to address the issues identified.
Qualified Teachers
of Visual impairment.
5.
Around seven in 10 children and young people in Wales who have a
Vision Impairment (VI)I are educated in mainstream schools, some of
which are additionally resourced for learners with VI.
6.
Just over a quarter attend special schools for learners with
learning or physical disabilities. Less than one per cent attends
specialist schools designated for blind and partially sighted
learners and the same proportion are in other types of setting such
as hospital schools or home educated [3].
7.
One of the difficulties faced by pupils who are blind or partially
sighted is that they have a low incidence disability which
mainstream teachers often struggle to address. Problems identified
by research include a lack of understanding by mainstream class
teachers of the impact of a visual impairment, poor planning by
teachers and an inability of schools to fully meet children’s
specialist visual impairment needs.
8.
Although some of these problems can be addressed through empowering
classroom teachers, there is a need to retain and support a
specialised teaching workforce (Qualified Teachers of Visual
Impairment) to provide specialist teaching (e.g. Braille and
accessing the curriculum through tactile, low vision techniques and
technological means).
9.
Qualified teachers of children and young people with vision
impairment (QTVI) play a crucial role in the development and
education of blind and partially sighted learners and we are
concerned about the declining numbers of QTVI’s in
Wales.
10.
RNIB Cymru believes that Committee should undertake a review into
workforce planning in the Special Educational Needs/Additional
Learning Needs sector to tackle the decline of teachers and also to
make the QTVI qualification compulsory.
11.
The qualification for teaching children with vision impairment has
already been made mandatory in England. The only university
currently providing the two year course in the UK is in Birmingham
and it is oversubscribed.
Disabled Student
Allowance
12.
Sight loss impacts on every aspect of a person’s life,
including their ability to access education. Since 80% of learning
comes through our sight, it is essential that the needs of students
with sight loss who are in further or higher education are
recognised and that there is support in place.
13.
The potential impact of even a relatively moderate visual
impairment is significant, and higher education institutions may
need to consider a range of adjustments to ensure that visually
impaired students have equal access to learning
14.
In addition, young people with sight loss can experience
significant difficulties during the transition period after leaving
school, and need support to manage the changes in their life. In
particular, having confidence that support will be available for
them if they choose to go to university, is likely to be a crucial
factor in making choices about their future.
15.
While the Equality Act requires reasonable adjustments, there are
still significant barriers to full participation for people with
sight loss that makes the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) a vital
resource for students.
16.
We have been increasingly concerned at progressive changes to the
DSA in Wales which could make it harder for students to participate
in higher education and believe that Committee could undertake a
review of the impacts of these changes on disabled students and the
opportunities for higher education to be included in the Additional
Learning Needs Bill.
References
(1)
Access Economics 2009. Future Sight Loss UK: Economic Impact of
Partial Sight and Blindness in the UK adult population. RNIB and
Mid-2015 Population Estimates, Office for National Statistics
(released 25/06/2015)
(2)
ONS (2013), National Population Projections for 2015, 2012-based
projections release. Office for National Statistics
(3)
RNIB survey of VI services in England and Wales 2012: Report for
Wales. RNIB.
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