Ms Derval Healy:

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to address the committee today. I am director of reading and learning at ChildVision. ChildVision is Ireland's recognised national provider of vision specialist services committed to continuing our mission of improving the lives of children and young people with visual impairments across Ireland. Through our national remit, ChildVision's aim is to offer specific vision training and comprehensive supports to education and therapy providers across the country. We plan to extensively engage with all stakeholders to raise awareness of our new national remit.

Under that remit, we are also developing a low vision team with a "vision first" approach, focusing on the specific needs of each child. This team focus will include vision training for professionals involved with students under children's disability network teams and primary care. While this is a welcome addition to the HSE services, it will not resolve the gaps of specialist provision within the education setting. ChildVision would welcome the opportunity to engage with the Department and relevant stakeholders to support the delivery of the expanded core curriculum for children with visual impairments. The three areas identified by Féach are areas where ChildVision currently has expertise but in order to reach all students with visual impairment, we would require expansion of service and a collaborative approach with other service providers.

In relation to orientation and mobility, ChildVision is aware of the importance of early intervention programmes for O and M and its particular importance for transitions, that is, for children transitioning from preschool to school, primary school to secondary school, etc. ChildVision currently offers O and M provision within our campuses in Dublin and Cork.

As Ms Walsh mentioned, there are huge gaps in orientation and mobility provision on a national basis. Therefore, investment in training programmes is essential. ChildVision would welcome the opportunity to develop a specific working group with the Department of Education and relevant stakeholders to ensure orientation and mobility is at the forefront of the curriculum for visually impaired students.

As assistive technology continues to advance, more students can benefit from digital formats and tools that aid their learning. In response, ChildVision actively promotes and supports the use of assistive technology in the classroom through the provision of specialised digital schoolbooks. While these supports provide assistance for access to schoolbooks, there are still huge gaps in terms of training of professionals within the day-to-day classroom setting. As Ms Walsh mentioned, investment in assistive technology devices will also always require additional investment in those who support the students one to one.

Greater access for students with disabilities to summer provision is welcomed by all, but we need to ensure this provision is targeted around vision supports. The opportunity to provide additional orientation and mobility, assistive technology and daily living skills would be welcomed by all to ensure additional upskilling during the summer months. ChildVision would welcome a collaborative approach with other service providers in terms of specialised summer provision to ensure all students have access nationally.

Reading Services, a department within ChildVision, is a national initiative dedicated to empowering literacy for students with visual impairments. Through the provision of schoolbooks in alternative formats, including Braille, large print, digital and tactile diagrams, we ensure that visually impaired students can access the full educational curriculum through the same textbooks as their peers. Additionally, we support their learning journey by offering leisure reading materials through our library.

Since its launch in 2000, our service has grown steadily and has adapted to the evolving needs of students, the expanding school curriculum and the rapid advancement of technology. We work closely with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to produce customised educational materials that meet the unique needs of each student. In recent years, we have seen a steady increase in demand for our services. In 2013, we provided books for 357 students. We saw an increase of 33% on that figure in 2024. Moreover, the number of books provided per student has more than doubled in the same period. In 2013, we fulfilled an average of eight titles per student, whereas in 2024, we are fulfilling an average of 18 books per student. This increase is due to several factors, including the removal of book request limits, the introduction of new supplementary materials and the ever-expanding educational core curriculum. In addition to our work with assistive technology, we have developed a 3D printing hub, an innovative area of our service that allows us to create tactile educational tools. For example, students can now request printed objects such as Braille clocks, maths kits and fraction walls to assist their learning.

As we look to the future, the demand for our services is expected to continue growing. Census data indicates a rising number of children in Ireland with visual impairments, which will undoubtedly lead to more referrals and an increased demand for accessible materials alongside vision supports such as orientation and mobility and assistive technology. To succeed in achieving our goals, collaboration with Féach and other stakeholders is essential and a vital component of ChildVision’s strategic plan. I thank the committee members for their time and attention.