Visual Impairment
*Please note that the content of this section is being
reviewed and may change
What is a Visual Impairment?
Visual Impairment is a term used to
cover a vast range of sight problems. Whenever an eye is not
healthy or is not working normally and cannot be corrected by
ordinary means, sight is impaired.
If you lose your sight you will want
to make sure you know about all the help available. Few people
become blind suddenly. Most sight deteriorates gradually over
months or even years. For some people a number of activities may
become more difficult, but there are many services to help people
with a visual impairment.
In order to qualify for some of the
services available, it may be beneficial to be
registered as a person with a visual
impairment.
What is Registration?
We are required to keep a register of
people with a visual impairment, however registration is
voluntary.
There are two categories of
registration, ‘Severely Sight Impaired / Blind’ and ‘Sight Impaired
/ Partially Sighted’. In order to qualify for some of the
entitlements available, it is necessary to be registered as a
severely sight impaired/blind or sight impaired/partially sighted
person. However, any assistance we provide you with is not
dependant on registration.
Registration as a ‘Severally Sight
Impaired / Blind’ person does not necessarily imply a complete loss
of vision. Only a small percentage of ‘Severely Sight Impaired /
Blind’ people have a complete loss of sight. There are many
different eye conditions, and each can result in differing amounts
of visual loss.
How do I get registered?
The certificate of vision impairment
(CVI 2005) has to be completed by a Consultant Ophthalmologist (eye
specialist). If you are already attending an eye clinic, your eye
specialist may decide that you should qualify for registration and
will notify your local Social Services Department. If in doubt ask
the Specialist or contact your local Social Care Team.
If you are not attending a hospital
eye clinic you should contact your
GP
, who will refer you to the eye
clinic if necessary. You can also contact the Rehabilitation
Officer for People with Visual Impairment in Social Services for
advice.
At the eye clinic, you will be asked
to sign the certification form (CVI 2005) to indicate your
understanding of it and to give your consent to a copy being sent
to us.
When you are Registered
After we receive the form at Social
Services from your eye specialist, you will receive a visit from a
member of the Visual Impairment Service for People with a Visual
Impairment, who will advise you on the services and benefits
available.
Completion of Form CVI 2005 for
registration is purely voluntary but necessary if a visually
impaired person wishes to take advantage of certain benefits and
entitlements, as detailed below.
What is a Rehabilitation
Officer?
The aim of the specialist
Rehabilitation Officer is to enable visually impaired people to
lead independent lives. They can offer:
- Information to registered and unregistered visually impaired
people as a means of enabling them to adjust to their new
situation
- We can guide you where to get advice on rights and
benefits
- Teaching communication skills (e-g: use of large print,
Braille, Moon, keyboard skills, use of telephone and cassette
recorder, communication with Deaf-Blind people)
- Advice and training on all aspects of independent living (such
as using adapted cooker dials, pouring hot drinks etc...) and the
time and the opportunity to try out some of these new ideas without
feeling rushed
- Help with basic or completely independent mobility
- Advice on safety within the home and equipment to reduce
risk.
You can contact the
Rehabilitation Officer via the Social
Care Teams.