Whether you work in a local authority or as part of a frontline social care team or service, the way you serve and support blind or partially sighted service users or customers may need to change due to the introduction of the Equality Act.
This section highlights areas that you might need to think about, as well as pointing you to more in-depth information.
Serving blind or partially sighted service users
Understanding the needs of blind or partially sighted service users or customers is vital. It is worth remembering that your business or service is liable for staff members who are not aware of - or are not following - the correct procedures.
RNIB solutions
Other resources
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The Government Equalities Office provides a series of 'Quick Start' guides to help you understand the implications of the Equality Act on your business or organisation.
Printed information
For your blind and partially sighted service users and customers, being able to access information about the services and support you offer, could be crucial to them accessing benefits or care services.
The Equality Act clearly outlines that 'reasonable adjustments' must be made to ensure customers or service users do not experience any barriers to accessing information or services.
For social care professionals, it is important to make sure that these 'reasonable adjustments' are in place for blind and partially sighted customers or service users.
If you are a large organisation, it may be reasonable for you to have internal policies, procedures or technical solutions that ensure access to printed materials is routinely available to blind and partially sighted people in preferred or alternative formats they can access.
For example, it may be reasonable to offer important letters, billing information or details regarding service needs assessments in a wide range of formats to ensure that all the barriers to important information are reduced or removed.
Small or medium-sized organisations still have to consider the needs of blind and partially sighted service users or customers, but it may be reasonable for them to employ less technically dependent alternative formats.
For example, having staff members who are able to clearly read out information or have the flexibility to change the font size of standard letters could ensure blind and partially sighted service users are given the info they require.
RNIB solutions
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RNIB Webdocs is a fast and secure way to get your print documents into large print, audio or braille formats - ideal for helpling blind and partially sight service users or customers with accessing their private or confidential information you wish to send. Find out more about the benefits of RNIB WebDocs.
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RNIB also offer additional services for businesses.
Other resources
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The Government Equalities Office provides a series of 'Quick Start' guides to help you understand the implications of the Equality Act on your business or organisation.
Your premises
It is important to ensure that your premises are accessible. This goes beyond structural accessibility as defined by Building Regulations.
It is helpful to ensure that areas where customers, service users or employees are likely to occupy have clear signage and good lighting.
Blind and partially sighted people also benefit from heightened contrast between walls and doors, in order to help them find their way around premises more easily.
As social care professionals, you will also have to think about access to all public buildings that your organisation is liable for (libraries, community halls, recreations centres, etc.) and to make sure their services are able to make the reasonable adjustments that may be required of them.
Solutions
Other resources
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The Government Equalities Office provides a series of 'Quick Start' guides to help you understand the implications of the Equality Act on your business or organisation.
Websites and email communication
Your website is a great way to publicise your accessibility credentials to your customers and service users - but it has to be accessible too.
You should ensure that any content, such as booking forms, downloadable instructions, maps and directions should be fully accessible.
Where technical functionality of a website prevents a truly accessible service, then an accessible alternative should be offered, for example, offering downloadable PDFs as Word documents, so that they can be more easily read by screen-reader software.
RNIB offers advice, information and training for those interested in how to ensure their website meets the requirements of blind and partially sighted customers or service users.
Solutions
Other resources
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The Government Equalities Office provides a series of 'Quick Start' guides to help you understand the implications of the Equality Act on your business or organisation.
Further information and support
There are a number of organisations that offer more in-depth information about the Act. You can find some of these organisations on our Equality Act - further information and support page.