Visual impairment service
The visual impairment service supports you to live your best life and connect to your local community.
The service provides registration, rehabilitation and advice for those people who have a visual impairment or blindness.
Visual impairment register
The Visual Impairment Service maintains a register of people with visual impairments. There are 2 levels of registration: sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind).
By registering as visually impaired, you will:
- be known to the authority as having a visual impairment
- be directed to help and support that is available
- help the authority understand the number of people in the area with a visual impairment
- be entitled to claim a wide range of concessions (depending on level of registration)
- receive a registration card proving your registration status
- have opportunities to be consulted with in relation to the service being provided for the visual impairment service
You have a choice to join the register or not. It's voluntary, completely confidential and your details won’t be shared.
Assessment
The visual impairment service offers an assessment. During your assessment information is gathered about the background of your sight loss and the difficulties you could be having.
This is a two-way open discussion covering all areas of your life which your sight loss has an impact on.
Recommendations may include:
- the most up to date information in relation to equipment and technologies which may help you
- visual impairment equipment to help you walk independently
- individual rehabilitation programmes to teach you new techniques to live your best life with visual impairment
- specialist visual impairment equipment such as orientation and mobility aids, guide and long canes, liquid level indicato, bumpons
- specialist visual impairment adaptations such as lighting strips and yellow or white line edging to external steps
- Deafblind assessments to assess and support people with dual sensory loss
- support to apply for grants to obtain equipment such as reading devices
- support and signposting to other services which can support
Request an assessment
Call 0300 126 3000, and select Option 1, Option 2 and Option 2 to complete a referral over the phone.
Referrals can be made by yourself, family, carers, health and social care professionals.
Last updated 19 March 2024