Services and information
The information in these pages is relevant to all visually impaired people but there are extra services for children.
The staff within the sensory impairment team also work with children and liase with the specialist services in the area. In addition, the following services provide support for children, their parents and carers.
Children's Disability Team
This is a small team of social workers working with children and young people under 18 who have a diagnosed, substantial and permanent disability. The team offers advice, information, support and assessment and liaises with other local authority departments and voluntary organisations.
Children can be referred by carers or professionals and a duty worker is available each weekday morning, except Wednesdays, to discuss new referrals and to provide information and advice. For further details contact:
Children's Disability Team,
Seedfield Resource Centre,
Parkinson Street,
Bury, BL9 6NY.
Telephone 0161 253 5957.
Sensory support service (visual impairment)
This is a team of three teachers, a special support assistant and a rehabilitation worker all with additional qualifications and expertise in teaching children and young people with visual impairments. They are employed by the Local education authority and based at Radcliffe high school.
They work in partnership with the families and schools of visually impaired children from the age of diagnosis through full time education. Support is also provided to families whose children are not in local mainstream schools. For further details contact:
Sensory Support Service,
School Street Annexe,
School Street,
Radcliffe, M26 3BP.
Telephone 0161 253 7159.
Portage service
Also based within the Local education authority, portage provides a home visiting educational service to pre-school children with special educational needs or disabilities. They work in partnership with parents to enable them to give their child the best possible educational support. An 'opportunity group' for the children prepares them for the transition to playgroups and nursery. For further details contact:
Portage service,
Seedfield Resource Centre,
Parkinson Street,
Bury, BL9 6NY.
Telephone 0161 253 6131.
Home from home scheme
Run by Bury Metro Childrens Services, the scheme aims to match Bury families with a child with learning difficulties or a physical disability to a link family who will welcome the child into their home and share the care of the child for up to 28 days throughout the year. Contact:
Family placement team,
Respite Care Co-ordinators,
Telephone 0161 253 5457.
Pupils
A voluntary group organised and run by parents of visually impaired children. Contact Mrs. P Turner, telephone 01204 885874.
Bury parent partnership
Information and advice on the education process for parents of children with special educational needs. Contact:
Bury Parent Partnership
Re:d Centre,
Morley Street,
Bury,
BL9 9JQ.
Telephone 0161 797 0082.
Helpline 0161 763 5001.
Vision aid
A national organisation offering a 24 hour phone link, a toy library, light stimulation room, parent's room, provision of specialised aids and equipment, and information and advice. Contact:
Vision Aid,
22A Chorley New Road,
Bolton, BL1 4AP.
Telephone 01204 531 882.
Bolton children's opportunity group
A charitable organisation aiming to provide a stepping stone between home and playgroup/nursery by giving disabled and able bodied children the opportunity to play and learn together and providing a support group for parents. Contact:
C.O.G.
The Children's Centre,
Devonshire Road,
Bolton.
Telephone 01204 41654/491085.
Clear vision project
A nationwide lending library of braille/print children's books for children learning to read braille or, alternatively, for adult braille users to read with sighted children. Family membership is free. A small selection of books is available through the visual impairment service at Whitefield library. Contact:
Clear Vision Project,
Linden Lodge School,
61 Princes Way,
London, SW19 6JB.
Telephone 020 8789 9575.
Contact a family
A national support group for families caring for children with any disability or special need. Contact:
Contact a family,
170 Tottenham Court Road,
London, W1P 0HA.
Telephone 020 7383 3555.
