NDM8205 Welsh Conservatives Debate - Habilitation training for sight-impaired children

NDM8205 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes research from Guide Dogs Cymru suggesting that 2,000 sight-impaired children would benefit from habilitation training.

2. Further notes that habilitation training is vital for developing personal mobility, navigation and independent living skills for sight-impaired children.

3. Is disappointed that a number of Welsh local authorities do not offer habilitation training, despite their duty to have due regard to Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) urgently provide a workforce plan on habilitation services; and

b) ensure local authorities employ at least one habilitation specialist per 100 children who are visually impaired.

Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

3. Calls on all Welsh local authorities to offer habilitation training, in line with their duty to have due regard to Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to engage with relevant stakeholders to help develop an improvement plan for habilitation services for children who are visually impaired, to include consideration of their training needs and how to meet these.