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and assess people’s need for specialist equipment and adaptations. The ROVIs work closely with partner agencies such as the Low Vision Service Wales (LVSW) and the third sector to ensure clients’ needs can be fully recognised, supported and progressed. They also build links with other services to ensure the needs of visually impaired people are taken into account. A recent example is engagement with Aberystwyth University in Ceredigion which resulted in the opening of an art gallery with audible provision. Finally, ROVIs work within communities to provide visual awareness training and look to set up local support groups for people with vision impairment
• LowVisionserviceWales(LVSW)-accreditedpractitionerslocatedwithinprimary care, who provide advice and guidance to those who have had diagnosis of a specific eye condition. People can access LVSW practitioners from the community or when in secondary care. Practitioners currently operate in 32 community optometric (optician) practices and a further 11 offering a domiciliary service
• Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLOs) operating from opthalmology departments across the region and provide support and advice to patients with vision impairment; this service is limited and is provided by RNIB in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and by Sight Cymru in Ceredigion
• Specialist equipment available to facilitate daily activities, such as mobility and communication equipment (including Braille and hearing loop systems) and lip- reading services (in Carmarthenshire), where appropriate
• General awareness raising and engagement activities for example with 50 + forums which takes place across the region and interaction with other services such as education, highways and the third sector (in Pembrokeshire) to improve provision for people with sensory loss. Local engagement activities include work conducted through the West Wales Audiology Group, facilitated by Hywel Dda University Health Board and bringing together professionals and service users to consider and address relevant service issues and the publication in Pembrokeshire of a monthly audio magazine for the visually impaired which encourages feedback from citizens on the type and level of services they would like to receive. Wales Council for the Blind convenes a quarterly ‘Your Voice Shared Vision’ meeting across Mid and West Wales (including Powys) to discuss service-related issues and obtain the views of users and carers
• SupportforCarersofpeoplewithsensorylossincludinginformation,signposting to appropriate support and advice on carers’ assessments
• Partnership working between the statutory and third sectors at national level with organisations such as British Wireless for the Blind, Blind Veterans UK, RNIB, SENSE Cymru, Deaf Children’s Society, Welsh Interpreting and Translation Services, Wales Council for Deaf People and locally with groups such as Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services and the Llanelli Blind Society, to deliver a range of support services. These include social interaction and activities and specific facilities such as wireless for the blind, talking newspapers
West Wales Population Assessment March 2017 Sensory impairment