This is a free service available to all residents of Warwickshire irrespective of whether they are registered blind or partially sighted. Contact WAB for referral to this service. WAB provide this service under a contract with Warwickshire County Council, Adult Health & Community Services (formerly Social Services). The WAB team comprises a Senior Rehab Officer assisted by 2.4 Rehab Officers.

Aims of Rehab
• To identify practical problems that the person may be having
• Determine a Rehab Training Programme
• To discuss any concerns that the person and/or their family/carer may have
• Make referrals to other Agencies for service
• To offer advice and information

The Assessment

WAB's Rehabilitation Team visit individuals on a one to one basis. Visits are made in the home or other chosen place. A holistic assessment is carried out with the individual persons wants, needs and aspirations taken into account.

WAB's Rehabilation Officers work with people of all ages and an individual programme can be arranged to suit a persons needs and timescales.

Part of this process is to ensure the person receives full benefit entitlement. See separate page for benefits and concessions associated with registration.

Mobility

This is an important part of the visually impaired person’s rehabilitation to independence. A person may be struggling to get about within their own home or outdoors i.e. to local shops, visiting friends and family. WAB’s Rehabilitation Officers will offer training on travelling independently and the use of appropriate mobility aids. In addition they help with sighted guide techniques and confidence building.

Communication

The Rehabilitation Officers can give advice and information to those who have difficulty using the telephone, signing their name/writing, seeing to tell the time, etc. Advice on IT equipment is also given. There are various pieces of equipment available to help achieve these tasks, which can be available on loan or by purchase.

Independent Living Skills
The Rehabilitation Team can offer tuition in adapting previously learnt skills and teaching new, so that safety techniques can be implemented when making hot drinks, preparing food, using the oven and hob, etc. This can be done in your own home or within a group.

Low Vision Training

The Rehabilitation Officer will advise on how to make the best use of remaining vision using lighting, magnification and colour contrast.

The Hospital Eye Clinics provide Low Vision Clinics where you can be assessed for magnifiers, which can be issued on permanent loan.

Rehabilitation Officers can offer training in the use of magnifiers in your home.

Registration-what does it mean?

Registration simply means having your name added to a confidential list of people who have a permanent sight loss. The Warwickshire Association for the Blind hold this register on behalf of Warwickshire Adult Health and Community Services Directorate (formerly Social Services). Keeping this register allows WAB and Warwickshire County Council to meet the needs of people with a visual impairment and it is also required for certain financial benefits and consensus.

Registration is entirely voluntary.

Your Eye Consultant will say if you are medically eligible and then certify using form CVI that you are registrable as blind or partially sighted. You decide if you wish to register.

Being registered as a sight impaired/partially sighted person

This means you have a substantial and permanent vision loss in both eyes.

Being registered as a severely sight impaired/blind person

Some registered blind people have no sight. 96% have some limited sight. Being registered blind does not mean that you cannot see at all or that you will lose your sight in the future.