Low vision aids
“Each local Social Services department has a statutory responsibility to provide services for the partially-sighted and the blind”
Low vision aids help maintain or restore independence and self – esteem and these are a few: -
- Magnifiers, hand held, or on a stand, with or without illumination.
- Spectacles and head – borne magnifiers.
- Closed circuit TV systems (CCTV) magnify print up to 60 times. (If needed for work, the Employment Services provides the equipment).
- Large print books.
- Braille and Moon – embossed script.
- Reading machines.
- Large – print typewriters but more modern PC systems are superseding these, with special software, graphics and speech systems.
- Radios (free permanent loan).
- Sound – only TV’s.
- Cassettes (“talking book service”).
- Extra lighting.
- Mobility training.
- White stick (available through RNIB – the Royal National Institute for the Blind).
- Sonic aids – to warn of obstacles.
- Guide dogs (available for registered blind) person over the age of 17).
- Concessions.
- Free bus and underground passes.
- Taxi service.
- Disabled person’s railcard.
- Free escorts (through the British Red Cross).
- Train company will arrange for people with visual impairment to be accompanied to trains.
This list is not exhaustive.