Advice & resources

Looking for guidance

Whether you're looking for guidance for yourself, or want to know more about how to support someone with sight loss or blindness, we are here to help.

Find information here about sight loss, including advice to help with the different ways sight loss can impact on your life.

You can search by topic, and if you can't find the information you need just let us know and we'll do our best to support you.

Featured guide

There are simple ways to make a cafe or restaurant more enjoyable for a customer with visual impairment. You can download our new guide, "Giving great customer service to customers with visual impairment" for some simple tips!

Explore our customer service tips

Information and Advice

Social introduction skills to use with young people with visual impairment

Young people with visual impairment can often find socially communicating with others challenging. A lot of the communication that people use is non-verbal, using facial expressions and body language which is not available to the young person.

Staying safe: Road crossing tips for blind and partially sighted people

Negotiating pedestrian crossings is something many people take for granted – but crossing the road when you’re blind or visually impaired can feel daunting.

Support for sight loss in the workplace

If you develop sight loss when you are in work, there is support for you and your employer to help you continue in employment.

Supporting someone with sight loss? We're there for you too

As a relative, carer or friend, how do you help your loved one cope with losing their sight? Visual impairment affects everyone differently, and knowing how to be supportive can be challenging. We're here for you too.

The importance of cooking skills for people with visual impairment

Lewis says it’s very important for young people with a visual impairment to learn to cook.

Top 10 most popular low vision aids

Sight Scotland Veterans rehabilitation officer Fiona gives insight into the top ten most popular low vision aids the charity issues to its members.

Top tips for cooking with a visual impairment

There are plenty of techniques and pieces of equipment that can help blind and partially sighted people to cook safely.

Travel concessions and travel cards for blind and partially sighted people

A summary of some travel concessions and travel cards for which blind and partially sighted people could be eligible.

Types of mobility canes for vision impairment

Mobility canes are a form of mobility aid that enable blind or visually impaired people to go about their daily business when out and about, especially in unfamiliar areas.

Using tactile resources to support visually impaired children's reading skills

Sally Paterson, a Qualified Teacher of Visual Impairment, explains why books with tactile illustrations are so important for children with visual impairment.

Winter safety tips for people with a visual impairment

Sight Scotland Veterans rehabilitation officer, Katrina, gives her tips for staying safe and maintaining independence while out and about when the winter weather sets in.

Popular on Sight Scotland

Our new names

We are proud to announce the new names of our two sister charities and share why we changed our names. We’ve continually adapted to ensure we're there for people with sight loss, and will be there in the future too.

Canaan Barrie on body sign system

The Canaan Barrie on body sign system is used to communicate with children who have multiple disabilities, as well as visual impairment. The sign system was developed at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.

On body signing helps develop a young person’s natural gesture and, in turn, helps them communicate better with their world around them.

Check out videos demonstrating the signs below

Information and Advice

A photographer with partial sight shares how he captures amazing images

Matthew has around five per cent vision. But being partially sighted doesn't stop Matthew from seeing Edinburgh's many vistas and capturing images on his DSLR camera.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration guide

Download Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans' guide on Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

An introduction to sighted guiding a young person with visual impairment

This video is an introduction to guiding a young person with a visual impairment.

An introduction to the Canaan Barrie On Body Sign System

The Canaan Barrie On Body Sign System is used to communicate with children who have multiple disabilities, as well as visual impairment.

Benefits of braille

The ability to read and write braille is still key to independence for many blind and partially sighted people all over the world.

Braille facts

Braille is a tactile reading and writing system. It opens up the written word to blind and visually impaired people.

Dementia and Sight Loss Guide

Download Sight Scotland's guide on activities and care for people living with dementia and sight loss.

Explained: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Answering commonly asked questions about age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Explained: Cataracts

Answering commonly asked questions about cataracts.

Explained: Charles Bonnet Syndrome

A Sight Scotland Veterans Rehabilitation Officer offers expert advice on Charles Bonnet Syndrome and how to cope with the condition.

Glaucoma guide

Download Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans' guide on glaucoma.

Low vision and useful equipment guide

Download Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans' guide on low vision and useful equipment.

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