What do you do?
The Partially Sighted Society is a UK charity dedicated to empowering people with visual impairments to live life to the fullest. We provide:
- Enhanced low vision sight tests
- Low-vision assessments
- Mental health and wellbeing support
- Over-the-phone sight loss advice
- Mail-order service for low-vision equipment
- Adaptive technology training and support
- Bespoke printing service for calendars/diaries/schoolbooks/jotters and much more
- Social and support groups
- Light therapy (Colorimetry) service
How are you funded?
The Partially Sighted Society relies on a variety of sources to fund its vital services. Generous donations from individuals, including recurring contributions form a significant portion of our income. We also receive support through legacies - gifts left in wills - (click here to find out more). Additionally, fundraising events and partnerships with charitable organisations also help keep our vital services running.
Where are you?
The Partially Sighted Society is a national charity based in Doncaster, UK. While we don't offer in-person services at various locations throughout the country we do offer in-person services at our sight centre in Doncaster, as well as operating remotely to provide support across the country.
If you're looking for support in your local area, we can help connect you with resources near you.
Can I come and visit you if I don’t live in Doncaster?
Absolutely! We’d love for you to come and visit us; our doors are always open to people who need our help. If you can get to us, we will try to help you. See “Do I need an appointment” below for more details.
Do I need an appointment?
It depends on how you'd like to connect with the Partially Sighted Society!
General enquiries or seeking information: You don't need an appointment for this. You can browse our website for a wealth of information or contact us by phone Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 4pm on 01302 965195 or email us at reception@partsight.org.uk
Visiting our sight centre: We recommend calling us beforehand (01302 965195) to schedule an appointment for visiting our resource centre. This ensures a staff member is available to assist you fully and allows us to tailor the experience to your specific needs.
Specific services: Some of our services, like low-vision assessments, enhanced sight tests or mental health support, will require appointments. We recommend contacting us directly to discuss your needs and schedule an appointment with one of our friendly team members.
What makes The Partially Sighted Society unique?
We dedicate personalised time to understand your unique vision needs. Our holistic approach goes beyond just what you see, focusing instead on how you see the world. This in-depth understanding empowers us to unlock your potential for an independent and fulfilling life with sight loss.
Do I need to be registered as visually impaired to use your services?
Whether you've recently noticed changes in your vision or have been managing sight loss for some time, you don't need a formal diagnosis or a certificate of visual impairment (CVI) to benefit from our services. We understand that vision loss can occur in varying degrees, and even minor changes can impact your daily life. Our goal is to empower everyone experiencing sight loss, regardless of registration status. We can help you navigate challenges, explore adaptive techniques, and optimise your independence.
Can I be registered as visually impaired?
You may be eligible to register as visually impaired, also known as partially sighted, if your vision drops below a certain level. Registration is voluntary and can offer several benefits.
Here's what you need to know:
Eligibility: To be registered, your vision must meet specific criteria even with corrective lenses like glasses or contacts.
Assessment: An ophthalmologist (eye doctor) will assess your vision using tests that measure visual acuity (sharpness) and field of vision (how much you can see to the sides).
Certification: Based on the assessment, you may receive a certificate of vision impairment (partially sighted) or severe sight impairment (blind).
Registration: After receiving your certificate, your local social services will contact you to see if you'd like to be included on their register of visually impaired people.
What are the benefits of registration?
Makes claiming benefits easier: Registration helps confirm your sight loss and can be used as evidence when claiming certain benefits.
Access to concessions: You may be entitled to concessions such as reduced public transport fares, parking permits, and discounts on the TV license fee.
Support services: Registration can help connect you with social services that offer support to help you live independently.
Removal of VAT from visual aids and equipment: In the UK, people registered as visually impaired (CVI) may be eligible for VAT relief on visual aids and equipment designed for your specific needs. See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-relief-on-certain-goods-if-you-have-a-disability for more information.
Free postage with Royal Mail: Royal Mail offers free first-class postage for sending and receiving approved items under their Articles for the Blind scheme if you're registered as visually impaired. See: https://www.royalmail.com/sending/articles-blind for more information.
If you're unsure about eligibility or have questions about the registration process, please don't hesitate to contact The Partially Sighted Society. We're here to help.
Who can register me as visually impaired?
Only your ophthalmologist (eye doctor) can register you as visually impaired. The ophthalmologist will perform tests to measure your vision and determine if you meet the criteria for certification as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind).
If you qualify, they will complete a Certification of Vision Impairment (CVI) form for you; currently this process can take a few months to complete.
Do you help with benefits advice?
We currently do not help people with benefits advice. We suggest that you contact your local Citizen’s Advice team for more help and advice with this, you can always contact us if you don’t know your local Citizen’s Advice details, we will provide them for you.
How can I connect with others who have sight loss?
The Partially Sighted Society offers a range of social and support groups at our sight centre in Doncaster. We host a monthly meeting on the last Wednesday of the month, as well as coffee mornings and creative wellbeing classes with our art therapist. Visit our events page to find out more about what we offer.
Remember that you can always contact us for information about signposting to other organisations social and support groups around the country, if you can’t get to us here in Doncaster.
What assistive technology is available?
There's a wide range! Here are some examples:
Screen readers: Software that reads text aloud from computer screens.
Electronic magnifiers: Handheld devices or software that enlarge text and images.
Talking watches and clocks: Some even set themselves using radio waves when the clocks go forward and back.
Apps with voice control: There is an ever-growing list of apps for your smartphones and tablets which allow you to use your voice to navigate through daily tasks. AI is an exciting industry that will hopefully make life easier too!
This is not an exhaustive list, and our rehabilitation officer and low-vision optometrist can help you find the tools that are right for you. We also offer training on these devices; you can email our tech guru Shaun by emailing shaun@partsight.org.uk.
What is your bespoke printing service?
Our printing service has two arms, educational and personal use. We print fully customisable bold-lined exercise books and other stationery for schoolchildren with visual impairments and students with visual processing disorders. You can order one of our free assessment packs from our School Shop to find out exactly which combinations of coloured paper, lines and line densities work best for your student.
We also create large print diaries and calendars for anyone who struggles to use conventional stationery.
Can anyone order from your School Shop?
Of course! We understand that not everyone is still in education but would still find use in our range of educational stationery, but please note that none of the items in the School Shop are VAT exemptible.