Focus on social exclusion

Focus on social exclusion

This is due to under investment in rehabilitation and social care services.

Guide Dogs, RNIB Northern Ireland and the Blind Centre for Northern Ireland are forming a committee, Partners in Focus. It will investigate how additional resources and revised working practices can be used to ensure blind and partially-sighted people in the Province get the support they need. The launch of the regional committee will take place on Tuesday 21 June 2005.

Andrew Murdock, Guide Dogs’ Rehabilitation Worker in the Province explains: "Partners in Focus welcome the recent Social Services Inspectorate report, ‘Challenge and Change’. But we note that Health Boards in Northern Ireland need additional resources to ensure that blind and partially-sighted people continue to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

"There needs to be greater emphasis on the rehabilitation and social care services for blind and partially-sighted people within their local communities. People with sight loss demand access to new technology and must be able to maintain social and recreational interests, regain lost independence and receive the care and support needed in coping with sight loss.

"Without such a commitment, a significant proportion of people with sight problems in Northern Ireland will face social exclusion and be unable to lead full and independent lives. This is completely unacceptable."

Partners in Focus believe that an initial investment of £1m by Government will make a significant impact to the lives of thousands of blind and partially sighted people in Northern Ireland. Over the next year or so, Partners in Focus will look at the service and investment needs of adults, children and young people, reporting its conclusions during 2006.