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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 Access 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 the Rehabilitation Officer 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:
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Information to registered and unregistered visually impaired people as a means of enabling them to adjust to their new situation
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We can guide you where to get advice on rights and benefits
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Teaching communication skills (e-g: use of large print, Braille, Moon, keyboard skills, use of telephone and cassette recorder, communication with Deaf-Blind people)
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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
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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 Access Teams.
Download All About The Visual Impairment Service Leaflet
Download Do You Have a Sight Problem |