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.