‘Registration for my sight impairment has opened a lot of doors for me.’
'The process was really smooth. Once I got registered, I started to receive support.'
‘I would like to consider registration and find out more about the benefits. It would be great to get access to alternative travel options.’
Some patients are offered certification when they need it. Others have never been informed about their entitlement to be registered, or do not meet the criteria for certification. Support is available for patients with low vision, whether or not they meet the criteria for certification, however, certain concessions and discounts only apply when you are registered (see Blog 3).
This blog contains quotes from patients who were interviewed for an article about certification and registration. Written consent was obtained for their quotes to be included here.
Is support available if you are not registered?
The short answer is: ‘Yes!’
Most Low Vision services can be accessed by any patient experiencing difficulties with their eye sight. Additionally, rehabilitation services are also offered to patients regardless of registration status.
Some patients do not feel the need to be registered, as this patient points out:
'So far, I haven’t worried about it. I can access what I want. I have never had a point where someone has asked: ‘proof to me that you cannot see’. Things I enjoy doing as a musician, are going to concerts and theatres. There, I do ask and get the voice-over machine. They are very helpful. They never ask any questions. They say, ‘of course’ and they hand you the machine.'
Some patients are not aware that support is available when they are not registered. They only find out about support services once they have been registered:
'I assumed that you would get support if you were registered. I didn’t know you could get support without being registered. I was not told anything about this when I was told that I could not get registered.'
Most popular benefits
When I interviewed patients about their perceived benefits of registration, there were a couple of things that stood out:
Transportation: Many patients rely on others to take them out to places for leisure, and for hospital appointments. It can be very difficult to find a parking place, and for this reason, many patients highly value the disabled parking pass, also known as the ‘blue badge’ in Scotland:
'The reason I would like to get registered is because I would like a blue badge, because I gave up driving 2 years ago and my daughter very kindly takes me out once a week and parking can be difficult…'
'Once I was registered, I applied for the blue badge immediately.'
Information and advice about other services
Some patients only find out about available services once they are registered. When the patient has ticked the relevant box on the certification form, they will receive a phone call to discuss what support they require. Some of this support is only offered to patients who are registered, while other support might be available regardless of registration status. However, this initial point of contact is often a turning point for patients.
'I would have liked to receive support and information before I was registered. Once I was registered, I got a phone call from the Patient Support Service and this set everything in motion. It was only at this point, that I found out about audible books: The RNIB sent book titles and gave me the machine to listen to the books. It is easy to use. I also got bump-on stickers. I now realise that I could have had all this support before I was registered, but no-one told me about it.'
'I’ve had mobility training from the RNIB. I use a cane. I don’t go out terribly much now. The cane is very good. I also have a liquid level indicator and bump-on stickers. I find that what the RNIB provide is excellent.'
'The ECLO gave me small things, like a gadget for filling your cup. She also helped me with an app on my phone.'
'The process of certification was really smooth. Once I got registered, I started to receive support. We were sent details from the RNIB and from Sight Scotland. Someone from Sight Scotland came in the last 3 months.'
'It gives me contact with various things… the taxi card, blue badge scheme, travel card, RNIB program, which was very good… The other benefits that are available to the disabled people, but not severely disabled.'
In conclusion, patients do value being offered certification when they need it. The interviews also reveiled that a lot of patients did not realise that they could access support without the need to be registered. It is a good reminder for us as clinicians, that we need to signpost patients to local low vision and support services, as well as local peer support groups.
