How Do I Know If My Child Has a Visual Impairment?

If you think that your child may be having difficulties seeing, it is important for them to be seen by a qualified eye specialist who can then diagnose any vision issues.

Who Will Help My Child In School?

If your child has been diagnosed with a visual impairment by a qualified eye specialist, the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments will work with your child in school to make sure that all of their vision needs are being met.

Who is the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and How Will She Help Your Child?

The Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments is an itinerant teacher who:

has had special training and experience in meeting the needs of all students with visual impairments from Kindergarten to Grade 12
provides support to all students in the district who have been identified as having a visual impairment
meets and consults with other members of the child's School Based Team including parents, teachers, administrators and other specialists
provides equipment and technology to meet the needs of the child with a visual impairment
provides direct instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum for students with visual impairments
assesses the child's functional vision within the edcuational environment and makes adaptations and recommendations for optimum viewing for the student within the classroom and school setting

How Do I Contact the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments?

If your child has been identified as having a visual impairment by a qualified eye specialist and requires services from the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, you can contact your child's teacher or the school's principal and ask for your child to be referred to the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments.

For more information call:

Gail Gilchrist, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
Student Services - Phone: 604.798-1278 / Fax: 604.794-7689

Resources and Support Groups for Students & Parents

Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) offers a variety of programs and supports for children with visual impairments:

For information on the Vancouver Youth Group contact Sara Hooge at sara.hooge@cnib.ca
Resources for children may be accessed through the CNIB Library: http://www.cnib.ca/en/services/library/Pages/Default.aspx
CNIB information for Children and Youth with Vision Loss: http://cnib.ca/en/child-youth/Pages/default.aspx

Blind Beginnings:

Blind Beginnings offers a variety of programs to support children with visual impairments and their families including the Junior Explorer's Club for children from birth to age 12. More information can be found on their website: http://www.blindbeginnings.ca/

BC Blind Sports:

For information on sports and recreation for children with a visual impairment contact BC Blind Sports at http://www.bcblindsports.bc.ca/graphic/index.htm

Sunny Hill Health Centre: