• Vision Assessment:

Children with irreversible vision impairment and with associated disabilities like Autism, ADHD, Learning disability etc are referred to Vision Rehabilitation Centre for assessing the child’s cognitive vision abilities in addition to routine ophthalmic evaluation.  After examination, necessary rehabilitation services will be offered.

• Early Intervention:

Children with profound vision impairment in infancy are provided with a series of activities to improve the residual vision. Activities such as PROMPTING the child to look at coloured lights and patterns aids in utilizing the residual vision of the child.

Children who have multiple disabilities may have associated cognitive visual dysfunction which might lead to behavioural abnormalities, delayed development and poor academic performance or learning disability. These children are assessed using a specially designed protocol and provided with appropriate strategies or intervention. They are also referred to other professionals for therapy, government or NGO based integrated education, etc. The parents and special-educators are educated on the strategies and interventions for the child.

Once a year special educators and parents of children with special needs are invited for short CME programmes to update them on existing intervention methods and rehabilitation facilities.

• Low vision Devices:

For children with vision impairment, a complete assessment of vision will be done. Patients will be given an opportunity to try the various low vision devices. Based on the need, optical or non-optical low vision devices will be provided to improve the patient’s quality of life.

• Educational Guidance:

Children who have problem in continuing their education in normal school are guided by referring them to the appropriate mode of education like Inclusive education/ Mainstreaming and special education. The centre has good networking with the schools for children with visual impairment or professionals in the mainstreaming system.

Children who are capable of continuing education in normal school with the help of low vision devices are encouraged to study in the normal education system. A set of instructions will be given to teachers which will make the child comfortable in the school.

Children with profound visual impairment are provided orientation and mobility training using customized height based canes, which eventually help them be independent.

• Vision Assessment:

After a complete vision assessment and based on the need of the patient, optical or non-optical low vision devices will be provided to the patients to improve their quality of life.eg, telescopes to look at name boards, magnifiers for near work, notex to identify currency notes, etc

• Vocational guidance :

For persons who are in need of employment, guidance on how to seek for job opportunities will be provided. They are referred to appropriate centres or NGOs for such opportunities.

• Social rehabilitation:

Guidance is provided in accessing privileges given by government or NGOs for persons with disability.

• Mobility training:

Mobility training with smart canes, standard white cane, and other assistive devices like wand, blind man torch are also provided.

• Digital resource services:

Training is provided to use computer and laptops using a special screen reader software. This is a customized training programme, provided by a trainer who is also visually impaired. The training schedule is customized for each patient depending on their need and nature of employment.

The patients are also trained to use smart phone with Talk Back and magnifier options inbuilt in the android mobiles.

Persons who are not able to avail specific audio files for their educational curricula are provided with audio recordings of their entire syllabus. This is done with the help of volunteers who record the syllabi and reading material.

Persons with low vision are identified in the community with the help of field workers. These patients are rehabilitated in the community by Low Vision team and if needed they are referred to base hospital for further management.

Children with Autism studying in special schools are attended to by the team for a complete cognitive vision assessment. Parents as well as their teachers are guided on the appropriate vision intervention.

Children with vision impairment who are studying in the inclusive education are examined and rehabilitated by the Low Vision team in their home town with the help of special school teachers working under Ministry of Social Welfare.