There is now a NHS programme of work thanks to quite a bit of work prior by our charity SeeAbility to persuade policymakers that it would be a great FabNHS thing to bring sight tests and glasses into special schools.
Children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely to have a sight problem than other children but also much less likely to have ever had any eye care, let alone in a local optician.
In fact they were more likely to be going to hospital for routine eye care such as a sight test.
The NHS programme started in April 2021 will be bringing eye care into England's special schools and once through its proof of concept period that will mean up to 130,000 children will get the eye care they need, including the glasses they need. For so many children this will be the first time they've ever had a sight test, because for so many they would struggle and get anxious going to medical appointments.
Here it is all taking place in the familiarity of their school. And parents and teachers get an easy to understand report on what their child can see, helping them make the most of their special education.
It's a pledge in the Long Term Plan to improve eye care for children with learning disabilities so its a great start although the next steps will be to see what can be done to improve access to community services too.
More about it all can be found here: HERE
Happy birthday FabNHSstuff too!