Exam Provision for Blind and Partially Sighted Students
Join LOOK’s online Parent Carer Support Group
When?
January 24th LOOK Parent Carer Support Group Themed Event
19:30 to 21:30pm
Where?
On Zoom – our online peer-led parent support group is a great place to come to talk about the problems our children face and the solutions that others in the community have found.
Why?
We know as parent carers that our children can miss out on the opportunities their sighted peers get to help prepare for exams. There is support and advice out there, but it can be frustrating navigating the system and knowing where to go to get adapted past papers, revision books and exams sent in the correct format.
How to Join
Join experts Jane Sharp from VIEW, Simon Kerrigan from RNIB and some fabulous LOOK mentors on January 24th who will share their experience, knowledge, and expertise around preparation for exams. The event has been designed to share what is available for blind and partially sighted students, consider best practice and find out what is going on behind the scenes to improve things. To book on to the online event and ask questions in advance please use this Form
Who?
Meet View’s Jane Sharp
Photo above is a close up of Jane wearing a dark top and looking straight at the camera and smiling.
Jane has 20 years’ experience working as a QTVI, mainly in secondary and upper primary. Her areas of special interest include assistive technology, access to reading, and exams. Jane is a JCQ accredited modifier for Science GCSEs and GCEs.
Jane is also chair of VIEW, the professional association for the vision impairment education workforce. VIEW’s aim is to improve outcomes for learners with VI through supporting the education professionals that work with them. VIEW provides a voice for VI education professionals at a national level on issues around exams and, in partnership with RNIB and other organisations, continues to support members to develop their knowledge and skills in this area. Of particular note is the popular VIEW/RNIB online course, Prepare for Success, which covers how to modify and produce in-house assessments to the standards of external exams.
Meet RNIB’s Simon Kerrigan
Simon Kerrigan photo above shows Simon wearing a smart white shirt and tie with short brown hair. Simon says:
“Hi I’m Simon – an Education Specialist at RNIB. I have produced an exam calendar and yearly training to guide QTVIs through the process of ordering modified exam papers, organising access arrangements, and preparing students for GCSE and A’ level exams. I have previously worked as the Lead QTVI in a large Integrated Resource for children and young people with visual impairment in a mainstream secondary school.”
You will also meet some of our wonderful LOOK Mentors who will share their experience of how to get prepared to take exams. All our mentors are visually impaired adults aged between 18 and 35 years old.
Meet Azeem
My name is Azeem, I am 23, a long cane user and have been visually impaired since birth. I have never let it be a barrier to success. I use a laptop with speech software for work which is how I accessed my education.
I have been in mainstream throughout my education. After Primary School I studied at a High School in Rochdale. and gained 9 GCSEs at grade A/B including English, Mathematics, Science, French, History, IT and PE.
I studied A levels at Sixth Form College where I gained the following qualifications: A Level Law – A*, A Level Economics – A*, A Level Psychology – B
I have a First Class Honours in Business Management with Sport from the University of Salford and a MSc (hons) in Digital Business.
I am self employed having founded a successful business in 2019, Learn With ESS (Education, Sport and Speaking), which delivers bespoke disability awareness training to educational institutions and corporate organisations across the UK.
I juggle my business and my sporting career as I play Blind Football professionally for the England and Great Britain blind football team. Playing across the globe we are aiming to qualify for the next Paralympics.
An obstacle I’ve faced has been managing and balancing a dual career. I have found however that doing something you love and having great people around you who are enthusiastic and motivational has helped. I keep organised and don’t let the to-do list get too long so I’m able to manage well.
Meet Amber
Hello, my name is Amber. I am 25, and have a NVQ level 3 in health and social care. I enjoy photography, YouTube, swimming and going for walks. I have a little boy and live with him and my partner in a flat in Norfolk. I am also expecting my second child.
I am registered sight impaired, have Nystagmus and a restricted peripheral field. My preferred way of accessing material is on a phone or laptop with magnification. I occasionally am a wheelchair user but most of the time I am a long cane user and am currently on the list for a guide dog.
I went to mainstream secondary school where I got 2 GCSEs. I then went on to a FE college and gained 4 GCSEs and a BTEC level 2 in business. I then did a level 2 and then 3 apprenticeship in health and social care at my first job.
I have been employed by the NHS for 5 years and have worked as a health care assistant, community care assistant and am currently an occupational therapy assistant in a neurology ward.
Listen to Jane’s Video Invite
Video Below has a graphic with text on left reading Parent Carer Support Group Themed Event Exam Prep for Blind & Partially Sighted Students Jan 24th 7.30 – 9.30pm On Zoom Loudspeaker illustration below and above a video of Jane in a yellow box. Jane has blond hair pulled back off her face and is wearing a black top. She is looking straight at the camera recording her video invite. LOOK logo in bottom right hand corner
