A vision for a better Scotland

A vision for a better Scotland RNIB Scotland s manifesto for the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 1 09/02/2016 14:14

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3 Contents 4 Working for people with sight loss 6 Introduction 8 Vision Support Services 10 Prevention of Avoidable Sight Loss 13 Registration 14 Accessibility 16 Education 18 Employment 20 Welfare 22 Transport 24 Contacts v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 3 09/02/2016 14:14

4 A vision for a better Scotland Working for people with sight loss RNIB Scotland is the country s leading sight loss charity. We campaign on behalf of blind and partially sighted people to raise awareness of the issues they face, and work in partnership with public, private and third sector bodies across Scotland to deliver projects and services. We provide the secretariat for the Cross Party Group on Visual Impairment in the Scottish Parliament, and we are part of the Disability Agenda Scotland consortium of charities. What we do Help people newly diagnosed with sight loss to find their lives again. Help blind and partially sighted children and adults throughout Scotland to live as fully and independently as possible. Provide advice, support, training and equipment. Transcribe books and other materials into audio, braille and large-print. Campaign to improve the life chances of people with sight loss (from nursery to school to employment). Work to prevent avoidable sight loss. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 4 09/02/2016 14:14

5 Number of people with sight loss in Scotland Around 180,000 people are living with a significant degree of sight loss in Scotland (around 2million across the UK). In Scotland, around 3,000 children and young people have sight loss. There are approximately 35,000 people formally registered as blind or partially sighted in Scotland. Because we are an ageing population, and the rates of sight-threatening conditions such as diabetes are on the rise, this total could almost double within the next two decades unless we take steps to contain it. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 5 09/02/2016 14:14

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Introduction 7 Introduction Sight is the sense that most people, when surveyed, fear losing the most. To be blind or partially sighted is to be more dependent on the good will and empathy of society. But with the right support and assistance, people with visual impairment can lead fulfilling lives. The 2016 Scottish Parliament election coincides with the devolution of greater responsibilities to Holyrood. The Smith Commission has also laid out a range of further fiscal, legal and welfare powers over which MSPs will have more discretion. We believe these have the potential to further Scotland s position as a world leader in eye healthcare. In this manifesto, we have outlined eight areas which, if acted upon, could significantly improve life for people in Scotland who are blind or partially sighted, and increase efforts to prevent sight loss where possible. Like most developed countries, we have an ageing population. So sight loss, inevitably, will become a more common feature of our society. It is vital, that we act now to contain preventable sight loss and maximise the independence of those whose vision cannot be saved. The steps in this manifesto can make Scotland a kinder, safer and more inclusive place. The costs are relatively modest, but the gains for some of the most vulnerable in our society would be far-reaching and profound. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 7 09/02/2016 14:14

8 A vision for a better Scotland Vision Support Services Every day in Scotland, people begin to lose their sight, but only one in six will be offered support. Being diagnosed with sight loss can be devastating news. People must try to come to terms with huge emotional, psychological and financial consequences. A Vision Support Service can give people the help and reassurance they need to find their lives again. With eye departments stretched to capacity, healthcare staff often don t have time to provide this emotional support. A Vision Support Service dovetails perfectly with the new integrated health and social care agenda. It can help people maintain independence and well-being; refer on to other services; advise on what aids and adjustments can make life easier; help with retaining a job or retraining for new work; Asks That the Scottish Government ensures that all patients diagnosed with sight loss have access to a consistent standard of support from trained Vision Support Officers in every health board region. That Vision Support Services are recognised by new integrated Health and Social Care partnerships as a core part of the treatment and management of the sight loss journey for patients. and offer information for family, friends and carers. At present, there are Vision Support Services in nine of Scotland s 14 health board areas. But funding is often uncertain, with some posts funded on a year-by-year basis. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 8 09/02/2016 14:14

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10 A vision for a better Scotland Prevention of avoidable sight loss According to the World Health Organisation, up to 50 per cent of existing sight loss could have been avoided. But levels of sight loss are projected to double in Scotland by 2031 if no steps are taken to contain this increase. Diabetic retinopathy, for example, is now the single biggest cause of sight loss among working-age Scots. If we are to minimise the very high costs (personal, social and economic) of sight loss, we must raise public awareness of the methods and importance of maintaining good eye health. Within the NHS, the pressure on demand for eyecare has meant that sight issues represent the biggest single cohort in outpatient lists (18 per cent). Greater emphasis on community-based eye care services could help reduce demand in eye clinics. Asks That eye exams continue to be free to everyone in Scotland, and that renewed efforts are made to highlight the availability and benefits of these, especially among groups where takeup remains low. That national campaigns promote the importance of eye health, how to maintain it, and explain what the main risks are especially targeting the most vulnerable groups. That access to effective treatments is made available in time to save sight, and that new treatments are evaluated for approval as quickly as possible. That capacity within the eye-treatment journey through the NHS is resourced appropriately to ensure effective and timely treatment. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 10 09/02/2016 14:14

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13 Registration The Scottish Government requires all local authorities to maintain a register of people who are blind or partially sighted in their area, and return information on this annually. However, registration is voluntary, and only a proportion estimated between a quarter and a third of eligible people actually do register. Some are not fully informed of the benefits that registration can confer, or are uncertain as to their eligibility. Registration also provides crucial ongoing statistical information on the numbers experiencing sight loss in Scotland. However, after 2010, the Scottish Government stopped collating and making available the figures returned by local authorities. If Scotland is to retain its position as a leader in eye healthcare, it is essential that this information is available to inform current and forward planning by all sectors at a time when sight loss is projected to increase. Asks That the Scottish Government collects and collates the registration information from local authorities to give a national picture of sight loss, and resumes publishing the results annually. That any updating of the registration process is designed so as to encourage a higher proportion of those eligible to register. That the format for annual information returns by local authorities is broadened to include additional categories that allow more effective deployment of public resources (such as ethnic status). v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 13 09/02/2016 14:14

14 A vision for a better Scotland Accessibility Accessibility, of goods and services, is a human rights issue, enshrined in Article Nine of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This emphasises the need to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers to accessibility. The European Union and the UK and Scottish Governments have signed up to the Convention. However, there remains a gap between intention and reality for blind and partially sighted people. For example, in today s digital age, less than 10 per cent of public and commercial websites are accessible. Long-delayed EU legislation on accessibility could make significant improvements to the life experiences of blind and partially sighted people, in particular: The Directive on the Accessibility of Public Sector Bodies Websites. The European Accessibility Act. This legislation will impact on many areas of life where disabled people face barriers to full participation. It touches on everything from bank ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines, smartphones, all kinds of passenger transport services and banking services, to e-books and e-commerce. It is vital that we ensure this legislation is fit-for-purpose in 21st century Scotland. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 14 09/02/2016 14:14

15 Asks That Scottish Government ministers and politicians make best efforts to ensure that EU legislation keeps pace with technology and includes apps in the scope of the Directives. Blind people need access to the same online content and services that everyone takes for granted. That the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament anticipate legislation by verifying accessible access to their own official and departmental websites. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 15 09/02/2016 14:14

16 A vision for a better Scotland Education The Implementation of The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended): Report to Parliament 2013 notes the number of young people with a visual impairment in education is 3,373 individuals. This report identifies a clear attainment gap between school pupils with sight loss and their peers a finding echoed in NatCen Social Research and RNIB research on the circumstances of people with sight loss. This finds that: One in 20 (five per cent) people of working age with sight loss have no formal qualifications. If we are to ensure that young people with sight loss are enabled to maximise their full potential in education and later life, this attainment gap must be addressed. About one in five people (18 per cent) with sight loss reports restrictions to their participation in learning. People with sight loss are more than twice as likely as those with no impairment to experience restrictions to participation in learning (24 per cent compared to nine per cent). v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 16 09/02/2016 14:14

17 Asks Early intervention to ensure the necessary classroom support and input is assessed and provided as soon as possible. Effective service delivery for pupils with sight loss local authorities should meet their statutory obligations to provide appropriately-qualified teaching and support staff. The accessibility of the curriculum local authorities must ensure their information technology accessibility policy includes the needs of blind and partially sighted pupils. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 17 09/02/2016 14:14

18 A vision for a better Scotland Employment There are an estimated 8,500 registered blind and partially sighted people of working age in Scotland. However, RNIB s My Voice report (2015) shows that the proportion of blind and partially sighted people in employment has decreased. Only 23 per cent of visually impaired people of working age were in paid employment, and a further four per cent said they were self-employed. This compares to 28 per cent in paid employment and five per cent in self-employment in 2005. Blind and partially sighted jobseekers need specialist support within the labour market. This is all the more vital given the Smith Commission s proposal to devolve employment programmes. People with sight loss face many barriers in gaining and retaining employment. These include low confidence and expectations, transport difficulties, lack of access to skills training, limited access to assistive technology, and employer misperceptions about the wide range of work that employees with sight loss are capable of. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 18 09/02/2016 14:14

19 Asks That specialist support, which blind and partially sighted jobseekers need within the labour market, is acknowledged and recognised, including schemes such as Access to Work and the new devolved Employment Programme that replaces Work Choice and Work Programme. That Skills Development Scotland ensures blind and partially sighted young people are given extensive and appropriate support to ensure they are able to participate in mainstream programmes such as Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland. That the future of supported businesses, which employ around 100 blind and partially sighted people in Scotland, is secured through use of Article 20 of the new EU Procurement Directive (Supported businesses can play an important role in generating employment opportunities for workers with sight loss). v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 19 09/02/2016 14:14

20 A vision for a better Scotland Welfare With new powers over disability and other benefits about to be devolved to Scotland, a valuable opportunity exists to reshape disability benefits to reflect the everyday needs and work capabilities of people with sight loss. Asks That the eligibility criteria measuring personal independence, mobility and work capability for benefits (eg, Attendance Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment) are designed in consultation with blind and partially sighted people and the organisations that support them. That the frequency of reassessment for benefits for those with severe sight loss is reduced, and that longer term awards are introduced for those with irretrievable sight loss. That those assessing claimant eligibility for benefits receive training that gives them a clearer appreciation of the difficulties faced by those with different degrees of sight loss. That all blind and partially sighted people in Scotland have access to advice and information to help them to receive the financial support they are eligible for. That a no detriment for blind and partially sighted people principle applies to any changes made to the welfare system in Scotland. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 20 09/02/2016 14:14

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22 A vision for a better Scotland Transport People who are blind or partially sighted rely heavily on public transport. Yet RNIB s bus campaign report, Stop for Me, Speak to Me, finds that: nine in 10 people with sight loss cannot see an approaching bus in time to hail it; eight in 10 people with sight loss say they have missed the bus they want; seven in 10 missed the bus because it boarded away from the official bus stop. Bus and coach travel is an affordable means of transport. Unfortunately, people with sight loss regularly experience discrimination in accessing this because drivers have little or no awareness of the needs of disabled passengers. Much of this discrimination could be addressed through good quality disability awareness training for bus and coach drivers. Rail travel can also play an important part in independent living and mobility. Station layout, design and information announcements can all enhance accessibility. RNIB Scotland members have remarked on improvements in the level of assistance offered to blind and partially sighted rail travellers. It is important that this is maintained over forthcoming major reconstruction such as the redevelopment of Queen Street station in Glasgow. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 22 09/02/2016 14:14

23 Asks That the Scottish Government anticipates EU legislation on mandatory disability awareness training for all drivers (EU Regulation 181/2011 on the rights of passengers in bus and coach travel) by encouraging Scottish bus companies to provide training for their drivers and support staff. That accessibility is taken into account in rail station redevelopment and that a high standard of assistance for blind and partially sighted passengers is maintained. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 23 09/02/2016 14:15

Contacts Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland 12-14 Hillside Crescent Edinburgh, EH7 5EA. Call: 0131 652 3140 Email: james.adams@rnib.org.uk web: rnib.org.uk/scotland Follow us on social media: facebook.com/rnibscotland twitter.com/rnibscotland youtube.com/rnibuk working together 2016 Action for Blind People registered charity number SC040050. RNIB registered charity number SC039316. This publication is also available in print, audio and braille. v5-cou101502_scotland Manifesto 2016 draft.ys_edit.indd 24 09/02/2016 14:15