Sensory impairment support

There are many practical steps you can take to make life easier and more fulfilled:

• Contact local and national organisations who provide support: as well as being assessed by a vision rehabilitation specialist at the Council, there are many organisations that support people with sight loss.  
• Make things bigger: speak to the eye doctor about getting a specialist magnifier to help with reading.  There is a ‘Low Vision Aid’ scheme run through selected local opticians who provide the service.  Ask bills to be sent in large print and use a thick black felt tip pen to write things down.
• Make things brighter: improving the lighting in key areas such as on kitchen work surfaces is one of the most effective ways to ensure visually impaired people can maintain their independence and safety.  Get a really good quality angle poise lamp to help with reading and an LED pocket torch to take shopping with you.
• Make things bolder: use a white chopping board if you are preparing red meat for example, but a dark coloured one if you are preparing white fish.  Use a light coloured mug for making coffee but a dark one for milk.
• De-clutter and get things organised: a person with vision loss benefits from a clutter free space. Things should have a specific place and always be put back in that spot. Make sure people do not move things around without asking first.  
• Use labelling and marking strategies: put a small rubber band around the conditioner if the shampoo feels and looks the same for example, put a raised dot on the start button and 1 minute button of the microwave. 
• Take your medication:  if you have been given medication for your sight, even if it doesn’t seem to be making any difference, you must keep taking it as prescribed.  If you struggle to take medication then ask your pharmacist about ways to make it easier.
• Keep healthy: a good diet rich in greens is good for eye health and try to cut out habits that are bad for you.
• Consider an emergency alarm system: having a Lifeline system can bring peace of mind to VI people and their families.
• Use Technology: technology designed to help people with sight loss has come on a lot in recent years.  Most books are available in audio versions and there are many phone apps and computer programmes designed to help with reading, accessing the internet and even navigating you way about outside.