The Sussex Vision Centre is a "One Stop Shop", the support of the visually impaired often require more than one type of assistance. The co-ordination of service provision is taking place without the client having to go from one service department to another, without necessarily claiming to tackle each and every problem or acting as an intermediary on every issue.

We are reaching out to many housebound visually impaired and disabled who cannot attend our Centre by means of our home visiting programme. Transport is provided to allow clients to play an active role in the activities of the Centre.

Visually impaired people take a strong lead role in the Society and its committees. Some are employed and some are volunteers. A large number of sighted volunteers young and old, employed and unemployed, aid the aims and aspirations of the Society. Manning the information desk at the Sussex Eye Hospital, carrying out home visiting, helping with the activities of the centre, driving and escorting, helping with reading and delivering equipment, campaigning and fundraising, advising and counselling.

The Building

William Moon Lodge is situated in an elevated position, in the Hollingdean area of Brighton, orientated approximately north/south. It was originally built as a single storey old peoples home about 30 years ago. The layout is arranged as a continuous building around four sides of a central garden area. In the middle of the south side there is a two store block which houses water tanks at first floor level and there are boilers in a basement. The building has a floor area of approximately 17,000 sq ft (1,500 sq m).

Services on Offer

A Centre for excellence meeting in full the needs of blind and partially sighted people will be recognised by seven key hallmarks:

outreach to people at home.

an extensive range of special aids.

a range of information systems.

an agreed level of staff support.

communication technology organised activities in key areas.

space to meet formally and informally.

William Moon Lodge already provides the bulk of the twenty-one key authorities specifically listed in the document "A new deal for blind and partially sighted people issued by Visual Handicap Group in 1993" as a guide to resource Centre development.

This multi-agency multidisciplinary setting for work with clients of all ages is focused around seven key service concepts for the range of staff working from the centre:

sound need assessment.

individual programmes for rehabilitation.

case co-ordination.

the availability of counselling.

a system of visiting training opportunity.

volunteer involvement.

Staff Roles

The Centre is a place where professional workers, carers. and volunteers can meet and work together with the blind and partially sighted people for a better quality of life.

The facilities in the Centre

The key facilities to be provided in the Centre, has determined the overall layout and resourcing will be:

Information and advice service providing addresses and telephone numbers of international, national, regional and local organisations, and details of their work.

A large stack of specialist equipment. A customer order facility offering both a personal and a postal service, and items for loan. Information days geared to the needs of the newly registered people.

A base for rehabilitation, training and counselling.

A demonstration kitchen, providing independent living skills, training and outreach follow-up by the rehabilitation staff.

Low vision aids, training and support.

Employment support training.

Social and art and craft activities.

A sport development programme.

Services and support for the young and their families.

Advice on health and fitness.

The aims of the Centre

Blind and partially sighted people are not passive recipients of the services. They actively engage with the Resource Centre so that the ways of meeting the five needs reinforce each other, resulting in a real integration of services. Many visually impaired people are not able to get to the Centre. Some are housebound, but this should not put the Centre beyond their reach. The Centre emphasises "outreach" to people at home, breaking down isolation and linking people to the Centre. So as to meet in full the needs of blind and partially sighted people, the Centre has seven major components:

An extensive range of special aids.

A range of information systems.

An agreed level of staff support.

Communications technology.

Organised activities in key areas.

Space to meet formally and informally.

Centre outreach to people in their homes.

The Arts Programme

Access to the arts for the visually impaired is extremely restricted. From the beginning of the refurbishment of the new premises, innovative and exciting art and design has been of great importance to the Centre, and complements the specific facilities listed above.

The use of bold and tactile artworks around the Centre will provide "landmarks" for orientation as well as giving the Centre a lively individuality making it a pleasure to visit. The Conference room will be an ideal place to display temporary exhibits and work produced in the art rooms.

The whole range of senses can be explored by, for example; creating a scented garden, installing tactile and robust play equipment for the children, sound and sculptures that make use of wind or water.

The Centre will present an exciting and challenging arts programme for the visually impaired offering special workshops in art, music, writing and drama. There will be regular art and craft sessions for all ages and interests and visiting musicians and writers will be invited to speak and perform.

The Centre will also build links with schools and colleges encouraging interaction between sighted and visually impaired people through special art and design projects.

Craft Centre

Here there are facilities for pottery, weaving, sewing and woodwork, helping people to enjoy crafts that they would have enjoyed before losing their sight. These facilities will also encourage young people who have been blind since birth to develop dexterity and useful skills and occupations.

The Training Kitchen

This offers training in daily living skills and independent living to young and old. The sheer enjoyment and pleasure of cooking and sharing a meal with friends will boost confidence in learning new skills or relearning forgotten ones. The kitchen consists of well-equipped units and utensils, with gas and electric cookers, and low level units for wheelchair users. There is a dining room where those participating in the training can enjoy the fruits of their endeavours.

Child Development Unit

A specially adapted child development unit provides:

0-5 yrs - Pre-school support and counselling for parents and carers, specialist child development facilities

5-16 yrs - Resource support to teachers, children and parents. Training in music, drama, social skills, hobbies, crafts. Communication skills, extra tuition for children falling behind in class, holiday activities.

A music studio, practice room and recording studio will provide the opportunity for enjoyment of music and offer music therapy to very small children.

Child Development Department

Aims: To offer information, support and counselling to parents, carer's and visually impaired or multi disabled visually impaired young people.

To provide where possible a range of appropriate resources for family members and interested professionals.

To offer the nursery, educational, play and sensory stimulation facilities available at the Society's premises.

To encourage and enhance the development of blind, partially sighted multi disabled visually impaired young people through sensory experience.

Objectives: To provide information, audio/video library, toy library, access to the internet and specialist equipment to parents and carer's.

Acknowledge the emotional impact of disability and offer support where appropriate to parents and family when required.

Provide and encourage opportunities for leisure, play activities for school age children and varied sensory stimulation.

To provide the opportunity for the professional development of a specialist nursery provision.

To liaise with statutory and voluntary organisations where appropriate.

Connections

To be fully effective, the Centre has to make links with other specialist services.

Support for visually impaired people in Brighton and Hove largely comes from carers - family, friends and neighbours. Specialised help comes via professionals of a wide variety of types - ophthalmic staff with various titles in the health-care field, social services home, day, and residential care staff; private sector residential and nursing accommodation; and chiropody and community nurses.

All contribute at various times, together with staff whose specific role is to help the rehabilitation of blind and partially sighted people following initial registration - the Sensory Impairment Team.

Rehabilitation cannot be seen in isolation when the client group displays much evidence of additional disability beyond loss of sight. he Society through its Centre seeks to collaborate with all such agencies to improve the well-being of all those who need support in the Brighton and Hove community, in the wider County, and with national agencies: the Guide Dogs Association for the Blind, and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Working Together

Effective care in the community for people of all ages, but especially those with several disabling conditions requires health, social, educational, independent and voluntary agencies to work jointly both in care planning and in the support given to individuals.

Links:
Introduction to the Sussex Vision Centre
Other articles about Brighton Society for the Blind