Sight Loss - Introducing the rehabilitation officer
The rehabilitation officer is a fully qualified trainer/instructor.
If you have slight loss, as part of your assessment of needs they will provide general advice, information and training. Training will help you to adapt existing skills and adopt new skills in order to maintain your independence and safety.
The rehabilitation officer can help those people close to you to understand the implications of your sight loss. They can help with the following aspects of your life:
Mobility
- Sighted guiding techniques.
- Advice on safe ways to cross roads.
- Using public transport safely.
- Room or building familiarisation.
- Advice on access to buildings, for example, local shops, GP's surgery, school or college.
- White cane training.
- Making the most of other senses.
Daily Living
- Personal care (for example, safe shaving or bathing).
- How to apply make up or style your hair.
- Ways of identifying clothing.
- Making a hot drink.
- Preparation and cooking of meals in the safest way.
- Identifying money or clothing.
- Simple and effective ways of doing housework.
- Advice on safer gardening techniques.
Communication
- Using the telephone.
- Advice on the use of magnifiers and lighting.
- Handwriting and signatures.
- How to make an audiotape.
- Using keyboards, computers, scanners and other software.
- Tactile languages (Braille/Moon).
