Not sure what services are available locally? Lance Clark describes a national body that provides information on locally available services for those with visual impairment at a time when such provision is still very variable and erratic
The days of consigning a blind person to isolation and a white stick are long gone. Today the aim of most local societies is to help them remain independent and socially included. The range of services delivered varies from charity grants, low vision equipment and volunteer support in the home to training in the use of specially adapted software on personal computers. Our task is to ensure that everyone who needs our help is fully informed of the choices open to them for the future. Without us they would never get to know.
In many cases, but predominantly the medium to large local societies, the charitable ethos is harnessed with a strong professional business approach. Local societies exist for charitable purposes, but still have to meet the high standards required of human resource management, health and safety at work, finance and much more. They also need to deal sensitively with volunteers, campaign on issues, and organise fundraising activities. Importantly, they deal on a daily basis with people who need advice, support and sometimes training.
setting standards
The total of blind and partially sighted people supported by local societies throughout the UK is in the region of 350,000. The National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired people (NALSVI) oversees and represents over 120 member societies in the UK. As a body, we encourage best practice and help smaller societies to increase their skills. We also get involved in setting common standards for local society services and this includes a common approach to delivering 'visual awareness and sighted guide training' for statutory and commercial organisations.
Interestingly, charities are increasingly becoming involved in the delivery of professional services of all kinds, but predominantly rehabilitation in a community environment. This includes working with people at the point of diagnosis and/or registration to identify and meet their sight-related needs. It is very important that people are aware as soon as possible of the services, equipment, training and benefits available to enable them to live safely and independently.
The rehabilitation worker will assess the person as fully as possible, taking into account their surroundings, their general state of health and personal situation. For example, are they still working (or do they wish to) and are they able to manage at home, or are they in danger of being isolated? Following that assessment, a rehabilitation programme is drawn up with the person concerned and then training begins. Training may include independent living skills in the home. This requires the rehabilitation worker to assess the environment, particularly lighting, and if necessary to call on statutory or charity resources to improve the situation.
It is important to ensure that the person concerned has attended a low vision clinic and has benefited from the use of the equipment and training. Sometimes people need more advanced equipment such as CCTVs and they will be helped towards a sensible and cost-effective solution. Mobility and route training are also provided and the correct and safe use of sticks and canes is essential. Sometimes people benefit from the use or monocular devices to enhance their independence and this leads to more specialised training.
We believe that services delivered from a charity base ensure that many gaps are closed between statutory social care and charity in support of the person with a visual impairment. It is important that we maintain contact with the person and help them to make important choices about their future.
It is the time gap after medical diagnosis that most concerns us. In this context you will find a large number of volunteer and professional staff employed by charities situated in hospital eye clinics. It is this gap - the time when someone is most vulnerable and frightened - between hospital and charity and social care that needs to be closed. People need quick advice and support about the choices they can make for the future. That is why local societies enthusiastically support low vision service committees that were set up to bring together all professionals, local optometric committees, ophthalmologists, optometrists, social and rehabilitation workers and so on. Joint working to ensure full understanding of the jigsaw puzzle of service provision is essential to help us all form the services for the future.
care pathways
Interestingly, the Department of Health (DoH) initiative to replace the existing registration document (BD8) with new 'certificates and letters' forwarded from the point of first contact so as to create new, quicker pathways to social care did not get off to the best of starts. In many areas, local societies have worked well with hospital eye clinics and local optometric committees to help to introduce the new paperwork when the time is right and improve the systems with the minimum of delay or confusion. The national picture for eye care and visual impairment, whether it is in Scotland, Northern Ireland or England and Wales, is changing fast and largely for the better. This is why it is important for all agencies to know more about each other so as to avoid duplication and to work together for a brighter future.
Remember that there is a local society in your area and anything that you can do to support them or take an interest in their work is a bonus to the people they represent. If you want to know more or locate your nearest local society, and I sincerely hope that you do, then please don't hesitate to contact the NALSVI.
For more information, contact NALSVI administrator Sue Ferguson on 01904 671921 or go to on www.nalsvi.org.uk
Lance Clarke is the CEO of the Surrey Association for Visual Impairment, a large local society that supports the needs of blind and partially sighted people as well as those with a combined sight and hearing loss. He is also chairman of NALSVI