The Eyecare Support Pathway for Children and Young People

The Eye Health and Visual Impairment APPG hosted a parliamentary event in the Houses of Parliament to mark the official in-person launch of The Eyecare Support Pathway for Children and Young People.

The event brought together parliamentarians, sector leaders, professionals, parents and charities from across health, education and the sight loss sector to highlight the importance of consistent, high-quality support for children and young people with vision impairment.

Developed collaboratively by more than twenty organisations, the Pathway responds to evidence from Guide Dogs’ 2021 Commission, which exposed significant variation in access to specialist support depending on where families live.

The Pathway provides a clear, practical framework to help ensure children and young people receive the right support at the right time, regardless of location.

Speakers included Andrew Lennox, CEO of Guide Dogs UK; Shockat Adam MP, Officer of the Eye Health and Visual Impairment APPG; Marsha de Cordova MP, Chair of the Eye Health and Visual Impairment APPG; and a parent speaker who shared lived experience of navigating services.

Contributions focused on the need for collaboration across sectors and the role of policymakers, commissioners and professionals in embedding best practice nationwide.

The launch marked an important step towards greater consistency in eyecare and support, and complements the Adult Eye Care Support Pathway, helping to create a more joined-up approach to support for people with visual impairment across the life course.