Sight impairment
This page is about how the sensory services team may be able to help. For more general information visit our sight difficulties pages.
As well as giving you information and advice about buying every-day living equipment and managing your sight loss, we can find out about how your are managing now and what you are finding very difficult. This is called an assessment.
What happens after the assessment?
If you are eligible for support, we may suggest some of our services:
Daily living equipment or assistive technology
Simple pieces of equipment such liquid level indicators, talking clocks and equipment to help with using cooker hobs and ovens.
Mobility training
We will help you to plan the main, regular journeys you make, such as to the shops, to work, to a social group or health centre. We will plan the safest route and work out what landmarks are on the way, so that you know where you are. We will help you re-learn how to use public transport - for example, knowing when it is your bus stop. We will give you a cane and help you learn how to use it.
Daily living training
We can help you re-learn tasks such as cooking and cleaning and show you how to use some of the daily living equipment you may want.
General support
If you are having problems with other parts of your life because of your sight loss - for example, dealing with bills, we can help you to sort these out.
Longer term support
Occasionally, people with a sight impairment need longer term support. If this is the case, then part of your assessment may be making a support plan which lists:
- changes you want to make to your life
- the goals you want to achieve
- what support will help you
We will use your support plan to help you decide the support you want. This could include equipment, help with every day tasks or help with finding work. It is up to you.
How much do services cost?
The services and equipment we provide are free. If you need longer term support, you will have a personal budget. This is based on the amount of support you need. We work out how much we will pay towards your personal budget and how much you will have to pay based on your finances.
What other support is there?
We support and work with other health and social care organisations and voluntary groups, which are listed on our sight difficulties page.
Registering as blind or partially sighted
If your specialist eye doctor or optician recommends it, we can register you as blind or partially sighted.
Depending on your registration, this may entitle you to:
- Free bus pass
- Blue badge
- Discounted taxi vouchers
- 50% reduction on your TV licence
- Increased tax allowance
- Possible council tax reduction
Who to contact
- Name
- Adult Social Care Contact Team
- Address
- Salford Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 5AW
Map to this location - Telephone
- 0161 909 6517
- social.services@salford.gov.uk
- Minicom
- 0161 909 6527
- Additional information
- Text: 07970 134894
This page was last updated on 23 January 2012
