Rehabilitation (usually called just ‘Rehab') is the process of learning to live with reduced vision or total blindness so you can remain independent.

Before Rehab can begin, a person has to first accept their sight impairment and come to terms with the changes it will make on their life. Rehab can start once these emotional and psychological adjustments have taken place.

Information, advice, guidance and specialist equipment can all help with the Rehab process. Part of the process may be learning new skills or adapting existing ones. For example, you might need to learn how to use a long cane or simple gadgets that make everyday living easier. You might also want to learn how to use technology that has been specially designed for people who are sight impaired. This might be magnification equipment that will help you to read, or even specialised computer software.

No two people's needs are the same so your Rehab programme, created by you in discussion with your Rehab worker, will take into account your unique requirements.

Contact your local KAB Rehab team

"When we carry out an assessment we look at an individual's needs and identify potential solutions to those problems. So if there are any changes after that assessment the service user should phone us - whether their query is big or small - as there might be other skills or skills equipment or services we can discuss. I always say, "you identify the problem and we'll try to find a solution". Jayne Rogers: KAB Rehab worker with the Dover team