Can any one recommend a optician that's good with children with special needs, have had bad experience in past.

[MollyBunny154]

Can Any recommend a optician that's patient and good with children with special needs.
I have 4 children who all have varying forms of special needs, including, autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia and more.

I used to take them to opticians regularly and always used to go to Specsavers but back in 2019 the last time we went we had a horrific experience. Optician was so rude and impatient. My daughter was 6 at time and has severe dyslexia, reading was very hard for her, opticians tried to get her to read letter off the normal board and she really struggled, he kept getting impatient and rude.

At one point he asked me where she went to school, and if she had any problems at school, a perfectly normal question to be asked, but I had to explain that she did not go to school and that I home educated her along with rest of my children.

He went off the handle giving me a lecture about how wrong it's was to home educate and Claiming it was illegal and threatening to report me for not sending my children to school. I was shocked. He was equally as rude with one of my sons, he lost his patience and refused to carry on test.

We walked out and I said I would never go to Specsavers again. Was going to make appointment at a different opticians but the next morning before I could we had a knock at door and when answered it was a lady from local education authorities and a school attendance officer.

It turned out that optician, had carried out there threat, and had reported me for home educating my children and they had made lots of false accusation.

Home educating is perfectly legal, I had worked hard to home educate my children. So wasn't doing anything wrong.

It was never my choice to home educate them, we were thrown in to it and left with no choice.

They needed extra help to be able to attend mainstream school, education authorities refused the funding for the help they needed, and would not give them places at special needs schools.
School could not afford the help they needed so kicked them out leaving us no option but to home educate.

Any way we went threw nearly 2 years of hell, fighting to get the education authorities to leave us alone. It was truly horrendous and left us traumatised. I haven't been able to trust or go back to a opticians since.

I know that's bad but I'm so scared of it happening all over again.

2 of my children desperatly need new glasses so need to take them to a opticians but don't know which to go to or which I can trust.

My youngest son has autism, selective mutism so shuts down in alot of social situations and won't speak, has servere social anxiety and had many other medical problems.

I need a opticians that will be patient with him and understanding and won't judge. Does any one know of any opticians that are good with or specialise in children with special needs.

I'm in the North west of England if that helps but happy to travel if need to.

Definitely won't be going to Specsavers, I've looked at Vision Express and boots opticians as well as some smaller local opticians but don't know what they are like.

Any other parents on here with children with special needs what opticians do you take your Children to.

Any suggestions much appreciated

Thanks in advance

Sorry you had that experience, especially with them complaining to the LA.

I took my son to specsavers as it's more about the optician rather than the company. I rang beforehand and explained that he has ADHD and dyspraxia and needs a little more patience than most. Maybe try ringing around and explaining your situation and seeing who is the most accommodating?

Then write a huge letter of complaint to specsavers head office.

I know you said you wouldn't consider Specsavers, but they have a home care team that do home visits if needed for the disabled.

Very different to in store.

I don't know if they see children.

My husband, who has a brain injury and is blind in 1 eye, swears by Vision Express.

If you can get to Liverpool I have heard good reports of Stephen Wilcox at Bennett and Batty. Very experienced, good luck.

You might be best posting in your local FB group.
I am in the North West and can recommend a brilliant independent but the North West is a huge area and you may be nowhere near me 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm in Wolverhampton.

My local independent is run by two brothers and was set up by their father. They have always been good with me. One of them is a wheelchair user so I think there is some empathy. I realise it is a long way to travel, I would say phone them and talk through what you need.

https://www.overtoneyecare.co.uk/

My son has special needs and gets his done at the hospital.

DS has had his eyes tested at hospital in the past. They have special team that can test children's eyes using methods different from a high street optician, which are not reliant on knowing letters or speaking.

Can you ask your GP? HV? Optician? If there is such a service you can access. We went to the Princess Royal hospital in Huddersfield. Could be localist to you depending where you ate in the NW, but I have no idea if "one" can access out of area care services at all.

There are many experienced optometrists with knowlegde on examing children with needs.

I call the practises first to see if there is one with more experience with children with disabilities.

Also better good to independent practice as they can provide you more time.

I agree with pp, I would ask your GP for a referral into the hospital. Some NHS trusts also have a special eye service for children with SEN.
In the hospital they are much more experienced with a wide variety of children and their needs. If an optician is unable to test a child they will usually refer them into the hospital, it's common practice.