Each person is unique, and each disability affects each person differently. The information in this section is a very simple overview of some common disabilities. It is aimed to provide a starting point for more research. Use the assessment tools to learn as much as you can about the individual. The person with the disability and/or their caregiver will understand their abilities better than anyone else.

Detached retina is a serious eye condition characterised by the separation of the retina from the underlying layers of the eye, disrupting the visual pathway and potentially leading to vision loss if left untreated.

This condition can occur when the vitreous humour, the gel-like substance within the eye, pulls away from the retina, causing small tears or holes that allow fluid to accumulate beneath the retina.

Symptoms of a detached retina may include:

• Sudden onset of floaters.
• Flashes of light.
• A curtain-like shadow across the field of vision.

Individuals with diabetes are at increased risk of developing a specific type of retinal detachment due to the formation of scar tissue on weakened blood vessel linings.