Objectives, Actions and Timelines continued.
[ Contents | Intro. | Outcome 1. | Outcome 2. | Outcome 3. | Appendix ]
Outcome 3: Inclusion, participation and independence for people with sight loss.
3.1. Objective: Peer support groups for people with eye care needs and their carers are provided or commissioned.
Action Plan:
To establish best practice guidance from advocacy and peer support agencies. Timescale 2010.
To pilot the delivery of peer focused support models in 3 Local Authorities, including 2 rural areas. Timescale 2011.
To recommend and develop an affordable model for adoption throughout Wales. Timescale 2012.
3.2. Objective: Deaf blind.
Action Plan:
To incorporate the needs of people with dual sensory loss where relevant in the Wales Vision Strategy Implementation Plan. Initial mapping and consultation with key partners. Timescale 2010.
3.3. Objective: To ensure that rehabilitation is delivered by a registered and appropriately trained workforce.
Action Plan:
To work alongside UK partners, the Welsh Rehabilitation Officers Forum (WROF) and Care Council Wales to protect the rehabilitation worker profession and implement the registration of VI rehabilitation officers for Wales. Timescale November 2010.
To implement a quality standard review of existing rehabilitation officers and develop a competency baseline. Timescale April 2010.
To ensure the availability of QCF level 4,5 and 6 workforce development courses for new and existing rehabilitation officers. Timescale September 2011.
To ensure all authorities employ a trained workforce. Timescale 2013.
3.4. Objective: To develop strong visual impairment social care teams by universal adoption of the WLGA Good Practice Guidelines for Social Care.
Action Plan:
To establish VI Benchmarking Network standards within the Annual Council Framework process. Timescale April 2010.
To establish regional service improvement collaborative for social services in Wales. Timescale October 2010.
To deliver a pilot scheme to increase access to social care and improve outcomes. Timescale April 2011.
3.5. Objective: Reduce the levels of poverty association with visual impairment by maximising the take up of benefits among people with sight loss.
Action Plan:
Existing services are developed to ensure timely and quality access to welfare rights advice / advocacy support. Timescale 2012.
3.6. Objective: Increase the production of accessible educational materials within primary, secondary and further education.
Strengthen focus on special educational needs for children with a visual impairment
Ensure that all children with a visual impairment have a smooth transition pathway from young people to adult services, including education, social care and employment.
Action Plan:
All children have access to accessible curriculum, classroom and other education materials. Timeline TBA.
Children have access to support through transitions in compulsory and further and higher education. Timeline TBA.
Further Integration of Health, Educational and Social services for children. Timeline TBA.
3.7. Objective: Reduce unemployment rate of people with sight loss.
Action Plan: Improve the attitudes and actions of employers to ensure the numbers of blind and partially sighted people in the labour market increase. Timescale 2010.
To increase employment opportunities for people with a visual impairment by increasing the awareness of Access to Work, and Work with employers to comply with good practice in the recruitment process. Timescale 2013.
3.8. Objective: Ensuring that the principles of inclusive design are integral to any development in the pedestrian and built environment.
Action Plan:
Local authorities develop clear consultation and involvement strategies that set requirements for communication with blind and partially sighted people including materials in accessible formats and tactile models explaining the proposals where appropriate. Timescale 2010.
Ensuring the policies of the Welsh Assembly Government and the guidance issued to local planning and highway authorities reflect inclusive design, and that they are used by authorities and developers. Timescale 2011.
Local authorities conduct an Equality Impact Assessment and provide an Access Statement on all proposed developments in the street environment. Timescale 2011.
Progress made with regard to all pedestrian environments being accessible and safe for blind and partially sighted people and other vulnerable pedestrians. Timescale 2012.
3.9. Objective: To improve the compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and other equality legislation and schemes.
Action Plan:
Wales Vision Strategy Advisory Group to identify compliance legislation for each priority within this Implementation Plan and disseminate to key stakeholders. Monitor throughout the life of the strategy. Timescale ongoing.
3.10. Objective: To ensure that all modes of public transport are accessible and available to blind and partially sighted people.
Action Plan: Welsh Assembly Government to advise stakeholders of compliance and legislative obligations. Timescale 2010.
Transport providers in Wales to fulfil the current legal requirements to provide accurate accessible information to blind and partially sighted people. Timescale 2011.
Transport providers to train their staff in disability awareness and equality. Timescale 2011.
To encourage the provision of audible and visual information of route, destination and next stop on all bus services in Wales. Timescale 2011.