New Research Stands to Improve Sight Tests for People with Learning Disabilities
News release: October 25th 2012
Contact: Monica Cornforth, 07811 147192
EMBARGO: Immediate
New Research Stands To Improve Sight Tests for People with Learning Disabilities
New research commissioned by Kay Pictures stands to significantly improve sight tests for people with learning disabilities.
The Kay Picture test was originally developed to measure visual acuity in young children who don’t know their letters with pictures rather than letters. But this system is also very useful for adults with learning disabilities.
People with a learning disability are 10 times more likely to have serious sight problems than others and this system of picture recognition has proved invaluable in sight tests for making eye care easier to access.
SeeAbility works with adults with learning disabilities raising the awareness of the importance of eye care through their eye 2 eye Campaign. Hazel Kay of Kay Pictures approached SeeAbility to help with research to check the pictures were easily recognised and identified by the people who would be using the test.
During August Laura Christie, SeeAbility’s eye 2 eye Manager for Yorkshire and the Humber worked with people 47 people with a range of mild to moderate learning disabilities in the research supported by Under the Stars and The Burton Street Foundation in Sheffield.
The aim was to ensure the pictures would be instantly recognisable as one object, to reduce any confusion during an eye test. Those who took part found some pictures easy to identify through speaking or signing like fish, duck, scissors, cat or house. But some pictures were less easy to decipher – a picture of a truck was sometimes called a van, car, tractor or lorry. A sock was sometimes mistaken for a shoe or foot.
Hazel Kay of Kay Pictures comments, “The feedback from the people Laura worked with is extremely valuable and will help us to make sure we use the right pictures in the final test.”
All the pictures were originally created with young children in mind but when asked most of the participants felt that the images were appropriate for adults too as they were easy to identify what they were. These pictures are also relevant for people with no verbal communication as they can, in some cases, recognise the pictures and point out the correct one from a matching card when prompted.
Dave Clarson, Managing Director of the Burton Street Foundation says, “It’s fantastic that Laura included the people who use our activities in the research. It was a learning curve for many of the staff too who didn’t know about alternative eye testing methods for people who can’t read.”
Laura Christie concludes, “It was really interesting hearing everyone’s responses. I met some amazing people and learnt a lot of new Makaton signs! The Kay Picture test makes eye care more accessible for people with learning disabilities who are most at risk of having sight problems.”
For more details of the tests and equipment available from Kay Pictures visit
For more information about training about eye care for people who have a learning disability visit or contact Laura Christie on
ENDS
Notes to editors
- SeeAbility is the operating name for The Royal School for the Blind, a national charity, with over 200 years of experience in supporting people who are blind or partially sighted and have additional disabilities. We currently operate a range of services in Bristol, Devon, East Sussex, Hampshire, Humberside, Kent, London, Somerset, Surrey and Yorkshire.
- SeeAbility offers a wide range of specialised residential, community and rehabilitation services for people with a visual impairment and additional disabilities, providing each individual with the support they need to develop essential life skills for greater independence and a fulfilling life.
- SeeAbility's eye 2 eye Campaign is transforming eye care and vision for people with a learning disability through access to information and low vision support.
- SeeAbility is a member of UK Vision Strategy and Eye Health Alliance which promote awareness of and the importance of regular accessible sight tests.
- SeeAbility's Head Office is based in Epsom, Surrey. For further information call 01372 755000 or visit