Vision

👁️‍🗨️ Support for Children with Low Vision – Canterbury

If your child has low vision, several services in Canterbury can offer support — at home, in school, and in the community. Here’s a guide to what’s available:

🎓 1. Support at School – BLENNZ

BLENNZ (Blind & Low Vision Education Network NZ) supports tamariki with vision needs.
They provide:

Specialist teachers (Resource Teachers: Vision – RTVs)

Learning plans and resources

Support in schools, early learning centres, or at home

🧭 2. Blind Low Vision NZ (formerly Blind Foundation)

•  Offers a wide range of support for children and families, including:

• Orientation and mobility training

• Daily living skills

• Adaptive technology support (e.g. magnifiers, screen readers)

• Library access (books in large print, audio, braille)

• Family support and guide dog program (age dependent)

📍 You can self-refer via their website or talk to your GP or teacher.

🏥 3. Canterbury Low Vision Clinic (Christchurch)

Provides assessments and trials of helpful tools like:

• Magnifiers

• Bright task lights

• Large print materials

• CCTV and other reading aids
  
  
  

A team of occupational therapists and orthoptists help match tools to your child’s needs.

📞 Ask your GP, teacher, or BLENNZ teacher to help with a referral.

👓 4. Help with Equipment & Glasses

Spectacle Subsidy: Free or low-cost glasses for children under 15 (if eligible).

Funded Equipment: The Ministry of Disabled People (Whaikaha) can fund things like magnifiers, white canes, screen readers, and braille tools.

⚙️ Apply through your child’s specialist or Enable NZ (an assessor will help you).

👪 5. Parent Support – PVI (Parents of Vision Impaired Children NZ)

PVI is a free network for families across Aotearoa. They offer:

• Peer support from other parents

• Newsletters and resources

• Local meetups and social events

• Help understanding systems and rights

🌐 Sign up at: www.pvi.org.nz

🤸 6. Sports and Recreation

Blind Sport Canterbury: Offers fun, inclusive sports like goalball and swimming.
Many local clubs also offer adapted programs — ask about inclusive options when joining.

✅ Need Help Getting Started?

• Talk to our school team

• Talk to your GP – for clinic or equipment referrals

• Talk with parent groups (like PVI) – for emotional and practical support
  
  
  

You’re not alone — there’s a strong community ready to help you and your child thrive.

Anstice Optometrists – Eye Care with Kids in Mind

Anstice Optometrists is a family-friendly eye clinic that really understands children, especially those who might find learning or reading tricky.

They’re not just about checking eyesight — their team has extra training in:

• How vision affects learning and reading (Schoolvision)

• Helping children with learning difficulties related to their eyes

• Sports vision testing for active kids

• Tinted lenses and overlays that can help with reading and screen work
  
  

They use specialised tools to support kids who need more than a standard eye test. If your child struggles with reading, concentration, or visual fatigue, they may be able to help.

👶 The space was designed with children and parents in mind — calm, welcoming, and stress-free.
👓 They also have a wide range of glasses to suit all ages, styles, and budgets.

Anstice was one of the first clinics in New Zealand set up especially to support children’s vision in this way — so your child will be in experienced hands.