Table 1 Summary of support by the Visual Rehabilitation Officer. The table summarises general areas assessed by the Visual Rehabilitation Officer and examples of provision of training and support in each area

Emotional• Emotional state of participant and family • How family members cope with adjustment to the participant’s sight loss.

• Education on eye condition and related emotional, practical and physical difficulties.• Sign-posting to other organisations that can provide emotional support.

Low Vision Function• Functional vision assessment• Best contrast/colour contrast to assist practice in daily living.• Glare sensitivity.

• Eccentric viewing or steady eye strategy training and scanning techniques.• Provision of tinted glasses/peak cap. Training in techniques/aids for watching television.• Training on use of low vision aids, issued by the optometrist• Referral to optometrist.

Lighting• Lighting assessment for areas in and around home

• Provision of specific task lamps, specialist light bulbs.

Personal• Potential difficulties with dressing, grooming and personal hygiene.

• Provision of strategy for identifying and matching colour of clothing, makeup application, hair management, shaving, application of toothpaste on tooth brush, identifying bottles and contents, feminine intimate care.

Medication• Ability to manage medication independently.

• Provision of strategy to administer eye drops, dispense pills from blister packs, systematically search for dropped pill• Provision of dosset boxes, enlarged labels.

Kitchen• Potential difficulties with cooking and meal preparation.

• Training and provision of equipment for cooking. For example, for pouring liquids, knife management and other safety aspects, sequence/timing strategy.

Home• Potential difficulties with household chores, for example, cleaning, tidying, laundry, bed making.

• Training to support tasks such as cleaning, tidying, laundry and bed making. For example, systematic approach for vacuuming and dusting, measuring soap powder/liquid, separating laundry, folding clothing, safe techniques and equipment to avoid burns when ironing, threading needles, changing sheets.

Entitlements• Criteria check for entitlements.

• Assistance with applications. For example, for Disabled Parking badge, bus pass, Disabled rail card, talking magazines/newspapers, British Wireless for the Blind fund, Personal tax allowance, TV licence, accessing utility discount scheme.• Referrals for benefits assessments.

Referrals• Possible need for referral to specialist service.

• Referral to appropriate agency. For example, Occupational therapist, Physiotherapy, Age Concern, Cardiff Institute for the Blind, GP, Diabetic Nurse, Opticians for Wales Eye Care Low Vision Scheme, CAB, Action for Blind, RNIB Benefits, Speech Therapists, Support Groups, talking books, Care & Repair, Sense Cymru, Befriending, Talk and Support, refer to Sight Cymru BME advisor, Highway Maintenance, Hearing Team Cardiff Social Services.

Orientation and Mobility• Potential orientation and mobility difficulties.

• Long cane training, symbol cane issuing and sighted guide training, guide cane training, route and orientation training.• Support for planning travel arrangements. For example, timetables, relevant platform/bus stop/departure gate, arrangements for company provision of Travel Assistance, etc.

Communication• Potential difficulties with telephones, appointments, correspondence, finance management, IT.

Support and advice on the following:• Appropriate telephones and related devices.• Telephone banking, telephone/online shopping.• Note taking and maintaining appointments diary (large print, address guides).• Techniques or equipment suitable to needs for reading, general correspondence, telling the time.• Strategy for accessing bank and money management• Computer technology assistance and referral for IT skills training.