1. NAWRA 3/12/04 Royal National Institute of the Blind Visual Impairment Awareness Workshop

2. RNIB Welfare Rights Services: what we do
Telephone advice and consultancy ( )
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

3. 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

4. Breakdown of numbers registered blind by age group

5. Numbers in your area
The Department of Health website 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

6. 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

7. Macular degeneration

8. Macular degeneration

9. cataracts

10. Glaucoma - tunnel vision

11. Glaucoma - tunnel vision (severe)

12. 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

13. 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 ( ), etc, when appropriate
Consult with your customers and with local societies for blind people

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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...

18. RNIB Helpline and website
Website: