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Hi there. We are currently waiting for adoption order for a preschool child with complex needs one of which is visual impairment. You will find that your child will need to be registered on the visual impairment or blind register and they will then be asigned a visual impairment worker. We havent got one yet as our child was placed from another area and nobody realised you have to join register in your local authority so even tho he was registered elsewhere he was not picked up locally. Register is held by local soc services. You should also be offered a portage worker to support educ at home before child reaches school age. As regards school dont know what support to expect as not at that stage yet . Any child with sn is referred to educ forum to advise on appropriate school placements in the area. At least that is how it works where we live so presume all work the same across the country ? Anyway good luck on your adoption journey

Hi I don't have a child with HIV by my LO have some VI issues. She is only 2 and has SEN so recieved portage and was refered by the hospital when she went for one of her regular eye tests to the Visually impaired teacher. He came out and gave us hints and tips on how to best support her VI issues. Most children who are registered blind are not 100 % blind they will have some sight (this may be lights or shapes or outlines of things. Regards education when my daughter started nursery the VI teacher went in to the nursery to advise on all health and safety issues relating to sight issues. Things which needed moving / changing etc. You should recieve some portage if the sight difficulties are severe enough to effect learning. Regards education nursery level it very much depends on the nursery you choose (if at this age) look around and listen to what they are willing to offer, some will provide straight out 1:1 support) in most areas the nurseries only get limited funding so it is up to them what support they offer. Regards school you can apply (if not sorted in advance or by nursery for an EHCPlan) if at first you don't succeed keep trying. The level of support would depend on the severity of blindness some children would need support with technology to make written text very large or software which reads out text. Schools will be able to sorce equipment to support a child with VI and will recieve support Of how best to support them from the specialists in the local area. If needs are very high (virtually no sight then they may be supported with 1:1 support to help in class and moving around school, but this funding will come from education / health depending on needs) Don't for get you can also apply for DLA if not In place for extra financial support. Regards HIV assuming not major medical symptoms it would I assume be a case of regular blood tests to check virus levels and probably just educating you and your family on the risks of contamination and how to prevent and infection (ie if they cut them selfs etc). Also good management of medication and organisation to ensure no is ever missed. (Regards schools and nurseries- they will have polices to support the admin of meds during school hours, my daughter has a few meds in nursery and they are great at sorting and recording) Out of curiosity can I ask why they two specifically? Good luck on journey. Xx

Thank you Wizzywoo and MissPicklepot for your responses. We do have other special needs on our "yes" list but I guess that both VI and HIV are two of the ones we feel particularly drawn too. VI because my husband has very problematic eyesight and was visually impaired until 6 years old and HIV as it's always been a particular area of interest for me during my years working in health and social care, both in the UK and in developing countries. My questions in regard to VI were mainly around educational support as I knew very little about how children with VI accessed support within nursery and education but both your responses are very helpful. So am I right in thinking that unless the child has learning disabilities in addition to their VI, they simply enter mainstream school with support? In regards to HIV I know a lot more about the daily management of it because of my work experience; the twice daily meds, the quarterly blood tests, viral load count, etc but I don't actually know of anyone raising a child with HIV (perhaps because people keep the status private) and would love to hear of their real life experiences particularly in regard to social challenges; how and who they told of their child's status, how they've educated other siblings, handled the teenage years, etc This is the aspect of raising a child with HIV that seems the most challenging for me. I'd also be interested to know if in the UK you have to tell the child's school of their HIV status? I know that in the US you do not have too. Thanks for your responses. :)

Not sure whether vi go to mainstream or not if no other issues. My lo will always need special school. There are a couple of blind charities that may have more info for you guernsey . Blind children uk may be of use to you . I rang for advice when child first placed and found them v helpful.

Regards hoc and school may be worth contacting CHIVA (children's hiv association) www.chiva.org.uk. They are now but do work around children with him in schools and raising awareness etc. I would imagin like most teens with medical conditions there are always risks of rebellion as they get older but I would imagine there are support groups and a lot of medical support around to help guide you and provide advice and support. I reality most children with HIV will have had it all their lives so would have grown up with it and like adoption honesty is the key with not the child and siblings. I think if you were open and honest with any siblings they would just except them as there sibling not a sibling with HIV. (I am making this assumption more relating to a child who has a Sibling with a sever learning difficulty or visual disability.) Regards the IV and mainstream school, my LOs vi teacher told me about two boys with VI he was currently working. With at the school i was considering sending my LO to and it was a mainstream school. Technically any child can attend a mainstream school if that is what you want and you are willing to fight for the support needed if required.

Thanks for the link MissPicklepot, that looks like an incredibly useful site. We definitely forsee the challenges being the teenage years and how to handle them, however we plan to be amongst our children open (in an age appropriate way) about HIV status so that like you say it is just normal sibling relationships and the HIV is not a label. I will also check out blindchildren.co.uk. Good to hear that they can enter mainstream school if able.

Hi, I can answer the school part. In our area there are two main steam primary schools and one secondary which have VI units attached. So the pupils with VI go to these schools. The unit modifies the work for the pupils but they are taught in the main stream class room. They may come out for 1:1 for Braille etc. They will have LSA support too especially for practical lessons. I work in the secondary version in our area. I have also adopted a LO who is blind. They do not even have light perspection. We have had many issues with LO school as the primary didn't want them for a few reasons so ended up in a SN school but we have had upto date reports and they are moving to the primary with VI unit. Any questions then please ask!

There was a programme on Radio 4 last night (at 8) which is on iplayer about educating blind children in mainstream schools - it was called 'Too Many Helping hands?'

There was a programme on Radio 4 last night (at 8) which is on iplayer about educating blind children in mainstream schools - it was called 'Too Many Helping hands?'

Thank you awatsonlcan I really appreciate that. :) And thank you Daydreamer I shall try to find that Radio 4 programme.

Our youngest son is v i. He had a challenging start in life and 6 moves in foster care. He attended mainstream primary and secondary schools with support from teaching assistants and the advisory teacher who also taught him mobility and how to use a long cane. He joined in all the P.E lessons but ball sports were more challenging so we made links with v i sports clubs. There he met other v i teenagers and adults who loved cricket,football and athletics. Through the positive role models he met at sports activities, he realised there were blind /v .I adults who had been to uni,worked in many different kinds of jobs and travelled independently. By the age of 15 he was crossing London by tube (changing twice) to go to nets, He has played competitive sport in 6 different countries and has an England cap. He went to uni and got a 2/1. He has now had a full time job for a year traveling by tube and bus all over London. This year he did the London marathon and last week cycled (on a tandem) on a charity ride from Edinburgh to London. He has 3 groups of friends -his school friends,uni friends,and v i sports friends. Most of his sighted friends have met some of his v i friends and have watched our son play sport. Two things about being v i . At one point we were thinking Of moving to a more rural area. We realised if our son was to have independence we would need to live near a bus route. He does get the mobility part of DLA which he uses when he can't get to places by public transport. Secondly adaptive technology is bringing a lot more independence. His IPhone can speak directions to him. He has an app that reads print to him. There is an app that links to volunteers who will describe things he shows them through his phone.e.g. If he isn't sure which road to take at a cross roads he takes a photo and someone at the other end of the app will say"YOU are opposite a bank take the next road on your left" Most cinemas and theatres do Audio described performances now. Our son lives a full, interesting life with many hobbies,friends, and interests. As I write he went straight from work in Croyden to football practice in East London. Happy to answer any more questions you might have.

Thank you so much 'steps' that is such wonderful encouragement and great food for thought. :)