Courses
Graduate Diploma: Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) –The Habilitation Specialist (Mobility, orientation and self care)
General InformationCourse Attendance
1 day per week over two years part time or one year full time (Thursday in the First Year and Tuesday in the Second Year) 23 days each year attendance at the University. There are also a series of ten optional visits to a variety of relevant contexts.
Placements
In addition to attendance at the University there are a series of placements. These include a peripatetic attachment, case study and final placement. There are a minimum of 10 days placements in the first year (5 days instead of attendance at the University) and a minimum of 20 days in the second year. Placements are negotiated with participants to ensure breadth and relevance. Students new to a school or Service may wish to base their placement in their current workplace, but there is a Course expectation that students will gather experience from a variety of settings.
Course Structure
There are four modules; 1. Policy and practice in habilitation studies, 2. Habilitation in educational contexts and the extended curriculum, 3. Habilitation at home, in public contexts and during transitions, 4. Habilitation, professional practices and the Service setting: the extended assessed placement. Braille is an integral component of the Course and is taught during sessions at the Institute.
Status of Course
The Course is matched against the new National Standards for Habilitation Work with Children and Young People (England) and the National Occupational Standards for Sensory Services (CWDC).
Suitable for staff working in Services, Special or Mainstream Schools, who want to support children’s development of their existing mobility, orientation and self care skills.
Dr Olga Miller, Course Leader 020 7612 6277 o.miller@ioe.ac.uk
Dr Karl Wall, Deputy Course Leader 020 7612 6282 k.wall@ioe.ac.uk
(Please telephone for latest information on course fees)
April 2009
Graduate Certificate: Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) –The Habilitation Assistant (Mobility, orientation and self care)
General InformationCourse Attendance
1 day per week over one year full time (Thursday each week over the year) 23 days each year attendance at the University. There are also a series of ten optional visits to a variety of relevant contexts.
Placements
In addition to attendance at the University there are a series of placements. These include a peripatetic attachment, case study and final placement. There are a minimum of 10 days placements in the first year (5 days instead of attendance at the University). Placements are negotiated with participants to ensure breadth and relevance. Students new to a school or Service may wish to base their placement in their current workplace, but there is a Course expectation that students will gather experience from a variety of settings.
Course Structure
There are two modules; 1. Policy and practice in habilitation studies, 2. Habilitation in educational contexts and the extended curriculum. Braille is an integral component of the Course and is taught during sessions at the Institute.
Status of Course
The Course is matched against the new National Standards for Habilitation Work with Children and Young People (England) and the National Occupational Standards for Sensory Services (CWDC).
The course is suitable for those who want to work to support children with visual needs in an educational setting (such as teaching assistants), in Services, Special or Mainstream Schools
Dr Olga Miller, Course Leader 020 7612 6277 o.miller@ioe.ac.uk
Dr Karl Wall, Deputy Course Leader 020 7612 6282 k.wall@ioe.ac.uk
(Please telephone for latest information on course fees)
April 2009
BA (Hons) and Linked Named Awards
Mobility & Orientation in EducationThis is a 1 year, part-time course. Most of the course is taught at Heronsbridge School, Bridgend, chosen because of its specialist facilities and its proximity to an urban centre; this is required as a realistic context for practical training and assessment.
Taught sessions involve attending 24 days between September and June (in 12 two-day blocks), during term time. Total contact time amounts to 120 hours (10 hours at each training block).
THE COURSE
This course is part of the BA (Hons) and Linked Named Awards Programme Successful students will gain the award of Certificate in Higher Education which is 120 credits at level 4.
The aim of mobility education is to help children and young people develop orientation and mobility skills that will enable them to overcome travel difficulties created by visual impairment.
This is a pioneering course and has been developed in response to the evident shortage of professionals who are trained and qualified to work with children and young people with visual impairment, to develop their skills and confidence in orientation and mobility.
It is the first of its kind in Wales and is currently part-funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
WHAT YOU STUDY
The focus of the course is on the development of subject knowledge and the practical skills required to successfully become a qualified mobility specialist in the education of children and young people with visual impairment. There will be opportunity to gain practical experience during the taught sessions, within the workplace and when undertaking a teaching placement.
Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the world of the child or young person with little or no sight. This will include:
- Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the eye
- Visual impairments and their effect on child development.
- Assessment of vision and visual functioning
- Assessment of mobility and designing programmes
- Low vision aids which assist mobility
- How children learn and the importance of play
- Working with parents
- Statutory assessment process
- Voluntary provision
- Transition from school to work
- Social inclusion
- Counselling
- Health and safety issues
Participants will undertake a teaching placement of 15 consecutive days, as well as ‘in-house’ experience within their individual workplace.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment will be undertaken through a variety of appropriate means including:
- Written assignments
- Individual projects
- Oral presentations
- A qualification in Braille
- Teaching practice files
- Case study approach
- Portfolios of work
WHERE NEXT?
The Welsh Assembly’s audit of educational provision for children and young people with VI (2003) reported that there were only 8 Mobility Officers working in educational support services across 22 Local Education Authorities. All LEAs have been alerted to this shortage.
It is therefore anticipated that successful participants on this course will gain employment as qualified specialists in Mobility and Orientation within Wales.
Participants may also transfer their 120 credits towards an undergraduate degree.
COST
The course fee for entry in Sept 2008 is £4,000 and includes refreshments at each training day.
Additional cost to LEA/school:
- Travel expenses to and from Bridgend plus possible accommodation costs
- - Release from workplace for 24 taught days
- Release from workplace for 15 day TP placement
- Any additional travel & accommodation costs for TP placement
- Study time
Contact: Janice Fuller-Klein - Tel: 01608 666100 Qualifying Courses:
Diploma in Rehabilitation Work
University of Central England
www.sightlossmatters.com
MSc Inclusive Environments: Design & Management
The University of Reading
Contact: Deniz Ediz b.d.ediz@reading.ac.uk
MSc course (Mobility and independence in children with a visual impairment)
Contact: Alison.Hood@guidedogs.org.uk
Kent Association for the Blind (KAB) Pathway
University of Canterbury
Health and Social Care Foundation Degree
www.canterbury.ac.uk/courses/prospectus/undergraduate/c.asp?courseUrl=health-and-social-care
They are running a foundation degree and are also planning a third year of study which they hope will contain specialist modules including working with children and young people.
St Josephs School
Ireland
http://www.stjosephsvi.ie
Professional Development Courses:
Skills For Independence – Mobility and Orientation(Accredited by Leeds Metropolitan University)
Henshaw's College, Harrogate , North Yorkshire
Contact: Sheila Horsford - Tel: 01423 700172
Physical Education and Mobility Information Outreach Service
Contact: Angela Brassey – Tel: 01242 221890
Email: angela@pittvillecourt.free-online.co.uk
Click here for Angela's Details
Child Mobility Workshops 1, 2, 3 & 4
Rickyard Cottage, Stretton-on-Fosse, Moreton in Marsh, GL56 9SA Tel: 01608 665900
Contact: Janice Fuller-Klein - Tel: 01608 666100
Positive Eye - Educational Consultancy and Training Service for Children with Visual Impairments
A new, small independent business venture, offering a consultancy and training service aimed at professionals in the field, the school workforce, Connexions advisors etc. From 1 hour/Half day/full day trainings offered on a range of topics, relating to the inclusion of children with visual impairment within mainstream educational settings, including mobility, (working with families, the role of the mobility officer in a peripatetic team, writing a mobility policy and individual mobility plan).
Contact: Gwyneth McCormack by email at mccormack2@btinternet.com
Or by phone: 07947571559