Support for sensory impairments

If you are visually impaired

If you are visually impaired, we can help you with:

  • support for mobility, confidence and safety indoors and outdoors
  • help with communication
  • support to access equipment to help manage your daily life
  • advice about lighting and home adaptation to maximise your vision and reduce risk
  • referrals to other services and organisations that could help you

Who can get help

  • Anyone living in Croydon with permanent and substantial sight loss.
  • You must have permanent and significant sight loss in both eyes.
  • You do not need be registered as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind).

You cannot use this service if your sight is corrected with glasses or contact lenses. 

How we assess your needs

Your consultant ophthalmologist at the eye hospital will decide whether you meet the criteria. They will complete a certificate of visual impairment (CVI). 

The eye clinic will send you and us copies of the certificate. 

We will contact you to:

  • ask if you want to be on the sight loss register
  • give you information about visual impairment services and ask if you want to be assessed so you can access them
  • give advice about benefits

Requesting support from the council

You can request support for yourself or someone else online.

Registering as sight impaired

You can register as either:

  • sight impaired (partially sighted)
  • severely sight impaired (blind)

You do not have to register to access our services. Registering means we can find out how many visually impaired people live in Croydon. This helps us to plan our services. 

Benefits of registering

If you choose to register, you can:

  • get an assessment from us to work out what support you need
  • get free BT directory enquiry calls
  • apply for a Freedom Pass - for free travel on buses, trams and the underground in Greater London

Registering might help you to:

  • permanently borrow radio and CD players from the British Wireless for the Blind Fund, there are other criteria you also have to meet
  • claim some benefits
  • get discounts on some leisure facilities

If you register as severely sight impaired (blind), you will also be entitled to:

Registering as severely sight impaired may also support your claims for benefits.