title: Improving vision awareness in autism services: Evaluation of a dedicated education programme for support practitioners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The research reported here sought to evaluate whether a dedicated education programme in vision awareness improved the knowledge and skills of autism support practitioners in identifying visual impairment in autistic people with intellectual disabilities and providing better support to those individuals identified as visually impaired.
  
  
  METHODS
  Researchers undertook a mixed methods evaluation. A survey questionnaire was devised and administered before and after training and focus groups were undertaken in order to gain qualitative data relating how practitioners implemented their learning in practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge confidence and practice confidence scores of participants were significantly improved by the programme, which maintained its impact one year on. Practitioners reported increased access to optometry, changes to support practice and improvements to service environments as a result of the training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autism support practitioners' skills in identifying and supporting people with visual impairments were demonstrably enhanced through dedicated vision training.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Autism, Alloa, UK.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: RNIB Scotland, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butchart
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: RNIB Scotland, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.affiliation: RNIB Scotland, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Thanos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karatzias
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; intellectual disability; optometry; sight loss; social care; visual impairment