National Council for the Blind in Ireland: supports available

NCBI has supported staff to work from home and in Meath we have Community Workers contacting Service Users daily.

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on people who are blind or visually impaired includes

• Greater sense of isolation as people with sight loss live in a more tactile world so miss the human contact and touch.
• Heightened sense of vulnerability as can’t always abide be social distancing if can’t see new floor markings, or individuals ahead. Guide dogs can’t tell distances either.
• Shows importance of technology in keeping people connected – some people have greater access to this than others.

NCBI works with over 6,500 people per year across the country.

• National Helpline – 1850 33 43 53 open 8am -8pm offering emotional support and practical information and advice.

• Continued delivery of our rehabilitative services to maximise independent living as well as continued training and education support through offering a suite of online resources to adults as well as parents of children with sight loss.

• NCBI Library – offering thousands of titles in accessible formats – digital, audio, Braille and large print. Open to students as well as adults as have many 3^rd level subject books in Ireland’s largest digital accessible library.

• Technology support and online technology tutorials on how to make technology more accessible.