Rehabilitation – What is it?
Rehabilitation support can help blind and partially sighted people develop practical skills, confidence, and strategies for everyday life. This page explains what sight loss rehabilitation is, what support a Rehabilitation Officer can offer, and how to access rehabilitation services through your local authority.
What is rehabilitation for sight loss?
Sight loss rehabilitation is practical support provided by local authority rehabilitation teams to help blind and partially sighted people manage everyday activities, move around safely, and access information in ways that work for them.
Each local authority has its own rehabilitation team. Rehabilitation focuses on practical skills, confidence, and finding ways to make daily life easier and safer following changes in vision.
When is rehabilitation offered?
After receiving a Certificate of Visual Imppairment (CVI) from the eye hospital, you should usually be offered an assessment to make sure you receive appropriate information and support. Depending on your needs and circumstances, this may include rehabilitation support.
A Rehabilitation Officer works with you to understand the areas of daily life that have become more challenging since your sight changed. Together, you identify what support would be most helpful to you.
What does rehabilitation support involve?
Rehabilitation usually begins with an initial assessment. This explores the activities that matter most to you and the goals you would like to work towards. Support is practical and tailored to your individual needs.
Daily living skills
Rehabilitation support may include help with everyday domestic tasks such as preparing food and drinks, cooking safely, baking, marking and using kitchen equipment, organising your home, managing housework, and aspects of personal care. The aim is to help you develop techniques and routines that suit you.
Orientation and mobility
Rehabilitation can also support orientation and mobility, both indoors and outdoors. This may include learning sighted guide techniques or training in the use of different types of canes, such as a symbol cane to alert others or a long cane to help detect obstacles and kerbs.
Orientation training can help you learn routes, navigate spaces more confidently, and feel safer when moving around outside your home.
Communication and access
Communication skills are another important part of rehabilitation. This may include support with reading and writing, using low vision aids, understanding colour and contrast, using talking clocks or watches, basic technology skills, task lighting, and alternative communication methods such as Braille or Moon.
Is rehabilitation tailored to the individual?
All rehabilitation support is tailored to the individual. Rehabilitation Officers recognise that changes in sight affect everyone differently and that priorities, confidence, and needs can change over time.
Rehabilitation Officers may also suggest practical ideas and specialist equipment to support everyday tasks and provide training on how to use this equipment effectively.
How to access rehabilitation support
If you feel this type of support could benefit you, please get in touch with us. We can talk through your situation and, where appropriate, help you connect with your local authority rehabilitation team.
