Visual Impairment Scotland originally received money from the National Health Service in order to improve services and information for children with visual impairment throughout Scotland. V.I. Scotland aimed to enhance the process of Blind and Partially Sighted registration within Scotland. As a consequence, V.I. Scotland set up a new system of identifying visually impaired children. This system put more emphasis on the educational and developmental requirements of the child.

Q: Why?
A: For various reasons many visually impaired children were not being registered with the existing procedure, and as a result we did not know the exact number of visually impaired children living in Scotland. Once we knew this then we could direct resources and target needs more appropriately. When a child is notified to us either by the parent or by the child itself we can then provide a wide range of information services direct to the parent and child. The child also becomes an automatic member of VISKIDS and will receive a certificate and membership goodies. Notification does not mean that the parent will receive a visit from the Social Services or from any other organisation, that is unless the parent wishes. All we are providing is information that the parents have asked us to give them. It is hope by knowing the exact numbers through notification we can find all the visually impaired children who live in Scotland.

Q: My child is visually impaired, and I would like to notify you of him/her?
A: If you live in Scotland please contact Visual Impairment Scotland on (0131) 651 6078. or email viscotland@ed.ac.uk and an Introduction Pack explaining more will be sent to you. We are very sorry that Visual Impairment Scotland cannot accept notifications from outside of Scotland. However, if you would like to know more please contact us.