Campaigns

Action to Independent Living Campaign

Summary: One of RNIB's priority campaigns is to ensure better access to health and social care for blind and partially sighted people.

The Future of the care and support systems

RNIB's Action for Independent Living Campaign stems from the observation that blind and partially sighted people do badly out of the current system of rationing access to care services.

We know that nearly three quarters of local authorities restrict care funding to individuals with support needs classed as "substantial" or "critical". With social care assessments failing adequately to take into account blind and partially sighted people's support needs, this means many people with sight loss are left to go it alone.

The thrust of current Government policy is towards maximising independent living and self-directed support through individual budgets and direct payments to service users. This presents considerable opportunities, but blind and partially sighted people will miss out on these unless barriers to access can be overcome.

In terms of national policy, RNIB wishes to see an emphasis on rights and collective social provision, rather than an acceptance of an agenda based on private supplementation. We are involved in the national debate on the future of England's care and support system. In preparation of a projected Green Paper on the funding of social care, together with other organisations in the sight loss sector we organised a seminar on reform to our social care system.

You can download the seminar report (Word)

Read our social care factsheet

Further information

If you if any questions or would like further information please contact us by either telephone 020 7391 2123 or by email Campaign@rnib.org.uk

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13

Print

More info

In your area

Quiz

Smokers are twice as likely to develop eye diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness.




Your stories

Jenny's story - Jenny Burgess volunteered for a disability support group run by people with physical disabilities. She was the only staff member with a sight problem. “I depended on a colleague with physical disabilities to give me a lift to work. I have far greater mobility problems than most people with physical disabilities who can drive a car, yet receive less benefit - it’s unfair and unjust.” Join our campaign to make the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance fair - taken for a ride.