I've been diagnosed with a visual impairment......
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Middlesex Association for the Blind
Registered Charity Number 207007
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Losing sight is a tough prospect and discovering who can offer the right advice or getting help can be difficult. The following has been created to help you find you way through. Below are straightforward answers to some common questions and links to places where you can find out more. Don't forget to navigate to the borough web page on our website relevant to the borough that you live in by using the links at the top of the page.
Also, refer to our web page with useful contact numbers as this has contact details of organisations locally and nationally as well as web pages by, or for, blind and partially sighted people.
Who can help?
How will I manage my daily life at home?
Can I still drive?
What can I do about the difficulty of reading?
I'm finding it difficult to see the TV, what can I do?
Is this the end of my social life?
It'll be difficult to go on holiday!
What benefits are available?
Where can I get more information or advice?
What do the different Health Professionals do?
Safety In the Home
What is Direct Payments?
Sight loss is very individual and you need to consult your eye specialist for information about your specific eye condition.
However, only a very small percentage of people who are registered blind actually have no sight. Most have some useful vision.
Organisations like the RNIB produce useful information about eye conditions and these are available either direct from the RNIB, from one of the MAB's MidSight Hospital Information points or you can pick them up if you visit one of MAB's Resource Centres.
Often, when people discover that they have a serious eye condition, they may experience a range of emotions. At this time it is essential to have support from family and friends. You and your family may experience all sorts of feelings, including loss, grief, fear and denial. However, because this has happened to others before, there is much support and experience to call on, which you may find of some comfort.
An optometrist (see What do the different Health Professionals do? for an explanation of what they do) is the only person who can answer this. If you find an optometrist who specialises in low vision - the professional term for those with seriously impaired sight - they will know about other types of assistance, such as magnifiers and special glasses that may help. There are often low vision clinics at eye hospitals, where specialist devices may be issued free of charge: ask you GP or eye doctor to refer you. Some high street opticians also specialise in low vision, but their services may not be covered by NHS funding.
If you choose to become registered, you are entitled to a free eye test every year. It is important to continue with these examinations to detect any changes in the health of your eyes. Tests can also indicate if different glasses or magnifiers are needed.
Different situations may have a big effect on what you can see. This includes:
You can often improve how much you can see while trying to read, or improve your safety in the kitchen or on stairs, by getting advice from a rehabilitation worker. You can also minimise the effects of glare - your local low vision clinic or optometrist (optician) should be able to advise. What do the different Health Professionals do?
All of these are MYTHS, and no evidence has been found to substantiate any such causes.
In the UK, various services for visually impaired people are provided by local government and by voluntary organisations. Most people will find they need both at some time. Obviously, as you are reading this page on our website, you have already started that search for information for yourself. The MAB has a dedicated helpline on 020 8429 7110 so please call us if you require some guidance or advice at a local level.
There are various laws that entitle people with serious sight loss to the following from their local government agency:
These statutory services should be provided by your local Social Services Department (Social Work office in Scotland, Health & Social Services Board in N Ireland). In practice the service is patchy, and you may have to be persistent to get the service you are entitled to.
When organised well, these services can be extremely useful. Many local agencies (the MAB included) employ Early Intervention and rehabilitation workers for visually impaired people, who are trained to be experts in a wide range of matters to do with becoming as independent as possible.
Look up Social Services in the phone book, or its equivalent in your part of the UK, or ask for contact information at your local library or post office.
Most towns or counties have at least one local society or association for blind people. The services they provide, and the manner in which they work together to provide these, varies a great deal across the UK. If you live in one of the following boroughs, Barnet, Brent, Enfield, Ealing, Haringey, Harrow, Hounslow, Hillingdon or Richmond, then all you need to do is phone the MAB helpline on 020 8429 7110.
To find out what is available in your area (if you live outside the areas that the MAB covers) look up Blind in the phone book, or ask for contact information at your local library or Social Services office. Alternatively, you can find information from the RNIB helpline 0845 766 9999 or the RNIB website's list of support organisations
Your local authority Social Services department will usually employ a specialist known as a Rehabilitation Worker for visually impaired people, who can offer you a range of practical advice on managing at home. This might include:
There is a surprisingly wide range of special equipment and simple gadgets available to help you to carry out many day to day tasks, from pouring a hot drink to adjusting the cooker controls or telling the time.
The largest range is available from RNIB, who sell by mail order, from their website and through local organisations. Why not make an appointment to visit one of the MAB's four Resource Centres you'll be made very welcome and you will also have the opportunity to view their stock of daily living aids and low vision equipment available on display.
There are many opportunities available to you to either continue working in your current job or to re-train or perhaps make a career change. The most important thing is not to give up your present job without getting specialist advice, no matter how bleak things seem.
Contact your local Access to Work (Disabled Employment) advisor based at your local Job Centre Plus, who will be able to tell you about the special equipment that can help in a surprisingly wide range of situations, and the government scheme that can pay for much of it.
If may be that you will need to retrain to use the computer with the aid of either a screen magnifier or screen reader. Why not have a look at our Computer Training pages?
It can feel like a huge loss when you are faced with the possibility of not driving any more. Ask your consultant at the eye clinic to give you a clear explanation of how you stand in this regard.
Take your consultant's advice and read our Driving and Visual Impairment page for details, further reading and who to contact in this regard. Alternatively, you can read the information for driving licence holders set out by the DVLA.
There are a range of transport and independent mobility options that are available to you.
Social Services employ specially trained Early Intervention and/or rehabilitation workers who can provide information on these options. They also offer advice and instruction to enable you to maintain your independence. This includes training to use a cane or own a guide dog.
We have lots of advice about transport and travel on our dedicated Travel page. Alternatively, if you're interested in holidays in the UK or further abroad, check out our dedicatedHolidays page.
There are various options available that may enable you to read. These range from simple magnifiers to closed circuit televisions (CCTV) which enlarge print onto a screen. Specialist computer software allows print to be enlarged or read aloud. Most equipment can be demonstrated and purchased at your nearest resource centre. However, magnifiers are usually available free from your local eye clinic or low vision centre.
Carefully selected and adjusted lighting can also make a big difference to your ability to read or carry out tasks at work or home.
Many books, magazines and newspapers are available on disk or tape or for download.
If you're reading this website, you're using a computer that's connected to the internet and that means you could be reading e-books!
What's an e-book? An e-book (for electronic book: also ebook: also ecobook) is the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book. Such documents are usually read on personal computers, or on dedicated hardware devices known as e-book readers or e-book devices. Readers who have difficulty reading print books can benefit from the adjustment of text size and font face. Text-to-speech software can be used to automatically convert e-books to audio books. In addition, some e-books devices allow reading in low light or even total darkness, with a back-lit device.
Well, I'm interested in finding out more - how do I find them?
There are a lot of resources to be found on the web. However, to start you off, here are a few links:-
Project Gutenberg, the first producer of free electronic books, has a library of 20,000 free ebooks whose copyright has expired in the USA Book listings. From Project Gutenberg's main page you can browse both online and offline catalogues, view the top 100 downloads or do an advanced search if you have a specific category in mind.
Camera Obscura
This unique and well devised web page (by a person with a visual impairment) boasts an electronic text archive.
These web pages are a mine of useful links to further reading and resources for anyone with a visual impairment. The site calls itself "the womb without a view..." and you would be advised to bookmark the Camera Obscura site for future study!
Free e-books
This site has links for numerous web sites where you can find e-book downloads. At their Free e-books main page do read their advice regarding pop up ads and the need to use your own discretion when opening these.
Well, you could consider trying a large magnifier which sits in front of your TV screen. In practice, however, these are of limited use since positioning the magnifier can be difficult and the magnification won't suit all types of sight loss.
In order to benefit from audio described programmes, your TV will need to receive digital TV. The cheapest way of doing this is by buying a Freeview digital box (£20 or more from Argos). Once Freeview is set up, AD is one of the options freely available. If you are already a Sky or Virgin Media subscriber, you can use your remote control to turn this service on.
You can read more information on the RNIB's AD FAQ page which gives details about all the ways you can receive AD programmes and contact details if you have any queries.
You will still need a TV license if you have digital TV. However the RNIB page above offers advice on how to obtain a blind concession TV licence.
There are many activities you can still continue to enjoy. For many people their social life doesn't change at all and in some cases it actually improves.
Depending on what you like to do you may find that small adjustments enable you to continue. Magnifiers come in all shapes and sizes to enlarge reading books and even ones that are on a stand so you can knit, sew or do crafts. Equally, you could put your mobile phone under the CCTV so that you can magnify the phone screen to read or send texts.
If you don't live in one of the areas that we cover, why not contact your local voluntary organisation, who should have a list of clubs, organisations and activities available in your area for visually impaired people.
if you're registered blind, you can apply for a card entitling you to a free ticket for your companion when you visit the cinema. Even if you're not registered blind, you can still apply for a card if you are in receipt of disability living allowance or attendance allowance. For more details, go to http://www.ceacard.co.uk/ where you can download an application form to print out and complete. Alternatively, you can contact them by telephone on 0845 123 1292.
Following on from the above, why not have a look at Blindspots which is a website of movie reviews for Visually Impaired People. A simple-to-use site it lists films showing the standard movie ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, et cetera) along with Blindspots' Visually Impaired Person (VIP) ratings.
If you enjoy sports, have a look at the range of British Blind Sport you can take part in!
Alternatively, if the Theatre/Drama/Arts is more your cup of tea, then why not find out about audio described performances.
No, of course it won't. In spite of your visual impairment, you'll still be able to enjoy a holiday, either with your family, away by yourself or going as part of an organised trip.
There's more details for holiday options on our Holidays page.
What is available depends on where you live, your financial circumstances, and if in some cases, if you are registered as blind or partially sighted.
The possibilities are quite extensive, including:
Free or discounted bus and train passes, half price TV licence, free sight tests, Blue badge parking scheme, increased income tax allowance, Disability Living or Attendance Allowance, reduced admission charges to many places of interest, public facilities, free directory enquiries etc.
Action for Blind People have produced a series of Welfare Rights Fact Sheets.
You may qualify to be registered as either blind or partially sighted. Becoming registered may help to speed up the support you can get from your local council in coping with the practical aspects of daily living that may be difficult. You may also be entitled to a number of financial benefits and concessions. You should ask your eye specialist if you qualify to be registered: he or she will complete a form CVI if you do.
Becoming registered is voluntary, and if you choose not to, you will still be able to claim a number of services, benefits and concessions based on your inability to see properly. Anyone with poor vision qualifies for an assessment of needs from their local authority, whether they are registered or not, so this is a good place to start.
You may be finding some things more difficult to do than you used to. An assessment of needs will highlight areas where you may need help to keep you safe and independent. You should contact your local Social Services Department and ask for an assessment. If you live alone or you may be at risk for any reason, you are likely to be given priority. Usually you will be visited at home.
Yes you can. Many people find it of great benefit and support to talk to someone else who has had to face up to these changes in their life. The MAB has a Telephone Helpline offering free advice and information. The majority of our helpline staff are visually impaired.
Perhaps you would benefit from our Home Visiting Service?
People in similar situations to you have benefited from joining support groups. There are several types of groups, for example, for those who have Macular Degeneration. There are also many self-help groups which may include advice / guidance for family and friends. Alternatively, why not consider becoming a Volunteer for MAB? In this way, you can actively use the knowledge and skills that you have acquired to help someone else.
Most towns and regions have a local voluntary organisation for visually impaired and blind people. The best way to find these, (if you don't live in an area that MAB covers) is to ask at your library, consult the telephone directory (look under Blind), ring the RNIB helpline, or checking the RNIB website list of voluntary organisations (the RNIB contact details have been mentioned previously on this page).
All these are common questions that people who have been told there is something wrong with their eyes often ask. If you want to know more - and perhaps the answers to these questions - then the first thing you need to find out is the name of your eye condition.
Normally a specialist eye doctor - known as an ophthalmologist - should diagnose your particular eye problem and tell you what is wrong. If you haven't seen an ophthalmologist yet, ask your own doctor (GP) if he will refer you to one.
Once you have the name of your particular eye condition, it is much easier to find out more. Asking your own doctor or eye specialist is a good starting point, but if you want more detailed information, the internet is an especially rich source of useful information. Some of this is provided by doctors or eye hospitals: other information can be found from people with the same or similar eye conditions as yourself. We have a dedicated page of contact numbers where you can find details for local and national organisations' websites.
You've probably found that there's a bewildering array of medical jargon including the different types of eye specialists you may have come in contact with. So you can better understand the role they play in the diagnosis and care of your sight condition, we've listed the eye specialists with a brief description of their speciality.
Deteriorating eyesight means that simple tasks, like reading the label on a food tin or making a cup of tea, become chores and sometimes dangerous ones.
If you can't see the boiling water pouring from the kettle into your coffee mug, how will you know when to stop pouring? If you need to prepare food, can you use the kitchen scales or chop vegetables safely?
The MAB has 5 Resource Centres and these are located in Barnet, Enfield, Harrow, Hounslow and Richmond, where you can get advice about equipment that will keep you safe in your home, whilst staying independent.
We want you to be safe and sound. That's why we're hoping you'll contact the London Fire Brigade because they're carrying out free home fire safety visits in your borough. They will also fit a free smoke alarm where needed.
If you would like a visit or would like to arrange a free home fire safety visit on behalf of a member of your family or a friend please check with them first and then contact us by:
Fires in the home are the main cause of fire deaths. Their campaign targets vulnerable people at boroughs throughout London where fires and fire deaths are high.
Getting a smoke alarm, regularly testing and maintaining it, as well as planning your escape route in the event of a fire can dramatically decrease the risk of death or serious injury.
If you'd like to consider using Direct Payments you can read an overview of the scheme so you can decide whether to apply for it.
Please go to Advice to read about benefits and concessions that you may be entitled to.
I've been diagnosed with a visual impairment......
Middlesex Association for the Blind
Registered Charity Number 207007
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