The Hearing Impaired Team is based at The Connor Education Centre and the Visually Impaired Team is based at Grange Road, see our contacts page for address details.

The teams support deaf and visually impaired pupils in schools in Sandwell as well as those placed in schools out of the borough. The teams can provide support to schools in the following areas.

Hearing Impairment Team

Building schools' capacity to meet the needs of deaf pupils by:

• Advice on the curriculum implications of an individual's deafness
• Advice on classroom management of deaf students
• Advice on the use and implications of hearing aids
• Advice on the use and maintenance of other technology that assists( e.g. radio systems and soundfield systems)
• Contributions to formal assessments, annual reviews and IEPs of deaf students
• INSET for staff
• Support to families
• Audiological testing
• Direct work with students

As well as:

• Links with other agencies ( e.g. Health and Social Inclusion)
• Specific work with pre-school children and their families
• Liaison with schools prior to school entry
• Advice on special arrangements for national examinations
• Liaison with FE providers

Visual Impairment Team

Building schools' capacity to meet the needs of Vi pupils by:

• Advice on the curriculum implications of visual impairment
• Advice on classroom management of visually impaired students
• Advice on the use and implications of low-vision aids
• Advice on the use and maintenance of other assistive technology (e.g. CCTVs and enlargement software)
• Preparation of enlarged/modified materials for use in schools
• Contributions to formal assessments, annual reviews and IEPs of visually impaired students
• INSET for staff
• Support to families
• Tests of visual acuity after referral by consultant
• Mobility and independence training
• Direct work with students

As well as

• Links with other agencies ( e.g. Health and Social Inclusion)
• Specific work with pre-school children and their families
• Liaison with schools prior to school entry
• Advice on special arrangements for national examinations
• Liaison with FE providers