Living with sight loss requires a helping hand as well as expert support. At InFocus, we provide specialist services for young adults with vision impairment and complex learning needs.
Our belief is that everyone should be able to live an independent life, regardless of disability or disorders. We help the visually impaired through services such as:
- Mobility and rehabilitation training,
- Employability support
- Braille and Access Technology training
- Dedicated nursing and healthcare
- A variation of therapies
What is vision impairment?
Vision impairment refers to any condition that affects a person’s ability to see. It can affect people in different ways, from low-vision (which includes partial sight loss) to blindness. Some individuals are born with a visual impairment, others may develop them later on or through illness or injury.
People with vision impairment face challenges in every aspect of life. They may often need assistance with daily activities, such as eating, shopping, cooking, and cleaning. They may also struggle with communication, social interactions and learning.
Those who are visually impaired may be able to use assistive technology devices to improve their ability to see. These include magnifiers, screen readers, braille display systems, and many others.
That’s where our services come in. We’re here to help young adults live independently and have the best quality of life
Learn more about the specialist services we provide for young people:
Our specialist services
Here’s a quick run-down of the services we provide to help our students:
- Specialist further education College (ages 16 to 25)
- Adult residential care home in St David’s House
- supported living accommodation for young people
- Jigsaw – a non-residential activity centre for young adults
- work-related learning and employability training for people with vision impairment
Specialist College
The InFocus Specialist College provides specialist education for young people aged 16-25. With a wide range of support for those with visual impairment and complex needs. Our 14-acre college, based in Exeter, Devon, has extensive on-site facilities and equipment to support the needs of students.
These vision impairments and complex needs may include:
- Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Severe Learning disabilities (SLD)
- Moderate Learning needs (MLD)
- Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Physical Needs
- Social and emotional needs
Adult residential care at InFocus
InFocus provides specialist residential care for young adults with various disabilities. Our individual care packages and enrichment programmes aim to:
- Support students to build independence
- Help students develop skills needed for daily life
- Provide accessibility for leisure, social and vocational opportunities in the local community
- Promote mental health and wellbeing
- Ensure safety and security
There are several reasons why residential care is beneficial for young adults with visual impairments. Residential care gives them the opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience in areas like independent living, self-care, and job readiness. It also provides access to services that would not be available to them at home.
The benefits of residential care extend beyond just providing a place to live. Residents also get the chance to take part in group activities, which helps them form friendships and feel more connected to other people.
Supported living accommodation
InFocus provides supported living accommodation for young people with visual impairments and other difficulties. Our support living houses aim to support young adults, helping them develop the necessary skills for independent living. We strive to ensure our young people can live their best daily life to the fullest.
Jigsaw
Our day centre service for adults in Exeter, Devon, Jigsaw provides support for adults with vision impairment or multi-sensory impairment. Our trained care staff provide expert care for the varied needs of those attending. Jigsaw supports adults in their 20s and 30s with significant support needs from 9 am to 4 pm, 48 weeks a year.
Work-related learning
At InFocus, we believe that every young adult can have a positive impact on society and the world around them. We help young people with visual impairments and disabilities prepare for life after college. Whether studying at our specialist college or leaving further education, we’re here to help guide our students through life.
We provide work experience opportunities for our students, supporting their transition from education to employment.
Our partners help us train young people with visual impairments and complex needs. This allows them to gain the knowledge and skills to further their career. Learn more about our work-related learning programmes – here.
How you can help us
There are several ways to support InFocus, allowing us to help visually impaired/disabled students. Be sure to check out our latest job vacancies and volunteer opportunities on-site.
Feel inspired? Help us transform the lives of the visually impaired by providing the best environments, equipment and staff by taking part in a fundraiser.
For more information about our student support services, please see our websites. If you have any queries, please get in touch with us at enquiries@infocus-charity.org.uk and we’ll do everything we can to help.