SeeAbility, Tanvir Bush

Available for over a year

Lisa Donaldson, Optometrist and Clinical Lead for SeeAbility's new campaign 'Children in Focus' talks to Peter White about the charity's call for funded eye tests to be available in all special schools in England. Children with severe disabilities are 28 times more likely to experience a vision loss than are their non-disabled peers, say SeeAbility's research and these children are the ones most likely not to be accessing the eye health care to which they are entitled. Alyson Farrell is mother to Ellie, age 9, who has brain damage from a pre-birth virus and is non-verbal. Ellie's condition gives her a pre-disposition to visual impairment and for this reason she needs regular eye tests. Alyson says that going to a hospital is very stressful and being able to have the tests at her school is hugely preferable. The Department of Health told us that contracts may be set up between contractors and NHS England to provide eye-testing within special schools. Lisa Donaldson commented that although this is true, there is a funding gap between the money paid by the DoH and the overall cost of the testing, which is currently being met by SeeAbility. Plus, author Tanvir Bush pens her latest column about keeping your cool when belongings get misplaced. Producer: Cheryl Gabriel.