Visual impairment
We offer information and advice to people who are have a visual impairment, are Blind or Deafblind. Following an assessment of your need, staff can help by offering advice and training on:
- coping with sight loss (and hearing loss)
- learning new skills in the home
- learning new skills to travel outside the home
- advice and information on benefits
- support and activity groups
- low vision aid assessments
- information on where to go for advice on eye conditions
- supporting relatives
- information on registration as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind)
- information about Personal Budgets and Self-directed support
- equipment and adaptations
- advice on general social care services
- advice on building adaptations.
If you you think you need service or have a general enquiry, please contact Social Care Direct (details on the left).
Specialist support for children and young people with a visual impairment
We provide services for children and young people at home and in schools including:
- support and advice to parents and carers through groups and newsletters
- home visits to pre-school children
- help with school placements including nursery and pre-school
- direct support to children in the classroom in mainstream and special schools
- advice and training to teachers and other professionals
- support in moving to Sixth Form, Further and Higher Education
- assessments of visual and curriculum access needs
- training in activities of daily living: such as washing, dressing, feeding
- training in mobility: such as road safety, getting around safely and independently.
For further information and help, or to refer a pupil, contact:
Max Hampson on 020 8359 7707 or max.hampson@barnet.gov.uk.
Information pack for people with a visual impairment
We provides a wide range of services for people of all ages with a visual loss. If you or someone you know has a visual impairment and lives in the London Borough of Barnet, our visual impairment information pack, July 2009 
(PDF: 140KB) provides information about services available to you.
Personal budgets and self-directed support
We have changed the way we support people who are over 18 years and need social care. We aim to increase people’s independence by providing them with a greater choice of services and more control over the support they receive, through Self-directed support. This applies to adults who have had an assessment and qualify for a social care service.
Registration for people who are blind or partially sighted
Registration for people who are blind or partially sighted If you have poor sight then it's a good idea to think about visiting your GP or optician. This can help you get the practical support you need. To register you will need to be certified as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind) by a consultant ophthalmologist (eye specialist).
If you are already attending an eye hospital or clinic, you should discuss certification with your specialist or you might prefer to talk it over with a hospital social worker first. Otherwise, you should ask your GP (local doctor) to refer you to a consultant ophthalmologist.
The Social Care Direct Team keeps a confidential register of sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind) people living in the London Borough of Barnet. This register helps us to find out what types of services that people with sight problems need.
Registration is voluntary, and you do not need to be registered to receive a service. If you need practical support, advice or information because your visual impairment is impacting on your daily living skills, please contact us
Support organisations for people who are visually impaired
There are a number of other organisations that can offer a variety of support for people who are visually impaired. To find out more about these organisations visit Social Care Connect
Other links worth noting
Comments, compliments and complaints
Email this pageLast modified by: Dawn Rowe on 13/01/2011