Visual Impairment

The Visual Impairment Team

The team works on behalf of Berkshire Unitary Authorities, including the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, to provide services for people who are blind or partially sighted.

If you are having problems with your everyday life because of poor eyesight, the Sensory Needs Service is there to help you.  There are Specialist Care Managers based with the service who can advise on special techniques and equipment to help those living with a visual impairment. 

Registration

Being registered as a blind or partially sighted person may help you to obtain services and benefits either now or in the future.  It confirms that we and other organisations have certain duties towards you.  However, you do not have to be registered if you would prefer not to be.

To obtain registration an eye consultant must inform the team that you are eligible.  The Sensory Needs Service Visual Impairment team would then contact you to discuss your needs.  If you do not currently attend an eye clinic, your doctor can refer you for an examination. 

Services and Benefits

Because individual needs and problems vary so much, the team has access to a wide range of resources.  These include:

• Information and Advice
• Home Care
• Equipment to ease everyday living in the home
• Help from volunteers and voluntary agencies
• Day care
• Occupational therapy
• Social work support
• Respite care
• Residential care
• Adaptations to help people with disabilities live at home

Specifically there are a number of other benefits that become available after you have registered with the team.

• Assistance from certain statutory and voluntary agencies
• An Attendance Allowance to allow you to obtain additional care if needed
• Disability living allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Severe disablement allowance
• Travel concessions
• Free eye tests
  

There are also a number of benefits available specifically for those registered as a blind person.  For more information on these benefits and for detail regarding those services listed above, please contact the team directly.

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Contact Details

Visual Impairment Team
Wellington House
Wellington Road
Wokingham
RG40 2QB 

Telephone - 0118 974 6896 or 0118 974 6949

Minicom - 0118 974 6992 

Emergency (Out Of Hours) - 01344 786543