Blind and partially sighted people across the UK will benefit from a unique directory of the services available to them, published by Guide Dogs. The guide has been produced by the charity in support of the UK Vision Strategy. The comprehensive guide gives blind and partially sighted people, and their families and carers, a way to quickly and easily find out what social, health and rehabilitation services and support from voluntary groups is available in their area. Organisations and professionals who support people with sight loss can use it to signpost their clients to helpful services.
Katherine Harrison, who provides information on services to blind and partially-sighted people in her area, and is visually-impaired herself, said: “For someone diagnosed with sight loss, the information in this guide could give them just what they were looking for to get started. I can see that it might be the starting point of a very exciting journey.”
Published in sections by UK region, with hyperlinked contents pages, the guide is available to access online via the Guide Dogs website and also from a link on the UK Vision Strategy website. This enables people to reach the information and contact details they need in just a few clicks.
The Guide to Services for Blind and Partially Sighted People supports Guide Dogs’ new strategy, which is centred on the mobility journey – empowering blind and partially-sighted people to get where they want to be.
Bridget Warr, Guide Dogs’ chief executive, said: “The journey through sight loss can be difficult and frustrating. The anxiety and loss of confidence many people experience around the time of diagnosis can prevent them moving on to live a full, independent life. Knowing what support is available, and how to access it, can make all the difference. This guide aims to improve awareness of and access to services – and therefore outcomes for individuals. It will also provide useful information for a whole range of organisations in referring people on and in planning their own services.”
The document has hyperlinked contents pages, and is available in JAWS-friendly Word format, ensuring that blind and partially-sighted people can easily access it. Copies of the guide will also be made available on CD ROM for people who do not have access to the internet.
Angela Tinker, chief executive of Visionary – linking local sight loss charities (previously NALSVI – National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People), said: “This guide will really help visually-impaired people, their families and carers directly. It will also help local charities to help them more easily too.”
Guide Dogs commissioned this Guide to Services as part of its commitment and contribution to the UK Vision Strategy, which has three aims: to improve eye health in the UK; to eliminate avoidable sight loss; and to ensure blind and partially sighted people are integrated in all aspects of society.
About Guide Dogs
Guide Dogs, the working name for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, was founded in 1934 to help blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else.
The charity receives no government funding and relies on voluntary and legacy income.
In 2009 Guide Dogs produced 760 guide dog partnerships, with the lifetime cost of a guide dog from birth to retirement being ??49,800.
The charity also funds ophthalmic research, provides other mobility services including white cane training, and campaigns to break down legal and physical barriers to help blind and partially-sighted people get around independently.
Registered charity number 209617 / SC038979
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