Do you have a child with a visual impairment and communication delays?

[SinkGirl]

Wanted to share something I found out about completely by accident.

DT2 has a visual impairment which is quite complicated and because he’s non verbal and autistic we still don’t really know what he can see and how it’s impacting him. So far I’ve just been told we need to wait until he can cooperate more.

Yesterday someone told me that Cardiff unversity’s optometry Department has a special assessment service for those with communication difficulties. She had attended with a family and said they were amazing.

None of the professionals we see have ever mentioned that this exists and I never would have known. I emailed them yesterday and I already have a date (only 4 months away!).

Just wanted to share in case it’s useful to anyone

www.cardiff.ac.uk/optometrists/specialist-services/special-assessment

www.cardiff.ac.uk/optometrists/specialist-services/special-assessment

Bumping in case this is useful for anyone

Maggie Woodhouse at Cardiff is supposed to be amazing for children with Down’s syndrome. Am considering booking an appointment for my DD, as her current ophthalmologists aren’t sure how to measure her vision (she’s completely uncooperative in eye exams!)

Yes, the person who told me about the service supported a family on the visit and they saw Maggie Woodhouse - apparently she was amazing. That’s not who are seeing but honestly if they can give us any clues to helping him then I’ll be delighted. Joshua is the same - he can’t cooperate at all, he doesn’t understand and has very little ability to focus on anything.

They’ve issued him a CVI now but one minute I think his vision is really good, the next I am not so sure. He can pick up tiny crumbs off the floor but at other times really struggles.

I emailed them and they got back to me the same day - said they were booking appointments for November but then offered two dates they’d had cancellations for (one was next week which we couldn’t make so we are going in June). We are in Dorset so it’s a fair drive but worth a go!

Report back!