Rehabilitation Support

Vision Rehabilitation Specialists (previously Rehabilitation Officers Visual Impairment; ROVI) are trained and qualified to work with people with any degree of visual impairment, they can carry out assessments to discuss and identify difficulties in order to keep you independent. 

Meet our Rehabilitation Team

Martin Heppell

Has been a qualified Rehabilitation Officer since 2009 and has been involved with the Wilberforce Trust since the year 2000. Having formerly worked in the supported care side of the Trust, Martin is now the Senior Vision Rehabilitation Specialist. He has worked on a variety of sensory contracts in this time and is well known in York within his field of expertise having supported hundreds of clients to be as independent as possible whilst living with their visual impairment. He is committed to his own development and thrived gaining several qualifications to support the needs of clients, including Habilitation (Orientation & Mobility). Martin has a keen interest in lighting and mobility training specifically.

What aspect of your work do you find most rewarding?

‘Knowing that I have tried my best to make clients lives a little easier, whilst living with their sight loss. This is achieved through the specialist techniques, advice, equipment and training, to meet client’s individual needs.’

Cathy Woodward

Has worked for the Trust since 2012 and was formerly a Community Sensory Officer for the Yorsensory Team. Her interest in this area encouraged her to attend Birmingham City University, qualifying as a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist in 2020. Cathy has expanded her remit to include a work placement with North Yorkshire Council Sensory Team, a short contract with Vision and Hearing Support, Gateshead, student mobility work at the University of York, the provision of orientation and mobility training with children and young people alongside the City of York Council Specialist Teaching Team and has recently worked in collaboration with Galloways Sight Loss charity on the Sefton Sensory contract, in addition to her work within the City of York.

What motivates you the most in your role as a vision rehabilitation specialist? 

‘The variety and diversity of work the role brings, I am fortunate to work across different settings, with children, young people and adults with different needs and on additional projects and pieces of work.  No day or client is the same, my work is person centred and tailored work, adapting to different learning styles and the needs of the people I am working with.  In turn I am always learning and developing in the role and my aim is to  improve the impact I and as part of a team, make to our clients independence and safety.  Its really beneficial working with people with sight loss who share their tips and hints, practical solutions to problems, which can be shared with colleagues and other clients.  Its a dynamic role, in that things are constantly changing, it requires reflection, what worked well, what didn’t work, what can I do better and I feel I am continuously evolving in the role.’

Julie Day

Qualified as a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist in 2004 and started working for the Trust the same year on contracts in East Riding and City of Hull.  Left the Trust in 2007 and worked as a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist for North Yorkshire County Council as part of their Sensory Team for almost 10 years. Julie returned to the Trust in April 2017 to deliver Sensory Awareness Training for Wilberforce Trust employees and external organisations which she continues to do today, alongside working with colleagues on a variety of projects regarding different aspects of accessibility.

 What aspect of your work do you find most rewarding?

‘I enjoy raising awareness of sight and hearing loss within the wider population and believe this is one of the best ways to make a positive difference in the community for people who are living with sensory impairments.  I really enjoy the variety of questions people will come up with when I am delivering the training as there is always a learning opportunity or an alternative angle to view things from.’

Rehabilitation Support

The Wilberforce Trust have a long history of providing rehabilitation support to visually impaired people. A Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS) previously Rehabilitation Officer for Visually Impaired people (ROVI) aims to support people with sight loss with re-learning skills and resources needed to live safely and independently throughout their sight loss journey.

This support can help people to develop their existing skills while navigating their changing circumstances both physically and emotionally, use specialist equipment or make use of minor adaptations.

Our specialist rehabilitation support can help with:

• Mobility, orientation and route training
• Mobility cane training
• Sight Guide training
• Gadgets and training to help in the kitchen
• Magnification and reading
• Adaptations to the home
• Onward referrals and partnership working with other professionals

In York, we are commissioned to provide this service as part of the Sensory Support Hub. We have provided support to other local authorities such as East Riding, Gateshead and Sefton.

We can consider supporting other organisations or individuals on request. An assessment of need/demand will need to be undertaken and an agreement signed.

“I wanted to thank you for your sessions so far. They really helped with confidence in travelling to and navigating Birmingham.” – previous client

“As a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist, I find the role extremely fulfilling, varied and enlightening. I have met some wonderful people who have taught me a great deal over the years and I am glad to pass this knowledge on in order to help more people navigate their sight loss journey” – Martin Heppell, Vision Rehabilitation Specialist

Student rehabilitation support is also available.

Support for Businesses

Our small team of experts, not only provide support to individuals, but to those organisations and businesses who offer services to them. If you have any questions on supporting the sensory impaired community then our team are able to provide Sensory Awareness Training or Environmental Audits if you require specialist, personalised support.

Contact YorSensory for further information