A new development in vision rehabilitation is underway in Scotland, the University of Strathclyde has launched two new pioneering courses aimed at transforming support for adults experiencing visual impairment.
The initiative is welcomed by Vision Collaborative Scotland, a national alliance of visual impairment organisations, who say these courses will help address long standing gaps in rehabilitation provision and ensure that people with visual impairment receive the expert support they need.
Susan Shippey, Chair of Vision Collaborative Scotland and Head of Strategic Partnerships at Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, explains: “Vision rehabilitation plays a vital role in helping people with visual impairment regain independence and confidence. It enables individuals to carry out everyday tasks, reconnect with their communities and maintain a sense of normality in their lives. Whether it is learning to navigate safely, manage personal care or return to work, rehabilitation provides the practical skills and emotional support needed to adapt and thrive. The launch of these new training programmes is a crucial step in making sure more people across Scotland can access this life-changing support when they need it most.
“Our research has shown that people with visual impairment in Scotland face long waits for rehabilitation support, and in some areas, no provision at all. This is unacceptable. At the same time, we are facing a workforce crisis. The current vision rehabilitation workforce is ageing, and until now, there has been no stable training pathway in Scotland. These new courses directly address that gap, offering a sustainable solution to build capacity and ensure continuity of support.”
The University of Strathclyde will offer two new part-time, blended learning programmes designed to strengthen Scotland’s vision rehabilitation workforce.
The first is a two-year Postgraduate Diploma course that will qualify individuals as Vision Rehabilitation Specialists; professionals equipped to support adults with visual impairments in a sector facing a critical shortage of skilled staff.
The second is a one-year Postgraduate Certificate course that will train Vision Rehabilitation Assistants. This new pathway is designed to broaden access to the field and enhance the level of support available to people living with visual impairment.
Eligible students enrolling in the Postgraduate Diploma course will be able to access SAAS funding to support their tuition fees. In addition, Vision Collaborative Scotland is offering a number of student sponsorships for the Postgraduate Certificate course, made possible through a generous grant from the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust. These sponsorships are available to employers across the Scottish visual impairment sector, including both public services and charitable organisations, and will contribute directly to course fees for participating staff.
Vision Collaborative Scotland brings together visual impairment organisations from across the country, aiming to amplify voices, set shared priorities and work together on practical, lasting solutions. One of our first initiatives, A Clearer Picture: Mapping Adult Vision Impairment Support in Scotland, led by Birch Tree Associates, will help identify where services currently exist, what support is available and where improvements are needed. The mapping was launched at the start of October, and all visual impairment charities and Health and Social Care Partnerships have been invited to take part. This work will build on the momentum created by the launch of the new rehabilitation courses, helping to shape a stronger, more joined up future for vision impairment services across Scotland.
Find out more information here: https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/visionimpairmentrehabilitation/
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If you would like to discuss anything, please get in touch with your organisation’s OS Representative or Regional OS Representative, or contact us at office@optometryscotland.org.uk.