Visual Impairment – guide to services
Advice page content
This information on services for people with visual impairment is to help get the right support at the right time from the right person.
It has been developed as a "Sight Loss Pathway"
Created by London Visual Impairment Forum (LVIF) - JAN 2014
This information was provided for Hackney's Local Offer in January 2015 by:
London Borough of Hackney
Sensory Team
Phone: 0208 356 5645
It has been reviewed and checked and the "services that can support" information
has also been updated and enhanced. (February 2017)
Stage 1 - Keeping your eyes healthy
Local eye health campaigns promote eye-health awareness and encourage you to visit your local Optician.
Optician that may do home visits for some children with SEND who need it.
Enhanced eye checks for people with Learning Disabilities:
Phone: 013 7275 5066
E-mail: myeyecare@seeability.org
Information on Opticians that monitor specific eye conditions and low vision.
Local Optical Committee (LOC)
Phone: 0208 776 5000
E-mail: admin@elcloc.org www.elcloc.org
Stage 2 - Concerns about your vision?
You, a family member or carer raises concerns about your sight, OR
Your Optometrist (optician) notes abnormality during regular eye test, OR
Your GP suspects loss of vision.
Stage 3 - How to get treatment for an eye condition:
Wherever possible your optician treats and/or monitors your eye condition, or a professional refers you to an Ophthalmologist who diagnoses your eye condition or Community Low Vision clinic for advice on low vision aids.
Community Care Advice:
Phone: 0208 356 6262
Information and Access team
E-mail: access@hackney.gov.uk
Hospital Low Vision Clinic/Ophthalmology Dept
Phone: 020 7253 3411
Email: info@moorfields.nhs.uk
Stage 4 - Children with a visual impairment
If you have a child with a visual impairment please contact the Visual Impairment Service at Hackney Learning Trust for support and advice about education including:
- Portage Service
- specialist resources
- mobility and independence skills
Phone: 0208 820 7326
E-mail: melanie.norton@learningtrust.co.uk
If your child is at college, school or nursery please also share the information that you have about their visual impairment with staff and meet the SENCo (Special Education Needs Co-ordinator) to discuss their needs.
Stage 5 - Registering as sight impaired or severely sight impaired:
You receive treatment. Most sight loss is treatable and preventable. Early treatment can make the difference.
If significant sight loss is permanent your Consultant ophthalmologist should offer to issue you with a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) appropriate to your level of vision.
This will indicate whether you can be registered as Sight Impaired or Severely Sight Impaired with your Local Authority.
Stage 6 - Support to help with registration:
A member of the Eye Clinic staff refers you to meet your Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) who guides you through the process of registration.
The ECLO advises you, your carer, or your advocate on support available outside the Hospital and how to access it.
Moorfields ECLO/CVI Team
Phone: 0207 566 2718
Stage 7 - About the benefits of registration:
Your CVI is sent by the Hospital to your Local Authority.
Your Local Authority contact you to confirm that you want to be included on their register and offer a sensory assessment of need.
Registration: the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)has information on the benefits of registration T: 0303 123 999 (RNIB Helpline)
Payments and Benefits Advice Service:
T: 0845 6043719
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk and RNIB
All households where one person is registered blind or sight impaired can register for 50% reduction on television license 0300 790 6165.
Stage 8 - Assessments of sensory needs:
Your sensory needs are assessed (Specialist Assessment of Visual Impairment).
They may be able to provide support at home with registration, mobility or independence skills.
Sensory Team (adults & children):
Phone: 0208 356 5645
E- mail: sensory.team@hackney.gov.uk
Stage 9 - Rehabilitation
You begin rehabilitation with local sensory team, if appropriate. A community care assessment can be offered if you have additional needs and Carers can be offered a carer’s assessment.
Phone: 020 8533 0951
E-mail: info@hackneycarers.org.uk
Stage 10 - Becoming independent:
You are enabled to live an active, independent, and fulfilling life.
Local user led support and activity group:
East London Vision (ELVis)
Phone: 0203 697 6464
E-mail: enquiries@eastlondonvision.org.uk
A comprehensive online database of VI services.
Enter postcode and it lists services in the area: (www.sightlinedirectory.org.uk)
Other organisations that can support people with vision impairment
Provides practical information for people with visual impairment, as well as information and the contact details for local groups and services. It is part of the RNIB Group.
Phone: 020 7635 4800
E-mail: helpline@rnib.org.uk
Home visiting service, telephone befriending and annual events for people with a visual impairment in the 13 inner London boroughs.
Phone: 020 7403 6184
E-mail: enquires@blindaid.org.uk
Helping children and young people with visual impairment.
Phone: 0800 781 1444
E-mail: services@blindchildrenuk.org
Provides physical and emotional support for ex-service men and women to enable them to live as independently as possible.
Phone: 020 7723 5021
E-mail: enquiries@blindveterans.org.uk
Specialises in supporting those experiencing dual sensory loss, in particular in enabling deaf blind individuals to communicate and express themselves to the wider world.
Tel/Textphone: 01733 358 100
E-mail: info@deafblind.org.uk
(inc. Blind Children UK):
Organises and trains dogs for the visual impaired, as a charity their primary interest lies in enabling the mobility of the visually impaired.
Phone: 0118 983 5555
E-mail: guidedogs@guidedogs.org.uk
Offers support and information on macular disease and central vision loss, and has branches throughout UK
Phone: 01264 350 551
E-mail: info@macularsociety.org
Provides equipment (such as magnifiers) and information (on matters such as lighting) for individuals to make the most of their remaining sight.
Phone: 0844 477 4966
E-mail: info@partsight.org.uk
(Royal Society for Blind Children)
The Royal Society for Blind Children believe in a better life for blind children. We are on a mission to make sure every single blind child has the self-belief and skills to fulfil the potential we know they’ve got.
This organisation is now based in hackney and provides a range of support to local residents with visula impairements.
RSBC - Employability Programme
Phone: 020 3198 0225
Email: enquiries@rsbc.org.uk
Address:
Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC)
52-58 Arcola Street
London
E8 2DJ
(Royal National Institute of Blind People)
Offers a telephone counselling service for those having difficulties coming to come to terms with their sight loss, as well as a wealth of practical information for parents, carers and the visually impaired people,
Phone: 0303 123 9999
E-mail: helpline@rnib.org.uk
A national charity supporting and campaigning for deafblind people.
Phone: 0300 330 9256 or 020 7520 0972
E-mail: info@sense.org.uk
Textphone: 0300 330 9256 or 020 7520 0972
Provides support for people who are visually impaired but also have other disabilities, such as mental health problems, mobility impairment or learning disabilities.
Phone: 01372 755 000
E-mail: enquiries@seeability.org
Housing and support for people with sight loss.
Research
Tele, Email & Link-Up Befriending schemes
Phone: 020 8995 0880
E-mail: info@pocklington-trust.org.uk
Created by London Visual Impairment Forum (LVIF) - (Jan 2014)
Phone: 07875 541155
E-mail: Sharon.schaffer@lvif.co.uk