Qualifications: BSc Orthoptics, Glasgow Caledonian University (July 1998), Further and Adult Education Teachers Certificate, Newcastle College (June 2001), Postgraduate Diploma in Ophthalmology, Middlesex University (June 2006), Low Vision Training (Optima), Bradford Teaching Hospitals (2008), Postgraduate Certificate in Health Research, Leeds University (April 2012)
My main role is to organise and run the Visual Assessment service at Waddiloves Health Centre, which is a specialist health centre designed to meet the health needs of adults with learning difficulties in the Bradford and Keighley areas.
I carry out an assessment of functional vision using the Bradford Visual Function box, conventional orthoptic tests, red reflex, pupils and auto-refraction on service users who are not able to easily access mainstream high street optician services. Assessments are catered to the needs of the individual using reasonable adjustments including desensitisation.
Assessments are done at the health centre, The Oaks in Keighley, resource centres and at home (if the person has difficulty accessing external services) and as inpatients at Lynfield Mount Hospital.
I am also part of the Low Vision team, which gives advice on techniques which can aid low vision and how best to assess patients with a sight impairment to see if suitable low-vision aids can help them. This clinic runs at Westwood Park Hospital.
I also carry out conventional orthoptic assessments at Bradford Royal Infirmary, Airedale Hospital and Skipton Hospital.
Professional interests
- Visual assessment of non-verbal people with moderate to severe learning difficulties
- Visual assessment of people on the autistic spectrum
- Low vision assessment
- Co- creator of the Bradford Visual Function Box (BVFB)