Resource Centre

The LLBS Resource Centre at Pleasant Place in Louth, is open by appointment only, to blind, sight impaired people, their carers, friends and family, who can examine all sorts of specialist items to help carry out simple, everyday tasks more easily.

A range of items are available to try and buy, including smaller items to help visually impaired people to be more independent.

This includes talking watches, big button telephones, talking kitchen equipment, magnifiers, UV shields, liquid level indicators, pens and address/signature guides.

Jack said, ”My Mum was getting really frustrated as since her sight got really bad, she couldn’t do the things at home she had always done. She hated not being able to read her correspondence or other paperwork privately any more. We both came down to the Resource Centre and the very helpful and knowledgeable staff made sure Mum had exactly the right magnifier, a special light and lots of other gadgets. What a difference it’s all made! One of the best things is that now Mum just has to ring LLBS and any problems are quickly sorted, it’s so easy for her. My mind has been put at rest as I know there’s expert help at the end of the phone.”

Mum says

”When I ring the office they know who I am and are like friends now. I’m not a number to them and they understand the problems I’ve got. I’m so pleased we found them.”

Visual Impairment Awareness Training

Do you have questions about visual impairment, sight loss or blindness?

• How do I support a person with impaired sight or who is blind?
• Is visual language such as “see you later” or “it’s eye-opening” appropriate or offensive?
• How do blind people access a computer and what jobs can they do?
• How do I guide someone with sight loss?

Visual Impairment Awareness Training course content

The course addresses:

• Myths about sight loss
• Causes and types of sight loss, eye conditions and their effects
• Everyday problems and how to deal with them
• The emotional impact of sight loss
• Sighted guide training – how to guide a person with a visual impairment
• Effective communication and appropriate language when communicating with a person who has sight loss
• How technology can empower a person with a visual impairment

The course is both interactive and engaging, allowing participants to take from the sessions the confidence and practical skills to support sight impaired people, to make the person feel valued and keep their dignity and independence.

One participant told us; “This course gave me some awareness of how life is from a visually impaired person’s perspective. Being blindfolded made me feel very vulnerable and trying tasks such as telling one coin from another or pouring a cup of tea really brought home to me how difficult everyday things are without sight.”

Braille Transcription Service

Since the introduction of the Equality Act in 2010, employers and providers of services are legally obliged to make their services accessible to all, including people with sight loss, who are automatically regarded as disabled under the Act

All businesses and Service Providers must anticipate the requests for accessible formats that sight impaired people might make and should not wait for a request before producing the necessary documents.

Providers who do not comply with the Act put themselves at risk of legal action.

LLBS offers reasonably priced professional braille transcription services.  We accept documents for braille transcription in Microsoft word which can be sent to us via email at [email protected]