Vision Collaborative Scotland commissioned Visibility Scotland to research and review the current workforce supplying specialised support in Scotland to people of all ages living with vision impairment and their family carers. The review also investigated professional roles, responsibilities and training opportunities, and was published in 2024.
You can download and read the report here.
The review identified that there continues to be a national shortage of Vision Rehabilitation Specialists. This profoundly affects service provision for people with vision impairment.
New Course Launching Soon
In order to bridge this gap, Vision Collaborative Scotland is now pleased to share that we are working towards offering two new professional training courses in vision rehabilitation. We hope that the courses, being run in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, will commence in January 2026.
A two year part-time blended learning course will enable individuals to study to Postgraduate Diploma level and take up employment as a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist. A new, exciting offer is that a one year part-time blended learning course at Postgraduate Certificate level will enable students to practise as Vision Rehabilitation Assistants
Development of the courses has been based on extensive engagement with third sector vision impairment organisations and Health and Social Care Partnerships in 2024. Our research highlighted a fragmented picture of rehabilitation service delivery, with limited opportunities for professional development for existing staff and no Scotland-based training course to train new vision rehabilitation staff.
Course Content
Course content follows the Sensory Services National Occupational Standards, and the professional registration body, the Rehabilitation Workers’ Professional Network has contributed to course development.
The blended learning approach includes online content delivery, in-person practicals and work-based learning.
The Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma Courses include:
- Introduction to vision impairment
- Assessment and research methodology
- Independent living skills and communication tools
The Postgraduate Diploma Course adds:
- Low vision and no vision strategies
- Orientation and mobility (including long cane training)
- Specialist placement
- Elective study choices, options include clinical governance and stroke
We are delighted to announce that due to the generosity of the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, up to five Student Sponsorships will be made available for individuals currently employed within the sight loss sector in Scotland who are starting the course in January 2026. These sponsorships will cover up to half the course fee. More detail will be published soon.
Interested to know more about these courses?
If you, or members of your team, are interested in finding out more about the Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma in Vision Rehabilitation at the University of Strathclyde, please contact Susan.Shippey@sightscotland.org.uk or laura.murray.100@strath.ac.uk for information.
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International Research on the Impact of Vision Rehabilitation and Habilitation
Vision Collaborative Scotland is working with the University of Melbourne and Glasgow Caledonian University on ground-breaking research into the effectiveness of vision rehabilitation and habilitation.
Vision Collaborative Scotland
Vision Collaborative Scotland is an unincorporated consortium of third-sector organisations which all work to support people with vision impairments in Scotland.