The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is running its own
training course to combat the huge shortfall in the number of trained
rehabilitation workers.
Research commissioned by the Visual Handicap Group has
revealed that at least 900 more trained rehabilitation workers are required to
meet the needs of 360,000 blind and partially sighted people in the UK.
There are currently 500 rehabilitation workers in the UK.
The GDBA’s School of Vision and Rehabilitation Studies,
based in Surrey and Glasgow, is offering 35 bursary places for its full-time
DipHE in rehabilitation studies. Once qualified, students are expected to work
for the charity for a period of time.
“The bursary programme is there to help attract more people
into the profession and the ESF places offer a great opportunity to give
unemployed people the chance to get into a rewarding career,” said Tom
Muldowney, Head of Education and Training at GDBA’s School of Vision and
Rehabilitation Studies.
By Karen Higginbottom
