Local and national services helpful to people with visual impairment.

Local Services

Scottish Borders Council Low Vision Services consist of a development/social worker, a rehabilitation worker and a part-time administration assistant. The team is managed by a locality manager and is located within the Borders General Hospital in Melrose. They work closely with people who present with sight loss and their carers to undertake an assessment of their needs. They also offer information, advice and guidance on any problem relating to a visual loss.

Borders Visually Impaired Network (BVIN): Helping blind and partially sighted people in the Borders. They have no website (at the moment) but you can download a their aims and contact details from this page.

Bordernet promote this beautiful part of the country with their regional Web sites which include information on Borders business, accommodation, shopping, history and tourism.

National and International organisations

Artlink works hard to increase opportunities for individuals who experience disadvantage or disability to take part in the arts in Edinburgh and the Lothian region. An invitation to take part has now been extended to the Borders.

British Blind Sport
Providing sport and recreation for blind and partially sighted people.

British Computer Association of the Blind
BCAB is an organisation of visually impaired people who use Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

British Wireless for the Blind Fund
Supplying radio and audio sets to all registered blind and partially sighted people who are in need.

ClearVision
UK postal lending library of mainstream children's books with added braille.

Guide Dogs for the Blind
Providing guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services that meet the needs of blind and partially-sighted people.

Infosound is an all-volunteer registered charity, brings free, accessible, impartial and relevant information to vision-impaired (blind and partially-sighted) people across the UK - information on subjects that directly affect those who live with sight loss.

NALSVI (National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired People
Association of local voluntary organisations for blind and partially sighted people.

National Blind Childrens Society
Enabling blind and partially sighted children and young people to achieve their educational and recreational goals.

NHS Eyes and Vision Specialist Library
Organises and facilitates access to the best currently available evidence on eye health in order to support and inform clinical care in NHS England.

Royal National College for the Blind
UK's leading college of further education and training for people (16+) who are blind or partially sighted.

RNIB
Offering information, support and advice to people with sight loss.

Talking Computers is a free monthly audio magazine about using computers; especially for visually-impaired people who use screen-readers and other aids.

Tapesense
Tapesense is a scheme that supplies blind and visually impaired people with subsidised audio products and accessories.

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Borders Talking Newspaper Association
Registered Scottish Charity No. SC020192