The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
The Guide Dogs service helps people with sight loss live the life they choose.
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Contents
Overview
The Guide Dogs service helps people with sight loss live the life they choose.
Support available
The Guide Dogs service offers lots of different support:
- Education support
Their specialist team can offer independent and tailored advice to help your child receive all the educational support they are entitled to. From helping to choose the right nursery, school or college, to working with teachers and special education staff, or advising on assistive technologies. - Specialist books (Custom Eyes books)
The service can produce books in large-print, tailor-made to suit your child's eye condition. They have a range of books available, including non-fiction, popular fiction titles and annuals. They can also provide National Curriculum revision guides for home and school. - Technology advice service, including grants
The service's grants help cover the cost of sensory equipment and assistive technology (also called access or adaptive technology), which can empower children, helping them become independent learners through apps and games. They can also offer advice on technology and software that can help children and young people access information and online resources on their own. - Early diagnosis family support
Their specialist team can offer information, advice and guidance from the early stages following diagnosis. Further help can include health and welfare advice, practical and emotional support and signposting to other organisations and services. - Family events
Every year the service hosts a UK-wide programme of family activity days. Here your child and their siblings can play and take part in activities together - alongside other children with sight loss. Meanwhile, parents can share experiences, support each other and access specialist advice from their team. They also host an early diagnosis weekend to support families at this critical time. - Life skills
Guide Dogs help your child learn and practice tasks that are important to daily life, confidently and safely. They support children and young people of all ages. From supporting physical development and learning in the early years, to navigating streets safely, preparing food, handling money, using technology and managing their appearance as they grow older. This training programme (also known as habilitation) will give your child invaluable practical skills for life. They also offer tailored courses for children with additional and complex needs: these include early motor skills, sensory development, body awareness and wheelchair mobility. - Guide dogs for children and young people
A guide dog could give your child the confidence to get out and about safely. Whether it's to go to school or college, to a regular exercise class or to meet up with friends, they provide life-changing practical support every single day. - Buddy dogs
Their buddy dogs bring a canine friend into the lives of children with sight loss. By helping to build your child's confidence in themselves and trust in their surroundings, these dogs have a positive effect on your whole family's wellbeing.
Who can access the service
The service offers a variety of services to support children and young people with a vision impairment, their parents / carers and those who work with them.
How to access the service
There is different referral process and eligibility, which will be discussed with you when you contact the service.