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Visual impairment

Being independent

Our Rehabilitation Officers offer a range of training programmes in various life skills. Each course can be specially tailored to meet your individual needs.

• Communication skills
  Advice and training to help you maintain your reading and writing skills. You might also learn new skills such as Braille, Moon or typing.
• Independent living skills
  Advice and training in safety techniques and methods in order to successfully achieve independence in all aspects of your daily life.
• Orientation and mobility
  Advice and training to enable you to move confidently and safely indoors and outside.

Equipment for daily living

Our Rehabilitation Officers can advise you about the wide variety of equipment available, e.g. liquid level indicators, talking weighing scales, writing guides, white canes, etc.

Low vision equipment

Our specialist Rehabilitation Officers can give you information on new technology, equipment, such as closed circuit televisions that can enlarge print, etc.

The NHS has a Low Vision Aid Service which can assess and provide appropriate magnifying glasses and other equipment to suit your individual needs. Your Ophthalmic Consultant would refer you for this service.

Travel

Registered severely sight impaired (blind) people are entitled to parking badges for use in cars in which they travel, and to concessionary bus passes. Bus passes are also available for a companion if you need someone to travel with you. Contact Gateway to Care on 0845 111 1103.

TV licences

Registered severely sight impaired (blind) people are eligible for a half price TV licence.  People over 75 get a free TV licence.

Radios, cassette and CD players

Calderdale Adults, Health and Social Care acts as agents for British Wireless for the Blind Fund can provide people who are registered sight impaired or severely sight impaired with specialist radios and radio-CD players. These are provided on loan following assessment.

Talking books

The RNIB has a library of books which are now recorded onto CD. Special machines, supplied to members, are needed to play these CDs.

Following assessment, we may be able to arrange membership for you.  Individuals can apply directly to the RNIB if self funding.

Calderdale public libraries have books recorded onto standard audiocassettes and CDs.

Books on standard audiocassettes are also available from CALIBRE. They make no charge but do ask for donations. Cassettes can be exchanged through their free postal system.

Talking newspapers

Local Talking Newspapers are organised by volunteers and are available each week on a standard audiocassette. They present, in spoken form, news items and articles of interest carried by the local newspaper. Talking Newspapers are free. Our Rehabilitation Officers can supply you with details.

• Name
• TNAUK
• Address
• National Recording Centre
  Heathfield TN21 8DB
• Telephone
• 01435 866102.

The Talking Newspaper Association of the United Kingdom (TNAUK) records national newspapers and magazines onto standard audio cassette, CD or download from the web.

Directory enquiries

People who are unable to access a telephone because of their visual impairment can apply for the free directly service.

Telephone 195 to apply.

Adults, Health and Social Care information

Adults, Health and Social Care information is usually available, on request, on audio cassette, in large print, in Braille, on personal computer disk and in ethnic languages.

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