When you first register for a certificate of visual impairment and you have informed your local authority that you may need care and support, they have a legal duty, under The Social Care Act, to carry out an assessment. This assessment is designed to evaluate what kind of extra support you need, perhaps it is help around the home or navigating the outside world. But problems seem to occur when a local authority does not have the specialist knowledge of visual impairments in order to diagnose the most suitable help and when newly blind people are not aware of what they are entitled to.

On the programme, we hear from two people who have experienced problems in accessing social care assistance from their local authorities. We discuss rehabilitation, a service which offers visual impairment training, and why certain areas of the UK don't have the necessary specialist support.
Our guests include: Professor Fred Reid, a long time campaigner on behalf of visually impaired people, and honorary professor of history at Warwick University. Simon Labbett, chair of the Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network, and a rehabilitation officer for the blind and John Dixon, the RNIB's policy lead on social care.