What support and funding is available at college for students with vision impairment?

Colleges and Further Education Institutions are often referred to as ‘Further Education’ (FE). 

Colleges get money from their funding body to provide reasonable adjustments and make sure you have the support you need at college, this is called Learning Support (LS). Support and equipment that a college might offer includes: 

• a support teacher or worker, or a sighted guide 

• materials in alternative formats such as braille or large print 

• assistive computer technology 

• computers with speech synthesisers and magnification 

In England, the SEN reforms from the Children and Families Act (2014) extended the remit and duty of local authority specialist support services to pupils up to age 25 in full time education (FE, not HE). Local arrangements differ but you should be able to access specialist support, especially if detailed in your Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). 

All education settings can use RNIB Bookshare to support with the specialist adaptation of learning and teaching materials: Home - RNIB Bookshare 

The CFVI supports education professionals, young people and parents to access appropriate and equitable education, focusing on 11 overlapping areas of support: Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) | RNIB 

Thomas Pocklington Trust supports Further and Higher Education students with vision impairment, including working with FE and HE providers to ensure support is in place: 

Education and Student Support - Thomas Pocklington Trust 

Disability Rights UK can also provide advice and information regarding support and funding available to students. 

RNIB Specialist Advice Service Advisors can give further information on this topic