NAWRA 3/12/04 Royal National Institute of the Blind Visual Impairment Awareness Workshop

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NAWRA 3/12/04Royal National Institute of the
Blind Visual Impairment Awareness Workshop
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RNIB Welfare Rights Services what we do

• Telephone advice and consultancy (0845 766 9999)
• Casework service (CLS specialist level)
• Factsheets and welfare rights newsletter
• Grants and pensions for blind and partially
  sighted people in hardship
• Benefits training
• Take up campaigns
• Policy campaigns

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How many people with sight loss?

• Two million unable to read newsprint
• One million people are eligible for
  registration as blind or partially sighted
• One in twelve people over 60, and one in five
  over 75, are eligible for registration
• About 350,000 people are registered blind or
  partially sighted

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Breakdown of numbers registered blind by age group
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Numbers in your area

• The Department of Health website www.dh.gov.uk
  has statistics on registered blind and partially
  sighted people (as at March 2003) including
  regional breakdowns
• Estimates of the number of people eligible for
  registration (including regional breakdowns) are
  available from RNIB

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What can blind people see?

• 4 per cent of people on blind register report
  being totally blind
• 96 per cent can see light through a window
• 75 per cent can read newspaper headlines
• RNIB survey 1991

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Customer care

• A significant proportion of your
  customers/clients will have a sight problem. But
  it may not be obvious when you first meet them.
• Needs vary - ask individuals what they require
• Offer information in accessible formats (RNIBs
  See it Right pack gives advice)
• Use a minimum of 14 point print as standard
• Offer home visits and help with form-filling

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Customer care

• Consider people with sight problems when
  publicising your service and doing take up work
• Aim to make your premises accessible for people
  with sight problems
• Signpost or refer people to local societies for
  blind people, RNIB Helpline (0845 766 9999), etc,
  when appropriate
• Consult with your customers and with local
  societies for blind people

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Attendance Allowance

• There are only 56,800 AA claimants whose main
  disabling condition is blindness. (cf 121,000
  registered blind people over 65.)
• Mallinson hasnt had as much impact as hoped
• Barriers to take up think AA is only for people
  with physical disabilities, difficulty with
  form, underestimate needs

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DLA/AA tips for form completion

• Allow plenty of time
• Give full and detailed answers throughout the
  claim pack.
• Use RNIBs form-filling checklist
• Be aware that customers may understate their
  care and mobility needs.
• Remember to consider the help they need, not
  just the help they get.

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DLA/AA tips for form completion

• Include details of spoken help, help with
  reading, and help needed with social and leisure
  activities (Halliday)
• If the customer uses any special equipment,
  explain the equipments limitations.
• Offer to read the completed form aloud to the
  customer so they can check it before signing.
  Offer a signature guide.

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Take up workUseful avenues

• Consider using the sight registers
• Local societies for blind people
• Social services Sensory Impairment Teams
• Libraries (large print, audio, domiciliary
  services)
• Eye clinics
• Talking newspapers
• Local radio
• Think laterally - chiropodists, places of
  worship...

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RNIB Helpline and website
Helpline 0845 766 9999 Website www.rnib.org.uk