The importance of having a specialist framework for vision impairment (VI) education that addresses the specific development and learning needs associated with blindness and partial sight and also reflects the distinctive skills required by learners with VI, is widely recognised within the vision impairment education field.
Children and young people with VI (CYPVI) need to be taught a range of specialist skills that promote independent learning, mobility, everyday living and social communication. We know from research evidence that those CYPVI who learn these skills are more likely to achieve better long-term outcomes in making a successful transition to independent adulthood.
In partnership with RNIB, VIEW and the University of Birmingham, we launched the new Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment on 15 March 2022. This has involved months of consultation and gained huge support from the sector. The framework presents outcomes within 11 teaching areas:
You can watch the event recording: www.rnib.org.uk/cfvi
Young Voices volunteer, Rainbow Mbuangi, had some advice for people using the framework:
“It shouldn’t change the way people teach. Stay the teacher you are, but just try and learn from it so that you can adapt your lessons.
“Take PE for example, I’ve had negative and positive experiences. The teachers who I have had a positive experience with are those who stick to the same lessons but are just creative so that I am included. The teacher thought ‘how can I make football accessible?’ and still taught football but the ball was kept below hip height. They were thinking about creative things that didn’t change the way they taught the lesson. That’s just something I want people to take away from the framework.”
The framework, its appendix and overview in both English and Welsh languages are available to download on the RNIB website.
Visit the RNIB website to download the full CFVI
To accompany the framework, we have developed an online resource hub which is available to all professionals working with children and young people with a vision impairment, free of charge through RNIB Bookshare. The hub hosts and signposts to resources that have been developed and submitted by individuals, organisations and services from across the sector in relation to delivering the specialist skill areas defined by the new framework.
Visit RNIB Bookshare CFVI Resource Hub
This framework has been co-produced by the sector, for the sector and will support specialists working with children and young people with a vision impairment. It sets out the specialist skills development and best practice support needed to promote equity, inclusion and personal agency. Read the FAQs on the framework
The VI Curriculum Framework Project Team:
Find out more about the Curriculum Framework for children and young people with a Vision Impairment (CFVI); what it is and what work we are doing in this area.
Find out more about 'Curriculum Framework For Children and Young People With Vision Impairment: Policy and Campaigning'Read the stories of blind and partially sighted students on their educational journey and the advice they have for other students.
Find out more about 'Student Stories'Resources, guidance and training for professionals working with blind and partially sighted students in secondary, further and higher education.
Find out more about 'Professionals'Find out about the work we do to lobby Government and decision makers to help ensure blind and partially sighted people can pursue their educational aspirations.
Find out more about 'Education Policy'Our video simulates and provides information on five of the most common conditions affecting vision impaired children and young people in the UK today.
Find out more about 'What Do We See? 2 – How the World Looks to Vision Impaired Children and Young People'
This online community is for blind and partially sighted students, family and friends, education providers and other staff in the sector. It forms a supportive environment where relevant news, advice, questions and pieces of work can be shared to enable students with visual impairments to get the most out of their time at university.
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