Useful Links for the Vision Impaired
For those who haven't experienced it, the loss of vision is an unimaginably difficult experience. Daily tasks and activities become much harder when clarity of sight is taken from you which is why it is so important that there are so many community services available to make life that little bit easier. A variety of these services are listed below but in addition to these services, remember the important role that Assistive Technology can play in easing these struggles as well. Don't forget to look at our factsheet detailing some of these Assistive Technology options in addition to the following services;
Guide Dogs Australia
Guide Dogs Australia are a network of Guide Dog associations. They provide many services to help the vision impaired, not just Dog companions. Each state organisation provides a slightly different set of services. Here listed will be some of the most significant and most common services offered and beneath, which state associations provide them.
Guide Dogs
- Guide Dogs NSW/ACT (hereafter NSW/ACT), Guide Dogs Victoria (hereafter Vic), Guide Dogs Queensland (hereafter QLD), Guide Dogs SA.NT (hereafter SA/NT), Association for the Blind of WA (hereafter WA) and Royal Guide Dogs Tasmania (hereafter Tas)
Mobility Equipment/Training
- NSW/ACT, SA/NT, WA, Tas, QLD
Advocacy
- NSW/ACT - to ensure public transport accessibility, and WA - for employment opportunities
Community Education Programs
- NSW/ACT, SA/NT, QLD
Special Services for Children
- NSW/ACT, Vic, SA/NT, WA, QLD
Services Tailored to Origin of Impairment e.g. neurological services for vision impairment caused by stroke
- NSW/ACT, Vic, SA/NT
Pets as Therapy
- NSW/ACT, SA/NT
Counselling
- Vic, Tas, QLD
To contact your state's Guide Dog service, please go to their website. Each website has additional contact details like telephone numbers, emails, online applications for services and mailing addresses.
NSW/ACT: http://www.guidedogs.com.au/home
Victoria: http://www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au/
SA/NT: http://www.guidedogs.org.au/home
WA: http://www.guidedogswa.com.au/
Tasmania: http://www.royalguidedogs.com.au/page/display/what-we-do/life-skills
QLD: http://www.guidedogsqld.com.au/
Carer Gateway Website
If the person you care for is legally blind or vision-impaired, a range of special services and technologies is available to help, including services from governments and organisations such as Vision Australia. If your own sight is deteriorating, an optometrist or ophthalmologist will need to investigate and treat it if necessary. As a carer, planning ahead can often help you avoid or manage a crisis.