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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.

Resource Centre

Health and Social Care has a small Resource Centre, at Glenholme, Green Lane, West Vale, Halifax, for people who are visually impaired and / or hearing impaired. The Centre demonstrates a range of specialist equipment and our Rehabilitation Officers can arrange for you to try these out. If you wish we can help you to order any of the items. 

Drop-in days

Drop-in days are run at the Resource Centre on the first Tuesday of each month from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Ask the Rehabilitation Assistant or Rehabilitation Officers for further information.

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. Apply to your local Health and Social Care office in the first instance..

TV licences

Registered seveely 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 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.

Health and Social Care information

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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