NAWRA 3/12/04

Royal National Institute of the Blind

Visual Impairment Awareness Workshop

RNIB Welfare Rights Services: what we do

• Telephone advice and consultancy (0845 766 9999)

• Casework service (CLS specialist level)

• Factsheets and welfare rights newsletter

• Grants and pensions for blind and partially sighted people in hardship

• Benefits training

• Take up campaigns

• Policy campaigns

How many people with sight loss?

• Two million unable to read newsprint

• One million people are eligible for registration as blind or partially sighted

• One in twelve people over 60, and one in five over 75, are eligible for registration

• About 350,000 people are registered blind or partially sighted

Breakdown of numbers registered blind by age group

0 to 4

5 to 17

18 to 49

50 to 64

65 to 74

75+

Department of Health December 2003: Registered Blind and Partially Sighted People Year ending 31 March 2003

Numbers in your area

• The Department of Health website www.dh.gov.uk has statistics on registered blind and partially sighted people (as at March 2003) including regional breakdowns

• Estimates of the number of people eligible for registration (including regional breakdowns) are available from RNIB

What can blind people see?

• 4 per cent of people on blind register report being ‘totally blind’

• 96 per cent can see light through a window

• 75 per cent can read newspaper headlines

RNIB survey 1991

Customer care

• A significant proportion of your customers/clients will have a sight problem. But it may not be obvious when you first meet them.

• Needs vary - ask individuals what they require

• Offer information in accessible formats (RNIB’s See it Right pack gives advice)

• Use a minimum of 14 point print as standard

• Offer home visits and help with form-filling

Customer care

• Consider people with sight problems when publicising your service and doing take up work

• Aim to make your premises accessible for people with sight problems

• Signpost or refer people to local societies for blind people, RNIB Helpline (0845 766 9999), etc, when appropriate

• Consult with your customers and with local societies for blind people

Attendance Allowance

• There are only 56,800 AA claimants whose main disabling condition is blindness. (cf 121,000 registered blind people over 65.)

• Mallinson hasn’t had as much impact as hoped

• Barriers to take up: think AA is only for people with physical disabilities, difficulty with form, underestimate needs

DLA/AA: tips for form completion

•Allow plenty of time

•Give full and detailed answers throughout the claim pack.

•Use RNIB’s form-filling checklist

•Be aware that customers may understate their care and mobility needs.

•Remember to consider the help they need, not just the help they get.

DLA/AA: tips for form completion

• Include details of spoken help, help with reading, and help needed with social and leisure activities (Halliday)

• If the customer uses any special equipment, explain the equipment’s limitations.

• Offer to read the completed form aloud to the customer so they can check it before signing. Offer a signature guide.

Take up work:Useful avenues

• Consider using the sight registers

• Local societies for blind people

• Social services: Sensory Impairment Teams

• Libraries (large print, audio, domiciliary services)

• Eye clinics

• Talking newspapers

• Local radio

• Think laterally - chiropodists, places of worship...

RNIB Helpline and website

Helpline: 0845 766 9999

Website: www.rnib.org.uk