One in five with sight problems wait a year for support

One in five blind and partially sighted people initially visited
by social services are waiting longer than a year for training and
support to help them remain independent.

This is the conclusion of ‘Changing the Way We Think About
Blindness’, a new report from the Royal National Institute for the
Blind. It coincides with an RNID campaign to raise the
public’s awareness that 100 people lose their sight
everyday.

Meanwhile, the Association of Directors of Social Services is
expected to launch new standards for the social care of visually
impaired adults.

The 16 new standards called ‘Progress in Sight’ cover all
aspects of the social care visually impaired receive, including
ensuring that users are involved in service planning.

‘Changing the Way We Think About Blindness’ from 0800 502
030

‘Progress in Sight’ from 08457 023 153