More than 48,000 people signed a petition calling on the government to improve training and support for those who have lost or are losing their sight
Blind and partially sighted Londoners have spoken of how “scarily unsafe” it is for them to get out and about due to a lack of support and training.
For those who have lost their sight or seen it severely reduced during their lifetime, adapting to a new way of life can be daunting, especially in a busy city like London.
Brent resident Charmaine Ashpole, who was left with a severe sight and hearing impairment after contracting meningitis in 2018, is among those to speak out about gaps in support when it comes to teaching people how to use a cane and otherwise live their lives confidently and safely.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Different tactile ways of doing things to enable you to live your life well, is very, very possible, but you do need that support to give you the confidence and the skills to be able to do that.
“What sight loss is, is the biggest inhibitor to the uptick of knowledge. We’re living in a very visual world and visual knowledge is a shorthand so we’re just left out of conversations.
“It’s also scarily unsafe […] these white cane skills are essential. It’s a bit like a feeler so I cover my footfall and it will pick up any obstacles and give me the confidence to be able to get out and about.”
Whilst being “massively appreciative” of the support she has received from Brent Council, Charmaine also said more needs to be done to address the quality of the roads and pavements in the borough so people with sight impairment can feel confident walking around.
She said: “The pavements are terrible. I know for a fact that if a paving slab projects 20mm or less they won’t repair it so for a white cane user it’s snagging and I can break my cane, it causes stress on your shoulders, you don’t want to go out.”
48,000 voices
Charmaine joined other blind and partially sighted people on a cane walk through Westminster last week to hand in a petition signed by more than 48,000 people. They are calling for an end to “the postcode lottery” of support for people with sight loss, which equips them with the skills and tools they need to maintain their independence.
The group undertook a cane walk from Parliament Square to the Department of Health and Social Care on Victoria Street on March 24 to urge the government to implement improvements to the vision rehabilitation offering that blind or partially sighted people are entitled to when they lose, or are losing, their vision.
The programme involves developing essential mobility skills, such as how to use a white cane, as well as cooking and technology capabilities. These skills help people to continue to get out and about confidently, adapt at work, do the weekly shop, and enjoy hobbies.
Another person on the walk, Frankie Brady, from Enfield, lives with albinism which affects his eyesight. He told the LDRS that prior to getting access to the visual rehabilitation support, he would isolate himself as he was not confident enough to go out. He said: “It was really hard because I didn’t get support from my immediate family.
“I was very isolated to be honest because I didn’t have anyone that really saw the world through my eyes but now I’ve found lots of aids that will be useful to me. I wasn’t always sociable because I wasn’t confident but I always did my best to get out there; but I was scared to use my cane for lack of confidence.”
Research by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has revealed that support across England is “patchy”, with many people left waiting more than a year for an initial assessment of their needs by local authorities. This delay can cause people to isolate themselves, greatly reducing their quality of life and contributing to mental health issues.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the RNIB showed that, in the 2023 to 2024 financial year, 20 per cent of local authorities had people waiting more than a year to receive an initial assessment of the services they need.
The FOI also revealed that around 85 per cent of councils did not complete vision rehabilitation assessments within the recommended 28 days and 38 local authorities said assessments are not always carried out by qualified vision rehabilitation specialists.
The RNIB is calling on the government to develop “proper guidelines and quality standards for vision rehabilitation” and transform it into a regulated profession to ensure consistency across the board.
Director of Policy, Campaigns and Social Action at RNIB, Eleanor Thompson, said “no one should have to wait” in order to receive vital support after sight loss but raised concerns that too many people are currently “having their lives put on pause unnecessarily”.
Ms Thompson added: “Over the last two years we’ve been sharing people’s stories, and we’re so grateful to the 48,000 people who have backed our petition, both those personally affected and those who – like most of us – had never heard of vision rehabilitation before.”
Brent Council, which has recently announced a £27m investment to make the borough’s streets “cleaner, greener and safer”, said that it is “pleased to hear” about the support residents are receiving through its own vision rehabilitation service. The council says it is committed to ensuring that every resident with sight loss “receives the same high-quality, life changing support”.
A spokesperson said: “Our Sensory Service is a dedicated specialist team within Adult Social Care, supporting residents with visual impairment, hearing loss and dual sensory loss. We strive to contact all residents enquiring about certificates of visual impairment within 48 hours to register residents and assess any additional needs. To further strengthen the offer, we have recently recruited an additional Vision Rehabilitation Specialist to increase capacity and improve waiting times.
“Our Sensory Service works directly with colleagues around the council to resolve issues like broken pavements, to help ensure our streets are safer and more accessible for everyone, including blind and partially sighted residents.”
Brent Council added that it inspects highways throughout the year to identify issues and fix them proactively. The authority is working with partner organisations to support residents with profound hearing loss, and is looking to ensure all new transport and public realm schemes are as inclusive and accessible as possible.
A spokesperson for the DHSC said: “Everyone who has lost or is losing their sight deserves the best possible support to help them live independently and local authorities are responsible for providing local vision rehabilitation services when they are required.
“Following a decade of neglect, we are working to deliver more eye care services in the community through our 10 Year Health Plan to ensure that people can get the care they need, when they need it.”
Don’t miss out on the biggest stories from across the city: Sign up to MyLondon’s Daily newsletter HERE for the biggest stories each day.
