Other people
How will other people treat me?
It is hard to generalise about how you will be treated by family, friends, colleagues and employers because of your visual impairment. Remember that others may also need to adapt to your sight loss and come to terms with the practical and emotional implications this may have.
Henshaws Society for Blind People aims to provide support, guidance and information not just to the individual, but also to other people in your network. For example, we are able to provide Visual Impairment Awareness Training (VIAT) for employers and individuals who want to understand more about visual impairment.
It is also important to remember your individual rights. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 aims to end the discrimination that many disabled people face. This Act gives disabled people rights in the areas of:
- employment
- ducation
- access to goods, facilities and services
- buying or renting land or property
The Act also allows the government to set minimum standards so that disabled people can use public transport easily. More information about the DDA and your rights as a disabled person can be found on the DirectGov website.