Factsheets Supporting People to use their Sight Effectively

Introduction

Sight problems can affect people in very individual ways.  Some people may be able to communicate exactly how their visual impairment affects them.  Others may need the support of others to make the most of their vision.

Many people who are thought to be ‘blind’ or ‘seriously sight impaired’ have some useful vision which they can use in their daily lives.

The more people can see, the easier it is to understand the world, to control it and to make informed choices.  Life can be made much easier for many people who have visual impairments and learning disabilities by helping them to use what sight they have.

This factsheet provides some straightforward and effective techniques for supporting people who are blind or partially sighted with learning disabilities.  However, a factsheet can only generalise.  We recommend that skilled help is obtained from Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired People.  Contact your social services/social work departments or a local voluntary society for blind and partially sighted people.  

Information from eye examinations

• People of all levels of ability need regular eye examinations.
• The eye care needs of people with visual impairment should not be neglected.  It is often assumed that their condition will not change and that they will not benefit from an eye examination – this is not true.  People with visual impairments need regular eye examinations - they are at risk of developing additional sight problems.
• It is important that results of an eye examination are written down.  This enables supporters to find out what a person can see and how best to help them to use their vision.
• We recommend this information be recorded on our  Feedback from the Optometrist about my test form.
• The information from an eye examination can make a big difference in a person’s life if, for example, it will give information about:
  • Why and when glasses might help
  • How to help someone to use their sight better  
  • Why a person has been referred to an ophthalmologist (eye doctor)
  • When people are first prescribed glasses in adulthood, they usually need support to wear them 
  • Glasses may need to be adjusted regularly and need to be kept clean

Low vision techniques

Low vision is when people have poor sight, even when they are wearing the right glasses or contact lenses.

Low vision techniques help most people with visual impairments - and people with ordinary vision too.

• Big - most people see big things more easily than small objects.  Some things can be made bigger, such as print or pictures.  People may need to sit very close to objects or hold them near to their faces to see.  Individuals who depend largely upon hearing, touch and smell may prefer close contact with other people and objects.
• Bold – to see objects clearly they need to stand out clearly from their background.  Colour contrast helps people to use their sight more successfully.  It helps people with visual impairments to see and find things.  For example, a brown door against a white wall, a red cup on a white tablecloth will show up.  Find out what colours a person sees and do not assume that the most obvious colour contrasts are the most successful for that person.  Avoid visual clutter.
• Bright - lighting is very important to people with poor sight. Correct lighting levels help people see, but lighting needs to vary according to eye conditions and the task in hand.  Most people see best in strong, clear and even light, while others function better with softer, dimmer lighting.  Rehabilitation Officers can advise on lighting.  Take time to observe what works for each person.  It is important to avoid ‘glare’.  People may experience glare when people with ‘ordinary vision’ do not.  Glare can be caused by shiny surfaces or objects.

Adapting the environment

Minor adaptations to the environment (based on big, bold and bright) enable people to see things more clearly and help them use their other senses, mainly hearing and touch.  Even small adaptations can help people find their way around buildings and become more independent.

Most of these changes require only small amounts of money and some changes cost nothing at all. 

There are some additional considerations when supporting people with learning disabilities:

• Position - people need to be in the right position to make the best use of what sight they have.  They may need to be encouraged to sit in a particular position to avoid glare.  Some people have adopted unusual head positions to make the best use of their vision.  Supporters need to ensure that a person’s wheelchair is positioned in the best place to enable that person to take part in activities or conversations.
• Time – some people who have visual impairment will need to take time to make sense of the images they see.  People may need to given time to ‘scan’ an image.  People may need to be taught scanning and looking skills and some people need others to interpret parts of images they are cannot see.  Some people may use their visual memory to recognise or identify objects, others may be things described.  It all takes time.
• Prompts - some people may need to be told clearly what is expected of them.  Some need reminders to do things.   Buildings with minor adaptations, such as markers placed underfoot or on doors, remind people of routes.  Labels on doors - either visual or tactile, or different door handles to denote different rooms – are useful.  Some landmarks might not be obvious – some people might need prompts to use them.  People might like their plans or routines displayed in  simple bold  pictorial  form, in audio or in tactile form.
• Anticipation - people may find it easier to interpret what they are seeing if they know or are told what to expect.  The more a person knows what happens next the more that person can make relevant choices.

Sources of Additional help

• Support from Rehabilitation Officers for the visually impaired (usually based in the local social services/social work department or voluntary society for blind and partially sighted people) - Rehabilitation officers can offer advice on helping people use their sight better, environmental issues, and provide skills training.
• Information on local services (social services/social work department and voluntary societies for blind and partially sighted people) is available from the RNIB website,https://info.rnib.org.uk/Agencies/Agencies.htm
• Support from Low Vision Clinics - These services, which are usually based in eye hospitals, help people to use their sight better. 
• Support from the local voluntary society for blind and partially sighted people - There are a wide range of voluntary societies in the UK.  Some provide extensive services, while others are small.  Information on local societies is available from the RNIB website, https://info.rnib.org.uk/Agencies/Agencies.htm

June 2009 

Related Information:

Adapting Accomodation for People with Learning Disabilities

Eye Care for People with Learning Disabilities

The Eye Examination Explained 

Recognising Eye Problems in People with Learning Disabilities 1

Recognising Eye Problems in People with Learning Disabilities 2 

Low Vision Services for People with Learning Disabilities 

Telling the Optometrist about me form

Feedback from the Optometrist about my test form