• How to use this leaflet/web page
• Low Vision Service at Good Hope
• at Heartlands
• Internet Explorer and text enlargement
• Tests for glasses
• Benefits Agency
• Agencies
• Local Contacts
• Local Macular Degeneration Group
  

• Rehabilitation Centre
• Computer training & IT
• Free computer software that can read
• Employment
• RNIB
• Partially Sighted Society
• Social Services
• Radio
• Library
• Daily Living Aids
• Hints
• Travel Pass
• Being Registered Partly sighted or Blind (Link)
• Financial Benefits & Rights
• Car Parking, buses, Ring and Ride, transport
• Housing
• Children & Education
• Birmingham Focus on Blindness
• Government
• Contacts & Addresses
• Guide Dogs
• Talk and Support
• Finding your way in Birmingham...Wayfinder
• Campaign for better rehabilitation support (link)
  
  
• Services for Children
  

This page first tells you about the services available to Good Hope patients, and similar services are usually available wherever you live.

The Good Hope low vision service is designed to help you start to cope or cope even better with poor sight, check you are making the most of the sight you have, and to inform you of all the agencies that can help you.

This page is best read printed out. It is designed to help patients and their relatives attending Good Hope Hospital and living in North Birmingham, but many of the services will be available elsewhere.

This page lists some of the agencies that help people with poor sight, whether you want to learn to use a computer, go on holiday, or have to claim for financial support. There are radio programs, newspapers (in various languages), guide dog programs, holiday programs, an so on.

When you contact such an agency, they may not be able to help, but may be able to point you in the right direction.

There are other pages on this site designed to advise you regarding magnification and reading aids, but you really need expert advice sitting with a professional.

If your sight deteriorates you are forced to take on a different life, which is even more challenging, and many of these agencies are there to help you make this change more easily and enjoy your new life.

Anyone who after medical treatment or new specs is not able to see well enough to do the things they would like (or need to do!). This should include anyone who

• cannot read properly
• says their glasses are still not correct
• cannot drive their car or read n10
• asks for a low vision test or a magnifier.

Remember

1. You do not have to be certified or registered partly sighted or blind
2. There is no age limit
3. Children and people with learning disabilities can benefit
4. There are no charges: devices are loaned

There are three parts to the service

• The assessment -this is with a low vision nurse or orthoptist.
  A questionnaire will be completed and service users will have the chance to ask questions about their eyesight and about low vision.
• The optometrist will briefly discuss the points raised in your assessment, carry out the refraction and explain the test results.
  The optometrist will then show and test any magnifiers.
• The low vision therapist -this is a practical appointment and will take place on another day after the device has been supplied.
  The therapist will check the use of the magnifier, assess your sight (with and without devices) and practice some reading and viewing techniques.

At Heartlands

• The service based in Heartlands Hospital  is available to all patients with a GP within the BEN PCT area.
  Contact June 0121 424 2668.
  Vic Foulsham, our Rehab Worker: 0121 424 0062.
  Alternatively contact Focus Birmingham direct on their Helpline 0121 478 5222 open Monday to Friday. A referral box exists in Good Hope Eye Clinic.

Richard Ward

Tel: 373 6897

202 Sutton New Road, Erdington B23 6QU

[email protected]   Fax no. 373 6897

Andrew Martin

Tel: 354 6411

66 Boldmere Road, Sutton Coldfield B73 5TJ

[email protected]      Fax no. 354 6411

You may be entitled to a range of benefits....contact your local Neighbourhood Office 0121 303 111

• Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance
• Invalid Care Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Job Seekers AllowanceSevere disablement allowance
• Disability Working Allowance
• Additional Income Support &
  Minimum Income Guarantee

Equipment includes clocks, watches, special reading lights and liquid measures. Staff are very happy to talk to groups and give presentations.

www.focusbirmingham.org.uk/  &  their services
48-62 Woodville Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9AT

Tel: 0121 428 5055 or 01221 428 500

www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk
West Midlands: Sight Loss Resource Centre,
Tel: 0121 704 6989   Mobile: 07974 250797
Email: [email protected]

QAC works with people who are blind, partially sighted, visually impaired etc.
Queen Alexandra College, Court Oak Road , Harborne, Birmingham , B17 9TG                   www.qac.ac.uk      Tel: 0121 428 5050

The Partially Sighted Society
9 Plato Place, St Dinois Road, London SW6 4TU
Tel: 020 7371 0289

older patients ARMD     http://www.maculardisease.org/

younger...juvenil dystrophies...contact:Danny Gleeson - 01902 305656 (after 6 pm): [email protected]

secretary:    Paul Nicholls 
fund raiser: Anita Warrender,
8 Silver Birch Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, B74 3PD,
tel: 0121 353 4893

In particular, Graham Rollason helps to organise a macular degeneration group and other groups in Sutton Coldfield.

Graham Rollason, 1 Kempson Avenue, Sutton Coldfield

Tel: 0121 355 4444

PO Box 1870, Andover, SP10 9AD

Helpline 01264 350551 : [email protected]
Website: http://www.maculardisease.org

Training includes learning skills for daily living and communication skills such as typewriting, handwriting and Braille. People who are experiencing difficulties with moving about safely as a result of sight loss could benefit from mobility training. This can help someone to get around more confidently and increase independence.

To access the rehabilitation unit it is necessary to contact the duty social worker at your local social services office and explain your needs. Your local office can be found by contacting the Social Services Helpline on 0121 303 1111.

The Duchess Road Rehabilitation Centre in Ladywood runs a 28 day programme on visual rehabilitation. If you think it would be helpful for you to join such a programme you would be best to contact them directly to find out how you can be referred.

Duchess Road Rehabilitation Unit
79/81 Duchess Road
Birmingham B16 8JD

Tel: 0121 455 0045

For people who are blind who want to use computers & demonstrations of different solutions.
Stuart James  Birmingham Focus on Blindness,
48-62 Woodville Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9AT

Tel: 0121 478 5217      also
James Bird - RNIB Birmingham - 0121 665 4200

A wide range of training programmes are available www.qac.ac.uk  
Queen Alexandra College, Court Oak Road , Harborne, Birmingham , B17 9TG

Tel: 0121 428 5050

http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/      [email protected]

British Computer Association of the Blind

British Computer Association of the Blind

RNIB

If you are looking for work each Job Centre will have a specialist worker who can help you with visual aids. Birmingham and Solihull PACT 0121 255 3400

The Disability Employment Advisor at your local job centre can advise you on employment issues. Birmingham and Solihull PACT 0121 255 3400.

• retraining options
• Financial help with travel to interviews
• Disability service programmes such as the Job introduction Scheme,
• Supported employment Programmes and Homeworkers Schemes
• The Access to Work scheme which can help people in employment or about to start work. It can provide specialist equipment, readers and support workers to aid those with disabilities to carry out their job fully.
• Sutton

Queen Alexandra College

our experienced Birmingham based team can provide an individual programme of support, training, work experience and job coaching. 0800 234 6859 www.advance2work.co.uk

The Action for Blind People will help people get back to work, www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk.

• Birmingham [email protected]. 0121 2488000
• National Education and Training Division 0207 635 4800

The RNIB can put you in touch with a more local group.

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
Tel: 020 7388 1266

For general information about visual aids and low vision tests etc contact

The Partially Sighted Society
9 Plato Place, St Dinois Road, London SW6 4TU
Tel: 020 7371 0289

see Birmingham

For Mail Order Daily Living Aids

The Partially Sighted Society
PO Box 322 Doncaster DN1 2XA, Tel: 01302 323 132

In Touch Radio Programme for the Visually Impaired on

Large button phones and speed dial buttons are helpful.

Your telephone company will give a full list of services. For BT dial 150 for a list of services including reading your phone bill before posting and free directory enquiry service. Also, ask for 'Action for disabled customers'

Free use of Directory Enquires is available for people with a visual impairment dial 195
Contact British Telecom 0800 587 0195 or Mercury telephone 0800 424 194

One of the most important things helping people to read is lighting. An angle poised type light can be very helpful. Many shops sell these. A specially made one is available from Birmingham Focus which is fluorescent. This is called a halogen light, available for £35, that magnifies when reading.

British Home Stores and many lighting shops have an excellent range of reading lamps.  Also The Partially Sighted Society

Using contrasting colours is a good way of seeing objects more easily, eg. light food on a dark plate, a light plate on a dark tablecloth or a coloured glass for water.

Check the RNIB for catalogues and advice in the kitchen. "Talking microwaves" and other appliances can help.

If television becomes a strain, sit closer to the screen. It will not damage your eyes.

A television screen reading device using a mouse is now available, and so is a video magnifier, with more information from the Partially Sighted Society. Other leisure equipment is available in the RNIB catalogue and the Partially Sighted Society, eg. Large print playing cards (please see above for address).

There is 50% off the TV licence fee if you are registered as blind and there is a free TV license for anybody aged 75 years old or over, regardless of registration status. Contact TV licence enquires 0870- 5763763

Talking books and large print books are available at your local library as well as talking local newspapers. For house bound patients a home library service is also available (as below).

• Calibre Talking Books adults and children 01296 432 339.
• RNIB
• largeprintbookshop.co.uk
• Ulverscroft Large Print Books 0116 236 4325
• Birmingham Talking Newspaper Association (Free)
  0121 -608 4398
• Talking Newspaper Association  (TNAUK) 01435 866 102
  180 national newspapers and magazines
• National Library for the Blind Contact us on 0303 123 9999
  email [email protected]
• Torch Trust for the Blind
  • Evangelical Christian literature on Braille, large print and Tape. Torch fellowship groups meet across the country.
    01858 555 301.
  • Tapesense 0207 357 9298.
• Talking Eyes: Asian Languages tape magazine 0121 428 5046

Talking books can be delivered to people living locally. Tel: 0121 464 1118  To find out where your local library is located contact Birmingham Central Library on 0121 303 4511.

Home Library Service for House Bound Patients

Services include:

• free loan of cassette tapes, music cassettes and CD's
• large print books on loan & library services at home (as above)

These will send an enlarged print bill if a customer gives name and account number. Banks and Building Societies Most will send a large print statement if requested. Ask at your local branches.
All the leading supermarkets will help people with their shopping who cannot see labels and products. For more information ask for or phone Customer Services.

• Centro 0121 214 7979
• Blue Badge contact 0121 303 4209
• Railcard

• Check all entrances have easy access and are kept clear of obstructions.
• Information is available near the entrance.
• Lighting is good.
• Use different colours to make things stand out.
• Check important things are highlighted using colour contrast. Steps/changes in levels/lifts stand out by using colour contrast and tactile surfaces. Pedestrian walkways are kept clear of obstructions and are made easier by colour tactiles.
• Have signs at eye level, well lit, with lots of contrast.
• Using large print menus with additional table lighting in restaurants helps.
• Check steps and changes of level are well lit, and have contrasting edges and handrails.
• Avoid bright lights that can cause glare and dazzle, and also glazed areas, especially glass doors which can be dangerous.
• If you have glass doors use contrasting band of sticky tape to to make them more visible.
• Avoid placing any obstructions in passageways etc wherever possible.
• Rough surfaces and sharp edges in pedestrian areas may cause injury, as may half open doors/windows.
  

People who are experiencing problems with their sight should go to their GP who will refer them to the eye department. If your sight is poor you may be entitled to registration, according to how bad your sight is.

At the hospital an assessment will be carried out by an ophthalmologist (eye specialist). With your permission they will complete a BD8 certificate of registration. If you are registered as blind or partially sighted it does not mean that you are likely to lose all of you sight -most people do retain some useful vision.

You will receive a copy of the BD8 certificate and copies will be sent to your GP, the census office and your local social services office. This information is confidential and no one will know about it without your consent. When social services receive a copy of the BD8 form they will contact you in due course. A visit wiII be offered to you to see how they can make it as easy as possible for you to keep your independence. You do not have to accept the help offered and if you refuse you can change your mind later.

• Registration benefits
• Getting registered
  

Social services are very stretched as there is one social worker specialising in poor sight in the whole of Birmingham, so unless you request you may not receive a visit.

• RNIB  RNIB Helpline 0303 123 9999
• Birmingham Tribunal Unit is a charity that provides representation for benefit related cases.
  Contact on 0121 464 2783.
  

• Centro 0121 214 7979
• Blue Badge contact 0121 303 4209
• Railcard National Rail Disabled Persons Travel Pass
  
  
• Ring and Ride: this is a door to door minibus service for those with mobility difficulties. Contact 0121 333 3107. Favourite destinations include friends, relatives, theatre, social clubs, shops and many more.
  
  
• RNIB. 0303 123 9999.
  
  
• Travel concessions by domestic airlines for flights within the UK are available to only registered blind people traveling with a guide - if the journey is connected to work, training for employment, rehabilitation or for medical treatment.

For general enquires about housing the best starting point is to contact Birmingham City Council on 0121 303 9944.
There are specialist housing groups for those with a visual impairment.

• New Outlook Housing 0121 602 6511
• Pocklington Place 0121 4764161.

There are a number of services for children with disabilities.

• RNIB advice for parents and children 028 9032 9373
  
• Look -
  practical help, support and advice to families with visually impaired children 0121 421 5038
  
• Visiting Teachers Service 0121 359 0883
• Families, Birmingham City Council  0121 303 3521
  
• British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society 0128 086 0363
  
• RNIB Educationl
  
• SENSE Education Services for Deaf/Blind Children
  0121 6871564
  
• Support group for parents- LOOK (National Federation of Families with visually Impaired Children) 0121 4285038
  
• NBCS (National Blind Children's Society) 01278 793 792
  
• Queen Alexandra College : A National College for People with Visual Impairment and Other Disabilities aged 16+. Please call 0121 428 5050 to order a prospectus or arrange an informal visit. www.qac.ac.uk
  Queen Alexandra College , Court Oak Road , Harborne, Birmingham , B17 9TG

Low vision service. Our aim is to help people maintain their independence by achieving the best possible use of their limited sight. We offer assessments to schoolchildren, students, working age adults and people who are retired. We will give practical advice on how to use lighting and colour contrast and we will issue low vision aids, such as magnifiers, free of charge and give training in their use.

48 Woodville Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9AT
Helpline: 0121 478 5222   www.focusbirmingham.org.uk

• www.advance2work.co.uk    0800 234 6859
  
• Age Concern 0800 00 99 66, Birmingham 0121 2362197
  
• Birmingham City Council 0121 303 1111
  

• Birmingham Social Services, older people 0121 303 1234
  
• Beacon Centre for the Blind (Wolverhampton) 01 902 880 111
  
• Coventry Society for the Blind 02476717522

• Deaf/Blind UK 01733 358 100

• Diabetes UK 0207 4241000

• Dudley Visual Impairment Team 0300 555 0055
  
• Eye to Eye   0121 327 0607
  Social club in East Birmingham
  
• Guide Dogs Visually impaired people over sixteen years old who are interested in a guide dog may contact the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, 01926 337 244.
  
• International Glaucoma Association 0207 737 3265
  
• Macular Disease Society 0990 143 573
  
• Nystagmus Network  0845 634 2630
  
• Queen Alexandra College 0121 428 5050 www.qac.ac.uk
  
• RNIB Helpline 0303 123 9999
  
• Sandwell Social Services 0121 569 2299
  
• St Dunstans (ex-service people) 0207 723 5021

• SENSE (National Association for Deaf/Blind and Rubella Handicapped) 0207 272 7774 0121 687 1564

• Solihull Association for the Blind 0121 704 1619
  
• Solihull RNIB Rehabilitation Team 0121 788 4465
  
• Solihull Social Services 0121 7884300
• Walsall Society for the Blind 0192 262 7683 
• Walsall Eyes
  
• Warwickshire Association for the Blind 01926 494 129
  
• Worcestershire Association for the Blind 01905 723 245

RNIB Talk and Support offers an exciting range of telephone groups for people with sight problems in the UK. The groups are available from the comfort of people's own home, using the telephone.

These include Tele Befriending (weekly social groups over the telephone). These

www.birmingham.gov.uk/childrens-care

[email protected]

Marion Clemens
Solihull Specialist inculsion Support
Keeper's Lodge, Chelmsley Rd, Birmingham B37 7RS
tel: 0121 770 6267
mclemens   @ solihull.gov.uk