Chapter 4 Living with disabilities

(Publication: Guide to Care at Home 2008-2009)

Sight problems

Help from the Health Service

If you are having problems with your sight, go to your GP or optician as soon as possible. If necessary they may refer you to an eye clinic or a consultant ophthalmologist, who can examine your eyes and look at possible treatments for your problem.

Your doctor/optician will also be able to provide details of Low Vision Clinics, where you can borrow special magnifiers or glasses.

Eye clinics will also be able to give you details of organisations that can offer you emotional support, or advice concerning particular conditions.

Help from Adult Services

Hampshire

Hampshire County Council’s Adult Services Department has specialists who carry out assessments and provide training to help people find practical solutions to the everyday problems that arise from sight loss, for example help with reading, making hot drinks and crossing the road safely. To make an appointment, contact your local office, see chapter 9.

Portsmouth

The Sensory Team offer an array of workshops covering a range of practical issues, as well as providing general advice and support. Contact the Sensory Impairment and Deaf Services Team
Tel: 023 9237 3362 and textphone: 023 9232 2117 (Monday to Friday 8.30am-12 noon)

Southampton

Contact the Sensory Services Team
Tel: 023 8083 3025
textphone: 023 8042 0298

Outside Clinic

The Outside Clinic arranges free eye tests at home for people who are housebound, and have learning difficulties or mental health problems. Call 0500 295 245 for details.

Audio, Braille and large print documents

If you wish to get audio versions (tape or CD), Braille, or large print versions of any documents you receive (i.e. from your bank, building society etc), speak to the organisation directly and ask for the document to be provided. Translations can be provided by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). Tel: 0845 702 3153.
For details on where to get talking news tapes, see section further down, called Audio books and newspapers.

Registering as blind or partially sighted

To register, you should contact your GP who will arrange for an appointment with a consultant ophthalmologist for an assessment. If they decide that you are eligible to register, they will contact your doctor or Adult Services.

To be registered, you need to have a permanent and substantial disability (though nine out of ten people registered still have some sight). Registration is voluntary and entitles you to some concessions from other organisations, particularly for leisure activities and travel. If you are registered blind there are also some tax concessions and a TV licence discount.

Help from specialist organisations

Open Sight (formerly Hampshire Association for the Care of the Blind)
25 Church Road, Bishopstoke, Eastleigh SO50 6BL
Tel 023 8064 1244
Website: www.opensight.org.uk
email: info@opensight.org.uk
Advice and information, home visits and phone support. Network of 600 volunteers throughout Hampshire.

Portsmouth Association for the Blind (PAB)
48 Stubbington Avenue, North End, Portsmouth, PO2 0HY
Tel 023 9266 1717
Social events, resource room

Southampton Society for the Blind
3 Bassett Avenue, Southampton SO16 7DP
Tel 023 8076 9882
email info@ss4b.org.uk
Resource centre, social events, IT training.

RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind)
Helpline 0845 766 9999
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-5pm, Wednesdays 9am-4pm)
Website: www.rnib.org.uk
Publications, information about equipment, employment, holidays, leisure activities and more. RNIB’s website includes an online directory of services.

Macular Disease Society
PO Box 1870, Andover SP10 9AD
Tel 01264 350551
Helpline 0845 241 2041 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
www.maculardisease.org
Information and publications, local support groups, telephone counselling sessions.

Partially Sighted Society
Tel 0844 477 4966
Advice about making the most of any remaining sight, free brochure and catalogue available.

Action for Blind People
14-16 Verney Road, London SE16 3DZ
Helpline 0800 915 4666 (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm)
www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk

Dogs for the Blind
Tel 023 8076 8800
www.guidedogs.org.uk
As well as providing guide dogs, the organisation also offers training in living skills and long cane training.

Special equipment

You can get expert advice and try out equipment that might help you at:

Eye Unit at Southampton General Hospital tel 023 8079 8737
Hampshire Association for the Care of the Blind (HACB) tel 023 8064 1244

Hampshire Library Service and Information Service

There are currently 12 reading groups for visually impaired people, at libraries in Alton, Eastleigh, Fareham, Farnborough, Hedge End, Lymington, Netley, New Milton, Petersfield, South Ham, West End and Winchester. Group members select a book for discussion and are given a copy of it before the meeting in whatever format is most convenient – tape, CD, large print or Braille.
All branch libraries offer free access to computers linked to the internet via a fast broadband connection (The People’s Network). Each computer has Dolphin Supernova software which allows both partially sighted and blind people to access the screen. Free training is sometimes available locally. Classes are currently running at the following libraries: Alton, Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Romsey, and Winchester Discovery Centre.
Anyone who has significant difficulty reading print can borrow audiovisual material free of charge, including audio books on tape or CD, music CDs, videos, DVDs and computer games. Ask about the ‘Access Card’.
Many branch libraries have electronic magnifiers (or CCTVs) which enlarge print, handwriting or images onto a screen.
Books in other formats, such as audio or Braille, can be obtained via a free national inter-lending scheme if they are not on the Hampshire catalogue.
Libraries can supply information about audio books and other services available locally and nationally to visually impaired people.

For details of your local branch library;

Hampshire

Tel: 0845 603 5638, textphone 0845 603 5625
www.hants.gov.uk/library.
Portsmouth tel: 023 9281 9311
Southampton tel: 023 8083 2664

Audio books and newspapers

The Talking Echo Centre for the Blind offers a free service to people who are registered blind. They supply a fortnightly digest of local information on tape to people who live in Southampton City, Totton and Waterside or in Eastleigh Borough. tel 023 8076 7583

Portsmouth Area Talking News includes Petersfield News, and some magazine titles including Navy News and Hampshire Magazine.
Tel 023 9269 0851

Andover Talking Newspaper
Tel 01264 351030

Farnborough Talking Newspaper
Tel 01252 540865

Farnham and Alton Talking Newspaper
Tel 01252 719266

Talking Newspaper (Romsey)
Tel 01730 890406

For details of other talking newspapers contact Open Sight on 023 8064 1244.

National Talking Newspapers and Magazines
Tel 01435 866102
www.tnauk.org.uk
Provide national magazines and newspapers on audio tape, computer disk, email and CD-ROM.

Calibre Audio Library
Tel 01296 432339
www.calibre.org.uk
A free postal audio book service giving visually impaired people access to over 7,000 books recorded onto tape, CD and MP3 disk.

RNIB Talking Book Service
Tel 0845 762 6843
www.rnib.org.uk
A postal audio book service giving access to over 14,000 titles which can be played on special equipment supplied to members. You are eligible to join the service if you live in the UK and cannot read standard typescript (N12 or less) at normal reading distance using glasses.

Royal Mail – Articles for the Blind
Royal Mail operate a scheme, called Articles for the Blind, that allows blind and partially sighted people to send and receive specialist items in the post free of charge. This includes books, letters, relief maps, talking books, equipment, computer discs and CDs and mobility aids.
Royal Mail Customer Services
Tel 0845 774 0740
Textphone 0845 600 0606

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Hearing problems

Help from your doctor

If you are having problems with your hearing, go to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may:

give you treatment particularly if there is a blockage or an infection
refer you to a specialist for a more detailed examination - perhaps to the audiology department or to an ear, nose and throat consultant
refer you to a hearing therapist who can give advice about living with hearing loss and making the most of your remaining hearing.

Hearing aids

Your doctor can arrange for you to go to the hospital audiology department to be tested and fitted with a hearing aid free of charge.

Alternatively, you can also be tested and buy a hearing aid from a private company at a commercial rate. If you buy privately, check whether the company is registered under the Hearing Aid Council Act.

Registering as deaf or hard of hearing

If you are deaf or have a hearing loss, you can ask for an assessment to decide whether you can be registered as deaf or hard of hearing with Adult Services. To be registered, you need to have a permanent or substantial disability. Registration is voluntary and entitles you to some concessions from other organisations, particularly for leisure activities and travel. A registration card can often be useful to prove that you are deaf or hard of hearing.

To discuss registering, you should contact your local Adult Services office.

Help from Adult Services

The Adult Services Department has specialists who can give help and advice to those with hearing problems. This includes ideas for practical management of hearing loss and also information about specialist organisations, classes and clubs that can offer you additional support.

Hampshire

You can get a copy of the free booklet Making Life Easier if you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing by phoning 0800 028 0888 or on www.hants.gov.uk/adult-services/as-publications
Communication Rehabilitation Officers offer drop-in clinics and information sessions. For more details of Sensory Services and for general help and advice, contact your local Adult Services office - see chapter 9.
If you use British sign language you can contact the Deaf Services Team, Castle Avenue Winchester SO23 8UG
Tel/textphone: 01962 892333
SMS texting 07797 877012
Email: deaf.services.team@hants.gov.uk
All members of the team have good British Sign Language skills.

Portsmouth
For help and advice contact the Sensory Impairment and Deaf Services Team
Tel: 023 9237 3362 and textphone: 023 9232 2117 Monday to Friday 8.30am-12 noon

Southampton
For help and advice contact the Sensory Services Team
Tel 023 8083 3025
Textphone 023 8042 0298.

Help from specialist organisations

There are a number of local and national organisations that can give information and advice on a wide range of topics related to being deaf or hard of hearing.

Hearing & Balance Information Centre
Audiology Department, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5DG
Tel 01962 824437
Drop-in clinic: Monday 2-3.30pm
Leaflets on topics related to hearing loss and balance problems and a display of equipment can be viewed at anytime.

Eastleigh Hearing Information Centre
Age Concern, Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AN
Tel 023 8062 9376 answerphone
Drop-in clinic open Tuesday 2-4pm
Information and advice, display of equipment

Hampshire Deaf Association (HDA)
1&2 Carlton Commerce Centre Dukes Road, Southampton SO14 0SQ
Tel 023 8051 6516
Textphone 023 8051 6518
www.deafhampshire.org
Information, equipment demonstration and hire, interpreting service. HDA also runs a home on the Isle of Wight for deaf people.

Hearing Concern
95 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8TX
Tel 020 7440 9871
Helpline 0845 0744 600
Monday to Friday 9am-1pm, 2pmm-5pm
www.hearingconcern.org.uk
Information, advice and support for people who are hard of hearing.

RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People)
19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL
Tel 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
www.rnid.org.uk
Information, factsheets, training, library.

The RNID Solutions catalogue offers special equipment
RNID Sound Advantage, 1 Haddonbrook Business Centre, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6YX
Tel 01733 361199
Textphone 01733 238020
www.rnid.org.uk/shop

DeafPLUS
Tel/textphone 01252 510051 for information, support and advice.
www.deafplus.org

Farnborough office
67 Albert Road, Farnborough GU14 6SL
Aldershot office
Princes Garden, 2a High Street Aldershot GU11 1BJ
Drop in service for enquiries Tuesday to Thursday 10am-1pm
Mobile Advisory Service (MAS)
Offers free advice and information, one-to-one support, demonstrations of telecomms and other specialist equipment, basic maintenance of NHS hearing aids at a variety of venues across the county.

Texting service for emergency calls

Deaf and speech impaired people in Hampshire can alert the emergency services by texting to 80999. You don’t have to pre-register for this speed-text service. The number is not designed for general use and police say that anyone misusing it will have their mobile disabled.

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Deafblind people

People who have dual sensory loss or who are deafblind can contact Adult Services to get help, a specialist assessment and information about equipment - see chapter 9.

Help from specialist organisations

Deafblind UK
Helpline: voice or text
Freephone 24 hours 0800 132320 tel/textphone 01733 358100 www.deafblind.org.uk
Information, local help, support services, training.

Sense
Tel 0845 127 0076
Textphone 0845 127 0078
www.sense.org.uk
Support groups, family network, information and factsheets.

A-Z to Deafblindness
www.deafblind.com
Information about equipment and communications.

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Physical disabilities

Whether you are registered as disabled, or whether you are just finding it harder to get about than you used to, you can ask Adult Services for an assessment of the help you might need.

You will find details of the organisations that can provide domestic help and/or personal care in the section of the Guide on Other organisations. Some physically disabled people may qualify for help at home arranged by Adult Services.

If you qualify for help from Adult Services, you may want to consider using the 'Direct Payments scheme' which gives you money to spend on arranging your own care yourself. Many people using this scheme choose to employ their own personal assistant, which makes it easier for them to have the help they need exactly when they want it. For Direct Payments see chapter 6.

Registering as disabled

If your disability is 'substantial and permanent', you can register as a disabled person Adult Services. In the first instance, you should contact your local Adult Services office and they will organise an assessment for you.

Registration is voluntary and entitles you to some concessions from other organisations, particularly for leisure activities and travel. A registration can often be useful to prove that you are disabled.

For a Disabled Person’s Parking Permit (Blue Badges), see ‘Getting out and about’ in chapter 7.

Help with meals

There are various ways that help with meals can be provided. Some organisations bring a hot midday meal to your door, while others can deliver frozen or long-life meals that are easy to heat up. Other organisations can provide someone to prepare, or help you prepare, a meal at home. Many restaurants and takeaways operate a home delivery service.

The Meals on Wheels service delivers a hot midday meal for people who are unable to cook for themselves and there is no one else who can help them. The service may only be provided after an assessment by a care manager, and is subject to the eligibility criteria. For more information, contact your local Adult Services office.

Shopping

If shopping is more of a problem than cooking, and you are having difficulty in getting to the shops to buy food, most major supermarkets offer an internet shopping service and will deliver to your door.

Alternatively, there are various shopmobility schemes, listed in chapter 7, which provide disabled people with the means to get around town to shop or sightsee.

There are also various ‘good neighbour’ groups who organise volunteers who will run errands on your behalf. See chapter 5 for more information on these schemes.

Local support organisations

Hampshire Coalition of Disabled People (HCODP)
Unity 12, 9-19 Rose Road, Southampton SO14 6TE
Tel 023 8020 2650
www.hcodp.co.uk
HCODP is a campaigning organisation, which raises the profile of disabled people and the issues affecting their everyday lives.

Hampshire Centre for Independent Living (HCIL)
Tel 01420 474261
email hcil@pvm.ndo.co.uk
HCIL is an organisation of disabled people who supply information, guidance and support.

Southampton Centre for Independent Living (SCIL)
Tel 023 8033 0982
Textphone 023 8020 2649
www.southamptoncil.co.uk
SCIL is a democratic membership organisation run and controlled by disabled people. They campaign for the full civil rights of disabled people whilst supporting them to make use of current provisions available to enable them to live independently.

Stonham Housing's Southampton Physical Disabilities Service offers floating support to promote independent living in the community.
Tel 023 8020 2678

National Organisations

Directgov
The government website at www.direct.gov.uk has disability information about employment, health and education. There's also advice for disabled people on independent living, leisure, financial support and rights and access to on-line services.

DISS - Disability Information Services
www.diss.org.uk
DISS are providers of a comprehensive national database of disability information. Their website lists many useful organisations.

Department of Health
’The Department of Health offers a free publication A practical guide for disabled people or carers - where to find information, services and equipment’ (2003), product code 29614. You can download the document from www.dh.gov.uk or order printed copies from
DH Publications Orderline, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH
Tel 0870 155 5455
Textphone 0870 010 2870
Monday to Friday 8am-6pm
email doh@prolog.uk.com

www.youreable.com
Lively online debates with other disabled people, non-disabled people, parents, carers, nurses and occupational therapists.

RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Information)
12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London EC1V 8AF
Information line 020 7250 3222 Monday to Friday 10am-4pm
www.radar.org.uk

RADAR is a campaigning organisation but also provides publications on travel, employment, housing etc.

Radar publishes a guide for newly disabled people and their families called ‘If only I had known that a year ago’,

RADAR also runs the National Key Scheme (NKS) which offers disabled people access to around 4,000 public toilets that are kept locked. You can buy a key to open these toilets from RADAR who run the non-profit making National Key Scheme. Keys cost £3.50 each.

Relationships

Outsiders is a nationwide, self-help community helping physically and socially disabled people to find partners.
Please send a stamped addressed envelope for more information.
The Outsiders, BCM Box Outsiders, London WC1N 3XX
Tel 020 7354 8291 answerphone run by volunteers, always answered on Thursdays 1pm-5pm.
Helpline 0707 499 3527 Monday to Friday 11am-7pm
www.outsiders.org.uk

Please send a stamped addressed envelope for more information.

The Outsiders
BCM Box Outsiders
London, WC1N 3XX

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Learning disabilities

There are many kinds of support available to people with learning disabilities to help them live as independently as possible and play a part in their local community. There is help with learning new skills, finding a place to live, getting a job and speaking up for themselves.

For those who are eligible for help, the Adult Services Department can arrange services which might include the following (see chapter 7 for more information)

day opportunities
short breaks
supported employment
adult placement.

Registering as disabled

Independent information, advice and help

Some people will need the kind of support that can only be given by organisations who have special skills or knowledge. The following are some helpful contacts:

Mencap
National:
123 Golden Lane
London, EC1Y 0RT
Tel: 020 7454 0454
Fax: 020 7608 3254
Email: information@mencap.org.uk
www.mencap.org.uk

National Learning Disability Helpline (24 hours)
0808 808 1111

Hampshire Mencap
Admiral House
43 High Street, Salterns Lane, Fareham PO16 7BQ
Tel: 01329 826422 (Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm)

Downs Syndrome Association
Langdon Down Centre, 2a Langdon Park, Teddington TW11 9PS
Helpline 0845 230 0372
Monday to Friday 10am–4pm
www.downs-syndrome.org.uk

The National Autistic Society
393 City Road, London EC1V 1NG
Tel: 020 7833 2299
Fax: 020 7833 9666
Email: nas@nas.org.uk

Hampshire Autistic Society
1634, Parkway, Solent Business Park, Whiteley, Fareham PO15 7AH
Tel 01489 880881
www.has.org.uk

Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Sea Containers House, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9QB
Tel 020 7083 1100
www.learningdisabilities.org.uk

British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD)
Campion House, Green Street, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 1JL
Tel 01562 723010
www.bild.org.uk

Relationships

Outsiders is a nationwide, self-help community for people with physical and social disabilities to find friends and partners.

Making decisions

People with a learning disability are among those offered protection by the provision of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which took effect in 2007.

The Act puts individuals at the centre of any decisions made regarding their care, giving them the support and advice they need to make decisions for themselves where possible. See chapter 1.

Person Centred Planning

Person centred planning can help you to take control and work towards the life you want. Using the person centred planning tools might help you to develop a profile of who you are and your interests. This can help to make sure that any services supporting you will be able to understand what you want from your life. Using the person centred planning tools can also help with planning changes that are important to you. You might also improve your links with your community by finding people who can support you to carry out your action plans.

You can find out what person centred planning is all about and where to get help with making a plan at this website: www.pcp-in-hampshire.net

Clearer information for all

To get an ‘easy to read’ version of some of this information for people with learning disabilities, please telephone 01962 833046.

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Advocacy

Advocacy supports people who feel that they can’t express their views or feel that they are not being listened to. The following schemes help people with learning disabilities to speak up for themselves.

Andover Advocacy Alliance
Tel 01264 336380
email andoveradvocacy@freenet.co.uk

Choices Advocacy
Tel 23 8033 7735
www.choices-advocacy.org.uk
email charles@choices-advocacy.org.uk
covers Southampton, New Forest, Waterside, Eastleigh and Romsey

Connect Advocacy
Tel 01329 848649
email connect.advocacy@ntlworld.com
covers Fareham and Gosport

The CP Centre
Tel: 023 9267 1846
email enquiries@cpcentre.org.uk
covers Portsmouth

East Hampshire Advocacy Scheme
Tel 01730 233345
email ehasadvocacy@aol.com

Eastleigh Self Advocacy Project
Tel 023 8036 3304
email eap@southsurf.com

Just Advocacy
Tel 01483 527759
www.justadvocacy.org.uk
email staff@cp-advocacy.org.uk
covers north east Hampshire

Speakeasy Advocacy
Tel 01256 332795
www.speakeasyadvocacy.org.uk
email speakeasy.advocacy@btconnect.com
covers Basingstoke

Winchester District Advocacy Project
Tel 01962 848023
email dcapps@waca.org.uk

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