Working Collaboratively to Support Blind and Partially Sighted Students

The Education Team at Thomas Pocklington Trust work closely with blind and partially sighted students, their families and professionals to provide high quality, direct support to improve student outcomes. This session will focus on how participants can develop their knowledge and understanding of how to support blind and partially sighted students within FE/HE settings. There will be opportunities to share experiences and best practise with other NADP professionals as well as a more in depth look at example case studies and policy work delivered by Thomas Pocklington Trust. The session will reflect on what is considered reasonable and give concrete examples of how to work effectively with other departments to support blind and partially students.

Nicole Bassett

Nicole Bassett is the Student Support Service Manager at Thomas Pocklington Trust managing the service delivery of information, advice and guidance to blind and partially sighted students and the parents/carers and professionals that support them.

Nicole has over ten years’ experience in Disability and Wellbeing Services in Further and Higher Education developing and embedding inclusive support services for UK and international students. She is a senior accredited member of NADP and has a post graduate certificate in Social Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH) in children and young people. Her professional aim is to foster inclusivity and accessibility for blind and partially students through advocacy and awareness raising.

Donna Korn-Morris

Donna Korn Morris is the Education Training and Projects Coordinator at Thomas Pocklington Trust. Her work specialises in delivering training to a range of professionals, from secondary, Further Education, Higher Education, Careers and Disability specialists. 

Prior to joining TPT Donna was a teacher for 35 years. Specialising early on in her career as a teacher English as an Additional Language (EAL) in a large multicultural secondary school, then for 6 years as the Head of Language and Curriculum Development. She then specialised in specific learning difficulties, focusing on EAL and dyslexia teaching.  Donna became a Qualified Teacher of Visual impairment (QTVI) in 2001 and worked with blind and partially sighted children and young people for 22 years. As a Senior QTVI she led on Secondary and Post 16 education in a local authority.