22 October 2026
by Susan Shippey
Vision rehabilitation goes hand-in-hand with human rights, says Susan Shippey
For many people, the biggest challenge after losing their sight isn't the diagnosis itself, it's finding the right support.
That was Gavin's experience. Diagnosed with Optic Neuropathy at just 26, he had the support of family, friends and his employer, but not the specialist guidance he needed to adapt to life with sight loss. Following his diagnosis, Gavin left the eye clinic with little information about the support available and no clear understanding of what help he was entitled to.
It was only when he later received support from a vision rehabilitation specialist that things began to change. Through practical training and expert guidance, he gained the skills, confidence and independence to move forward. Today, he is helping to improve support for others through Sight Scotland's lived experience policy group.
Gavin’s story, featured in the Scottish Rights Here, Rights Now campaign, shows what early and effective profession vision rehabilitation support can do. Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) requires governments to make rehabilitation available from the earliest possible stage and as close as possible to where people live, including in rural areas. Scotland needs to make that the experience of everyone diagnosed with irreversible sight loss.
Ministers have committed to bringing the UNCRPD into Scots law through a Human Rights Bill, which gives us an opportunity to rethink how we view the support people get after sight loss. Vision rehabilitation should no longer be seen as simply a support service but as the means by which people with sight loss exercise their right to live independently, get around safely and take a full part in their communities.
Vision rehabilitation provides people with the skills, confidence and practical techniques they need to adapt to sight loss, continue living independently and remain connected to their communities. From mobility training and daily living skills to technology support and confidence building, effective rehabilitation helps people continue doing the things that matter most to them.
Despite these clear benefits, access varies considerably between local authority areas. Around 193,700 people in Scotland live with sight loss that affects their daily lives, and around 8,700 more are diagnosed each year. Yet waits of three to six months for vision rehabilitation support are common, with some people waiting a year or more.
When rehabilitation services are unavailable, delayed or reduced, the consequences can be profound. People may lose confidence, become more isolated, experience poorer mental health, rely more heavily on family carers, and face a greater risk of accidents and hospital admissions. These outcomes are often not the result of vision impairment itself, but of a lack of timely support.
The good news is that the solutions are already clear, and some are under way. Scotland desperately needs more vision rehabilitation specialists. In January, in partnership with the Vision Collaborative Scotland group of sight loss charities, the University of Strathclyde launched Scotland’s first sustainable postgraduate qualifications in vision rehabilitation. In order to realise the rights set out in the UNCRPD the Scottish Government should build on this with sustained investment in training so the new course can grow, backed by a national workforce plan and national standards, so that everyone can experience high-quality vision rehabilitation no matter where they live.
Human rights are most meaningful when they shape everyday experiences. For blind and partially sighted people across Scotland, equitable access to vision rehabilitation is one of the clearest ways to turn those rights into reality.
A Human Rights Bill will give these rights the force of law, but ministers and Health and Social Care Partnerships can start now. The steps are clear, and people like Gavin have shown what becomes possible when support arrives at the right time.a
Susan Shippey is Chair of Vision Collaborative Scotland, which runs the Support After Sight Loss campaign. The coalition brings together Sight Scotland, RNIB Scotland, Guide Dogs Scotland, Visibility Scotland, the Visionary network and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland along with other key vision impairment organisations. Gavin’s story features in Stories of Hope, part of the Rights Here, Rights Now campaign led by JustRight Scotland and Human Rights Consortium Scotland.
Support after sight loss is a human right, and Scotland can deliver it - TFN
The above information is from a Third Force News (TFN) Weekly Social Justice and Poverty roundup Newsletter Tue 27/10/2026