Welcome to Habilitation VI UK
Striving to change the lives and aspirations of Children & Young People with a visual impairment
About us
We are the professional body for Habilitation Specialists in the UK, providing leadership and setting professional standards. We aim to support our members to help maximise the habilitation skills (orientation, mobility and independence skills) of children and young people with vision impairment.
We facilitate and promote research into the field of habilitation, promote better education and training of habilitation specialists around the UK, and provide information for our members and the public about the work we do. We represent the field at local and national level, and work closely with other organisations in the furtherance of our aims to promote habilitation and positively influence policy.
As an organisation we endorse and support the delivery of the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI). Habilitation VI UK holds the register for Qualified Habilitation Specialists (RQHS) who meet the required National Quality Standards for habilitation training. As part of registration RQHS are required to undertake regular relevant continued professional development, which keeps them apprised of legislation changes, good practice and developments in the field.
Membership Benefits
Included in your membership
- Access to a wide range of curriculum resources, through the website member pages.
- Access to a broad range of local and national HAB VI UK approved CPD, including online Level 2 Food Hygiene
- Opportunities to attend an annual national conference at a substantially reduced fee.
- Access to Knowledge Exchange online membership driven CPD.
- HabVIUK newsletters
- Access to advice, help and support from a Regional Rep, who also organises local CPD training and meetings each year. Local issues can be escalated to the HabVIUK Executive
- Option to be placed on the Register of Qualified Habilitation Specialists once the relevant qualifications are attained and the probationary period is completed.
- Opportunity to become part of the largest network of Habilitation Professionals in the UK
- Opportunity to promote the profession and influence policy.
- Access to a closed members Facebook group providing further resources, opportunities for discussion and support, links and legislative updates.
What is Habilitation?
Habilitation training is provided to children and young people with vision impairments (CYPVI) aged between 0 and 25. Habilitation is an integral component of the Curriculum Framework for CFVI.
Parents & Carers
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine what is best for your child and where to go for advice and support.
Training Courses
There are now two main entry qualifications into the profession of Habilitation Specialists, and these are the only qualifications recognised by Habilitation VI UK
Latest News
Hab VI UK Conference 2025 – Tickets selling fast! 29 Jan 2025 Do you need a bit of extra support/reassurance with how you teach independence skills or is it a breeze? Are you confident with zips through to air fryers and toilet training through to periods? Do you struggle to teach laces to a blind child, or can you do it with your eyes closed? Fiona Broadley's… Continue reading...
Research – Experiences of Mental Health and Education in Young People with Vision Impairment 14 Jul 2024 My name is Grace Sayers-Mcgowan. I am inviting you to take part in my dissertation research “Experiences of Mental Health and Education in Young People with Vision Impairment”. I am a master’s student at UCL’s Institute of Education, where I am studying Educational Psychology. I come from a teaching background and have worked with children… Continue reading...EVENTS
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2025 Habilitation VI UK Conference!
Stay tuned for details of next year’s conference!
