Here's how local authorities can make the greatest difference...
Local authorities have the potential to transform the lives of blind and partially sighted people, even in the toughest times. And there's an added bonus. Designing inclusive services for blind and partially sighted people means getting it right more widely for local residents.
Read our recommendations in the Quick wins and Missed Opportunities report
Three fundamental goals
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Delivering a "bedrock" of preventative and rehabilitative services which combine to help people who lose their sight adjust to life with little or no sight. Without effective rehabilitation and skills training blind and partially sighted people cannot lead full or independent lives.
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Working in partnership with and involving blind and partially sighted people in the community; local organisations of blind and partially sighted people are a major asset to their communities so councils could view them as the "go-to people" to effectively reach people living with sight loss.
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Embedding accessibility in everything they do, beginning by setting a specific and measurable objective to systematically record blind and partially sighted residents' preferred reading formats so all council information can be delivered in the correct way.
Three good practice case studies
Plymouth City Council... Insight course
Plymouth City Council commissions Plymouth Guild to run a six week Insight course four times a year for blind and partially sighted people to adjust to living with sight loss following diagnosis. The six week intensive course was established to provide practical and emotional support at this critical juncture.
The Council have found that providing information and peer support at this time means that blind and partially sighted people are more able to access the services they need and build up their own support networks. The course aims to give people back some confidence through providing information and promoting an environment of mutual support.
"We commission a range of services and by working with our partners, thousands of people with a visual impairment are supported to use those services across the city." Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet member for Public Health and Social Care
Leicester City Council...Access Awareness Events and Inclusive Design panel
Leicester City Council are working in partnership with Vista, a voluntary sector organisation supporting blind and partially sighted people, and the Centre for Integrated Living to develop a programme of work to ensure the voice of blind and partially sighted people is heard in the planning and development stages of any built environment and public realm scheme.
The Council facilitates the Disabled Persons Access Group to ensure disability groups and disabled people get involved in activities, such as consultation exercises as well as running the Inclusive Design Advisory Panel (IDAP) which advises the council planners on the implications of their plans on disabled people.
"Inclusive design is about good decision making (at all levels), in order to "get it right first time". Having good policies and procedures is really important, but decision makers need to have some understanding of a) what an inaccessible environment feels like to a disabled person, and b) how this can be improved. Our Access Awareness events give people a taster of some of these barriers and solutions." Paul Leonard-Williams, Disabled People's Access Officer, Leicester City Council
South Tyneside Council...Integrated working and personalisation
Within South Tyneside Council, Adult Social Care teams have been restructured and there is now one team operating in the east of the area and one in the west. Integrated care for those who have physical and/or sensory needs is available from the age of 18 to end of life from both these teams. This move reflected feedback the council had from service users and the community who said they wanted to be able to contact just one team and have their needs met. As part of a pilot exploring personalisation, service users were invited to talk about their journeys through the local care system which gave the authority an invaluable insight on which they have drawn to refine and improve services.
As a result of feedback, the assessment process has been changed. There is now an initial contact team which provides basic advice and puts people through to the right service, referrals are screened and these feed into the self assessment questionnaire (SAQ). Questions on the SAQ have been changed so equipment and telecare needs are discussed upfront and if a piece of equipment can meet needs
and maintain independence, the Council will provide it. The emphasis is on asking the individual what they want and need before beginning the formal assessment process - a clear example of personalisation.
"At the end of the day it is about a willingness to work in a cooperative manner, to listen, to review, to improve, to change and I think South Tyneside Council have demonstrated that which has resulted in a positive outcome...I'm very grateful" Peter Bennets, local resident, registered blind