Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is all about learning new ways of doing familiar tasks.

RNIB rehabilitation services work to improve the lives of people with sight problems through lectures, information provision, training courses and research.

We carry out high quality rehabilitation training programmes in daily living skills, mobility and communication. Rehabilitation services under contract are also provided to local authorities and Care Trusts.

Current project

Launched in November 2002, our here to HELP project in partnership with British Gas aims to improve the quality of life for families and children, older people and people with disabilities in some of Britain’s most deprived communities.

Successes

• Progress in Sight, published in conjunction with the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS), is the first ever set of national standards outlining to blind and partially sighted adults the support they should expect.
• The RNIB School of Rehabilitation Studies pioneered the first flexible open learning Rehabilitation Course in the UK, a two-year full-time diploma.
• In June 2002, we opened the Camden and Islington Low Vision Beacon Centre. Located in our London headquarters, the centre aims to allow people make most of their residual sight with a team of workers and optometrists.
• The successful Eye Health campaign in 1997/98 led to the re-introduction of free eye tests for people over 60.
• RNIB Northern Ireland has been contracted by Isle of Man Social Services to provide a Rehabilitation Service and Resource and Information Centre.

Latest campaigns

• We are currently lobbying for changes to the certification and registration process (for blind and partially sighted people) and securing a ministerial review of the system. The recommendations provide opportunities for people with failing sight to get earlier access to information, assessment, and where appropriate, help and support.
• We recently carried out a survey with Moorfields Eye Hospital, which highlighted the lack of timely intervention as a cause of poor rehabilitative success, mapping the disparity across the country.
• A study with Heriot-Watt University emphasised the need for timely information and shorter waiting times for appointments and service provision.
• Through our work with Primary Care Trusts, social services and other voluntary organisations, we aim to develop high-quality low vision centres nationwide that can be viewed as “Gold Standard” within the health and social professions.

Content author: webeditor@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 06/03/2008 15:41