| Acronym | Description |
|---|
| Agencies |
These include Education Services (LEA), Social Services Departments (SSD), Voluntary Organisations (VO), Health Service. |
| DfES |
Department for Education and Skills |
| FE |
Further Education |
| Guide Dogs |
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association |
| IPE |
Individual Education Plan |
| ILS |
Independent living skills. Also known as daily living skills |
| LSC |
Learning and Skills Council. |
| M&I |
Mobility and independence. |
| M&I service |
A mobility and independence service, which may provide mobility & independence education/support to a child who is visually impaired, provided by one or a number of different professionals/agencies. |
| MDVI |
Children with multiple disabilities with a visual impairment. |
| MIE |
Mobility and Independence Educator – generic term for any professional taking the lead role in the delivery of mobility and independence education. |
| MISE |
Mobility and Independence Specialists in Education. |
| MO |
Mobility Officer. Other titles may include ‘Teacher of Orientation & Mobility’, ‘Mobility Specialist in Education’, ‘Mobility Nursery Nurse’ and ‘Mobility Instructor’. |
| Opsis |
National Association for the Education, Training and Support of Blind and Partially Sighted People |
| OT |
Occupational therapist |
| Parents |
As defined by the DfES, ‘parents’ should be taken to include all those with parental responsibility including corporate parents and carers. |
| QTVI |
Qualified teacher of visually impaired children |
| RO/RW |
Rehabilitation officer or worker |
| RNIB |
Royal National Institute of the Blind |
| SEN |
Special Educational Needs |
| SENCO |
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator |
| SENDA |
Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 |
| SSD |
Social Services Department |
| Statement |
Statement of Special Educational Needs |
| TA |
Teaching assistant as defined by the DfES. |
| VI |
Visual impairment/visually impaired |
| VO |
Voluntary organisation |