FAQ's | Sight Support Calderdale

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the role of an ECLO?

An ECLO, or Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, is a professional based in eye clinics who provides support to individuals with sight loss. With an ECLO’s guidance, you can find ways to maintain independence, understand your eye condition and treatment, help with applying for helpful benefits and concessions and assistance to help you stay in employment or education. In Calderdale, the local ECLO is Fran Reilly. Fran can offer practical and emotional support to anyone affected by sight loss, including families and carers. For more information, please follow the link: Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLOs) | RNIB

What is a ROVI?

A Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS) formally known as a Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired (ROVI), can support you in and outside of your home with communication skills, using technology, orientation and long cane mobility training, independent living skills training, understanding eye conditions and prognosis, and advice and training on low vision aids.

The following link will provide more detailed information with regards to the sight loss pathway: Sight Loss Pathway | Vision Support

What are the next steps now I have been diagnosed with sight loss?

As per the RNIB care support pathway, designed to enhance the experience of individuals with eye care needs, ensuring they receive timely access to information, advice and support throughout their eye care journey. There are four key stages that individuals typically experience during their eye care journey.

These are as follows:

Awareness: Recognising that there is a potential issue with your vision.
Diagnosis: Receiving a formal diagnosis of an eye condition
Management: learning how to manage the condition effectively
Living well: adapting to life with the condition and accessing ongoing support.

The following link will redirect you to Henshaw’s ‘first steps’ page with lots of useful hints and tips regarding the CVI registration, accessing grants and more. Information, Advice and Guidance - Henshaws

How do I choose the right magnifier that's right for me?

Choosing a magnifier that’s right for you can be a daunting experience, particularly for those new to sight loss. Initially, the Low Vision Clinic will invite you to explore their range of magnifiers. However, if after visiting your local low vision clinic you decide you would like a different style of magnifier, there are plenty of resources to help you.

Here at Sight Support Calderdale, we have a range of magnifiers available to purchase. We also have fully trained staff on hand to offer helpful advice and guidance when purchasing a magnifier or getting to know your current one.

Magnifiers are a fantastic tool for someone with a Visual Impairment. Here is a link to a short blog that highlights some of the things you will need to consider before purchasing. How to Know What Magnification I Need for Visually Impaired - Glazzers

To see the selection of magnifiers we offer, visit our Sight Centre page HERE, or visit our Sight Centre at 7 Southgate, Halifax HX1 1DL.

Where can I get help to make my home brighter?

Gateway to care is a government funded service that is the first point of contact for adult social care. Gateway to care can assist with various queries. However, they also offer practical information and advice to help those with a visual impairment live independently at home. To make an enquiry or to contact Gateway to care, please follow the link: https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/gateway-to-care or call 01422 288 000.

At Sight Support Calderdale, we also stock our own range of lighting aids. You can come to our Sight Centre and try these out for yourself at 7 Southgate, Halifax, HX1 1DL.

Where can I get long cane training?

There are various resources available for those seeking to regain some of their independence by completing cane training. Gateway to Care is an adult social care service. By following this link (Gateway to Care | Calderdale Council), you can submit a contact form with a brief description of your request. Following this, someone from Gateway to Care will be in touch.

How do I apply for a Guide Dog?

If you have a visual impairment, a guide dog can help you become more independent and mobile. Highley trained to support you in navigating any mobility challenges you may face, Guide Dogs are a great way to get you out and about with confidence. Here is a link to the Guide Dogs website. Here you can find lots of information about getting a Guide Dog and what work goes into making sure they are the right fit for you: Our Guide Dog Service | Guide Dogs UK

How do I access devices to help me at work?

Access to work is a programme designed to help you stay, re-join or commence work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. The support you get will depend on your needs and you will be assessed on an individual basis. Through access to work, you can apply for multiple different grants designed to financially support you when selecting the aids you need.

Here is a link to the Access to work page on the Government website (Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK). There is also an eligibility test available on the page.

Who is affected by sight loss?

According to the RNIB website, there are more than two million people in the UK that suffer with sight loss. That’s around 250 people each day that start to lose their sight in the UK alone. Whilst these statistics may seem daunting, we believe that in highlighting them, we can start to break down the barriers of isolation. For more facts and statistics about sight loss, please follow the link below- Learn more about sight loss statistics across the UK | RNIB.

Here at Sight Support Calderdale, we understand that sight loss can become very isolating. We have a range of different groups and activities that run throughout each month which are designed to help our members retain their independence and meet other connections that may have a similar eye condition. See our calendar to keep up to date with everything going on HERE.

How do I pay for the aids I need?

Whatever equipment it is you need, we know they can be costly! Here is a link to Henshaw’s ‘grants guide’ which details different grant opportunities available to individuals that suffer with sight loss. Follow this link for more information (Henshaws-Sight-Loss-Team-Grants-Guide.pdf)