I live and work in the UK where I am one of the few speech and language therapists who specialise in working with people who have visual impairment. For more information about me, please see my CV.
Communication in children and adults who have visual impairment
Over the years I have read much of the published literature concerning the communication skills of children who have visual impairment. Together with my practical experience of supporting children and young adults who have visual impairment , this has enabled me to acquire extensive knowledge and understanding of the field. I am developing this website in order to share my work with all those who have a similar interest in the communication skills of children and adults who have visual impairment, particularly those who have additional needs. This will be a lengthy task and additional material will be added as time permits. Please go to Communication in children and adults who have VI.
Visual Impairment and Autism
A fascinating and rewarding task I undertook between September 2008 and March 2011 was to lead a project investigating the needs of children who have both visual impairment and autism. Please go to Visual Impairment and Autism.
Speech and Language Therapy
If you are interested in obtaining speech and language therapy for a child, young person or adult who has visual impairment , please go to Speech and Language Therapy.
Training
I am an experienced trainer and can provide training tailored to your requirements. I have also presented at conferences. If you wish me to provide training or to give a presentation, please go to Training.
The Mary Kitzinger Trust The objective of the Mary Kitzinger Trust is to advance and further education, training and research in the psychology of children with visual and/or other developmental difficulties. The Trust sponsors bi-annual workshops, which bring together practitioners, educators, academics and other professionals who work with children who have visual impairment. The aim is to share research, experience and insights and help stimulate the interchange between research and practice relevant to children who have visual impairment.
I have attended Mary Kitzinger Trust workshops for the past 5 or 6 years. I have found them to be a stimulating way to keep in touch with the latest research. They provide a valuable forum for meeting and exchanging ideas with others in the field. Many of the presentations at these workshops are of considerable interest to those concerned with communication in children who have visual impairment and additional needs.
For more information about the Trust and the workshops, visit http://www.marykitzingertrust.org/
Comments and suggestions
I would very much like to receive your comments and suggestions, so please contact me.
Acknowledgements I am taking this opportunity to acknowledge the support of some key people without whom this website would not exist.
First and foremost, I am hugely indebted to my wife, Judy. As a well-known and highly-respected teacher of children who have visual impairment, she has been an extremely effective sounding-board and the source of an enormous quantity of excellent advice. In addition, Judy has given me boundless support and encouragement over the years.
I am also very grateful to my son, David, who set up this website. He did so using skills gained with his own site: http://eastsideislandutopia.wordpress.com/.
The speech and language therapists who have been in post at RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning over the last three years have also been most helpful and supportive. They are Sarah Roberts, Sarah Steedman, Lisa Stanley and Jennifer Marriott.
I dedicate this website to the memory of two people who set me on the road many years ago. Chronologically, the first is Don Major, a member of staff at Westhill College, Birmingham. Don provided me with a solid foundation for my practice when I was a student teacher. The second is Jean Inman, a headteacher who appointed me to work in her school. Jean was crucial in fostering my interest in and understanding of communication.
