Visually Impaired Register

[Mamyalynne]

Does anyone have experience of being registered as partially sighted, I know this will all be explained and could indeed be beneficial to me , but still a litttle unsure what to expect. If no one does know I shall wait for the wheels to set in motion and see what help they can offer. I think my fear is they will be intrusive, is that an unfair thought? I treasure my independence Isuppose. Thanks for reading this. Mamya

[mrs_overall]

Hi there mamyalynne.
One of my nieces (15) is partially sighted and has been since birth. My sister claimed Disability Living Allowance for her (middle rate, care component) from when she was a baby.
My sister toyed long and hard with the idea of of registering Lauren as partially sighted but her main concern was that of attaching a "label" to her. Lauren was 4 when my sis registered her. Her reasons for registering her were:
1. Having more leverage when she started school
2. Knowing she could de-register her easily
3. Cheap rail travel.

The only moment of horror in the whole procedure was when a social worker turned up with the forms. She was a right old battleaxe and was incredibly bossy. She asked sis which school Lauren would be going to, and looked shocked when sis said it would be the local primary. She tried to persuade sis to send Lauren away to a residential school in Blackpool! Anyway, the forms were filled in, Lauren's eye specialist filled out his forms and a registration card eventually came through the post.
That was that. Sis was expecting social services to be on her back every 5 mins but she never heard from them again!
BTW, Lauren has always attended local school and is predicted A's and A* in her GCSE's.If sis had listened to the social worker & allowed Lauren to be packed off to Blackpool , no doubt her only qualifications would be in basket weaving and piano tuning!

[Mamyalynne]

mrs--overall thanks for your reply, thought nobody had seen the post (pun intended) I suppose its a double edged sword but am sure I will benefit in some way, and if they send me a battle axe she will get a flea in her ear.

It so heartening to hear of your nieces triumphs and I am a firm believer that in the main children do better at a mainstream school, my grandson is on the autistic spectrum and he really benefits by being at his local primary.

Thanks again
Mamya x