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!

Learn more

Information and Advice

How to use the JAWS Screen Reader to access Youtube

How to use the JAWS Screen Reader with Internet Explorer to access Youtube.

How to use the JAWS Screen Reader to open a file

This video shows how to open a file using the JAWS Screen Reader.

Including Volunteers with Vision Impairment

Download Sight Scotland's top tips guide on how to include volunteers with sight loss and ensure they have a positive experience within your organisation.

Information for blind and partially sighted voters for Scottish Parliament election 2021

Catherine Heggie, Partnerships & Information Officer at the Electoral Commission, shares important information about the support available for blind and partially sighted voters for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.

Lighting for visually impaired people

Handy hints and tips for effective lighting around the home to help someone with sight loss.

Mindfulness for pupils with visual impairment and complex needs

Mindfulness sessions are used at the Royal Blind School to teach pupils to recognise their emotions and to learn strategies to deal with stressful experiences.

Mobility cane or guide dog?

For blind or partially sighted people, the choice between using a cane or a guide dog is often a personal one.

Sensory activities and creative arts for pupils with visual impairment and complex needs

Sensory sessions with creative arts are more than a PE class, or a drama or music class. By combining the different disciplines, the creative arts lesson enhances the learning experience for the young people involved.

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.

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

How to sign 'Lights Room' with the Canaan Barrie on body sign system

Information and Advice

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.

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 five tips for eye health in older people

Here are our five tops tips for eye health in older people.

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.

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.

Why sight loss can affect sleep

Sleep is essential for our general health and wellbeing. However, vision loss can affect the body’s sleep schedule. People with visual impairment can experience more insomnia and tiredness during the day, as a result.

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.

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