Institute of Education London

Graduate Diploma: Specialist Qualification in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People)

This programme will:

• enable you to support, plan, carry out, supervise and evaluate the development of children's and young people's (from birth to age 25) habilitation skills in home, educational and public settings and during periods of transition
• encourage you to become a reflective practitioner
• include introductory Braille sessions as an integral component of the course, for those not already qualified.

Features

This programme provides the opportunity to:

• benefit from our collaboration with the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB)
• gain experience of working in a variety of habilitation settings and environments, with parents and carers of individual children and with children supported in schools and services
• exit after one year's part-time study with a Graduate Certificate (for those wishing to work in support roles within habilitation).

Who is this programme for?

People who want to become habilitation specialists, directing mobility and independence work with children and young people from birth to age 25 who are blind or visually impaired.

Entry requirements

Relevant experience of working with children and young people, appropriate post-A level study, and CRB clearance at enhanced level. Teaching qualifications are not required for this course. If you do not meet these requirements, you may be able to qualify through special procedures.

As habilitation training involves periods of sustained physical activity in a range of weather conditions and settings, you will be asked to evidence your general health, vision and hearing. However, a physical, visual or hearing impairment is not a barrier to undertaking these programmes. Applicants may be interviewed as part of the application process.

How are you assessed?

By coursework assignments, practical skill assessments, skill observations, placements and presentations, including a portfolio which is matched against the Quality Standards for Habilitation Work with Children and Young People (2011).

Attendance

London programme

Weekly face-to-face daytime sessions, with tutorial support and personal study and practical skill activities.

Wakefield and Edinburgh programmes

Daytime face-to-face teaching blocks of five days and three days per module with tutorial support and personal study and practical skill activities.