week) for someone who is severely sight impaired. This is because groups felt that someone with little or no sight would be more dependent on paying for help which generally involved a minimum charge, even for small jobs. A working age person who is sight impaired, rather than severely sight impaired, would need some, but less extensive, additional help because there may be a greater range of jobs that they could undertake themselves. Transport The main difference in the additional working age transport costs relates to a greater use of taxis for someone who is severely sight impaired, which results in an additional cost of £20.70 per week compared to the budget for the sight impaired case in the previous study. It was felt that someone with little or no sight would need to take taxis more often to participate in more leisure activities and maintain social networks of friends that may be more geographically spread if someone who is long term severely sight impaired has attended a specialist VI school or college. Secondly, while the sight impaired working age groups in the previous study agreed to one extra taxi per week, most travel was expected to be by bus. As noted in the previous chapter, groups in the current study outlined how a taxi can be preferable to a bus for someone severely sight impaired for practical and confidence reasons– carrying things when using a cane or Guide Dog, at night time or in busy periods. Social activities and hobbies The budget for social activities and hobbies was increased more significantly for a working age person who is severely sight impaired. Groups in the previous study felt that the main MIS £20 per week budget was for someone who is sight impaired, however an extra £10 ‘doable’
week) for someone who is severely sight impaired. This is because groups felt that someone with little or no sight would be more dependent on paying for help which generally involved a minimum charge, even for small jobs. A working age person who is sight impaired, rather than severely sight impaired, would need some, but less extensive, additional help because there may be a greater range of jobs that they could undertake themselves. Transport The main difference in the additional working age transport costs relates to a greater use of taxis for someone who is severely sight impaired, which results in an additional cost of £20.70 per week compared to the budget for the sight impaired case in the previous study. It was felt that someone with little or no sight would need to take taxis more often to participate in more leisure activities and maintain social networks of friends that may be more geographically spread if someone who is long term severely sight impaired has attended a specialist VI school or college. Secondly, while the sight impaired working age groups in the previous study agreed to one extra taxi per week, most travel was expected to be by bus. As noted in the previous chapter, groups in the current study outlined how a taxi can be preferable to a bus for someone severely sight impaired for practical and confidence reasons– carrying things when using a cane or Guide Dog, at night time or in busy periods. Social activities and hobbies The budget for social activities and hobbies was increased more significantly for a working age person who is severely sight impaired. Groups in the previous study felt that the main MIS £20 per week budget was ‘doable’ for someone who is sight impaired, however an extra £10
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