News

Talking up Council services for hard of seeing - 10 Feb 2003

Over 700 visually impaired people (blind and partially sighted) in East Dunbartonshire are to get a new audio tape giving details of how to access general Council services and services specifically for people with sight problems.

The tape is a joint project involving East Dunbartonshire Council and the Cue and Review Recording Service. Cue and Review helps organisations to communicate with people who have visual or physical disabilities which stop them from reading. It transcribes documents and information onto tape.

Cllr Bob Duncan, Convener of East Dunbartonshire Councils Social Services Committee, said, Nationally, one person in 35 either cant read normal text or has trouble reading normal text because they have some form of visual impairment. We are reaching out to the visually impaired members of our community to make our services as accessible as possible.

Alastair McPhee, Cue and Reviews Managing Editor, said, This practical support being offered by the council is extremely welcome at a time, when due to the fall in share prices, the RNIB is making 100 people redundant and cutting their funding to the local society for the blind.

Services on tape

Local visually impaired people need to know what services are available and how to access them. This audio newsletter will achieve that.

The tape includes contact details for the Councils Sensory Impairment Team. The Team can provide help with; equipment to make day-to-day living easier, advice on managing everyday tasks, information on Council services, home care, things to do during the day, including leisure activities, employment advice, borrowing talking books, advice on benefits, respite care.

All the help, advice and equipment provided is FREE.