TOR: Consultancy for Development of a Daily Living Skills Manual for Children and Young Persons with Visual Impairment

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy for Development of a Daily Living Skills Manual for Children and Young Persons with Visual Impairment

1. Background

Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN) is a youth-led organization working to promote the rights, inclusion, empowerment and meaningful participation of children and young persons with disabilities, with a particular focus on persons who are blind or partially sighted.

Children and young persons with visual impairment may face barriers in acquiring various skills that are commonly learned through observation and everyday experiences. These may include personal care, communication, social interaction, confidence, household activities, decision-making, self-advocacy and participation in family, educational, social and professional environments.

To support greater independence, confidence and meaningful participation of children and young persons with visual impairment, BYAN intends to develop a practical and accessible Daily Living Skills Manual. The manual will provide structured guidance on key skills relevant to everyday life and will be useful for children and young persons with visual impairment, parents/caregivers, teachers, trainers and other relevant stakeholders.

BYAN therefore seeks to engage a qualified consultant to develop the manual within a period of 15 working days.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a practical, accessible and user-friendly Daily Living Skills Manual that supports children and young persons with visual impairment to develop skills for greater independence, confidence, communication, social participation and everyday decision-making.

3. Objectives

The consultancy aims to:

1. Identify and organize key daily living skills relevant to children and young persons with visual impairment.
2. Develop practical and age-appropriate content that promotes independence, confidence, communication and social participation.
3. Ensure that the manual is disability-inclusive, accessible and relevant to the Nepali context.

4. Scope of Work

The consultant will:

• Review relevant existing resources and good practices on daily living/independent living skills for persons with visual impairment.
• Consult with BYAN and selected relevant stakeholders to identify key content and contextual requirements.
• Develop the structure and content of the manual.
• Prepare practical guidance, examples and activities where appropriate.
• Incorporate accessibility and inclusive design principles throughout the manual.
• Revise the draft based on feedback from BYAN.
• Submit the final editable and accessible version of the manual.

5. Key Topics

The manual is expected to cover key areas of daily living skills, including but not limited to:

1. Personal Care and Hygiene
2. Personal Presentation and Grooming
3. Communication Skills
4. Socialization and Interpersonal Skills
5. Self-confidence and Personality Development
6. Household and Domestic Skills
7. Time and Personal Management
8. Money and Basic Financial Management
9. Food Preparation and Safety
10. Technology and Digital Skills
11. Mobility, Safety and Emergency Preparedness
12. Decision-making and Problem-solving
13. Self-advocacy and Requesting Support
14. Social Etiquette and Public Participation
15. Education, Employment and Workplace-related Skills

The consultant may propose adjustments to the topics based on the review of existing resources and consultation with BYAN.

6. Methodology

The consultant is expected to use a simple and participatory approach comprising:

• Desk review of relevant resources;
• Consultation with BYAN and selected experts/stakeholders;
• Development of the proposed structure and draft content;
• Review and feedback from BYAN; and
• Finalization of the manual.

The process should ensure that the manual reflects the practical experiences and needs of children and young persons with visual impairment and is appropriate to the Nepali context.

7. Expected Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to submit:

Deliverable 1: Proposed Structure and Workplan

• Proposed outline of the manual;
• Key thematic areas; and
• Brief workplan.

Deliverable 2: Draft Manual

A complete draft of the Daily Living Skills Manual covering the agreed thematic areas.

Deliverable 3: Final Manual

A revised and finalized manual incorporating feedback from BYAN.

The final manual should preferably be submitted in an accessible, editable Microsoft Word format, with appropriate headings, accessible tables and alternative text for meaningful images/graphics.

8. Duration

The consultancy will be completed within 15 working days from the date of signing the agreement.

Indicative Timeline

The detailed schedule may be adjusted in consultation with BYAN.

9. Required Qualification and Experience

The consultant should have:

• Master's degree or equivalent in Disability Studies, Special Education, Rehabilitation, Psychology, Education, Social Work, Development Studies or a relevant field.
• At least 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in disability, visual impairment, rehabilitation, education, life skills or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience in developing manuals, guidelines, training materials or similar resources.
• Good understanding of the needs and experiences of persons with visual impairment.
• Good understanding of accessibility and inclusive communication.
• Strong writing and communication skills in English.

Experience working with or having lived experience of visual impairment will be an advantage.

10. Supervision and Coordination

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of BYAN and coordinate with the designated focal person throughout the assignment.

BYAN will provide relevant available resources, facilitate necessary consultations and provide feedback on the draft manual.

11. Ownership and Copyright

All materials and the final manual developed under this consultancy will be the property of Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN). The consultant shall not reproduce or use the materials for other purposes without prior written approval from BYAN.

12. Proposal Requirements

Interested consultants are requested to submit:

• Updated CV;
• Brief technical proposal, including understanding of the assignment and proposed approach;
• Proposed workplan for the 15-day assignment;
• Financial proposal; and
• Examples of relevant previous work, if available.

13. Application

Interested and qualified consultants are requested to submit their application to:

Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN)
Kathmandu, Nepal
Email: [email protected]
Deadline: 28^th September, 2026

Subject: Application for Consultancy – Development of Daily Living Skills Manual

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.