Call for better rehabilitation for the blind, UK

Main Category: Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy
Article Date: 04 Nov 2004 - 7:00 PDT

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There need to be better rehabilitation services for those who go blind, according to the course director at the RNIB school of Rehabilitation Studies for the University of Central England.

Richard Cox wants legislation to be introduced that will make it compulsory for blind people to be offered rehabilitation care and support.

Speaking on BBC Radio Four's 'In Touch', Mr Cox called for a policy that would force local authorities to provide an adequate level of services for the blind.

"The fact is that there is no law that directly says that blind or partially sighted people should get rehabilitation to help them," said Mr Cox

"There are different laws about in general what people who have disabilities should get in the way of help. But no one, for example, says that a local authority must employ someone who can teach blind or partially sighted people how to cross the road."

Mr Cox also raised concerns that there is a national shortage of rehabilitation officers. He said that figures from the RNIB suggest more than 100 people a day are losing their sight, but there are only 700 specialist rehabilitation workers to deal with them.

http://www.hda-online.org.uk

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