Explore Sight loss
Equipment costs and funding
How will I be able to afford equipment?
If your disability or health condition is likely to last for 12 months or longer and it affects the type of work you do (including self employment), you may be eligible for some practical help in the workplace. The Access to Work Scheme helps fund any extra employment costs that result from a person's disability.
A number of organisations pay small pensions or make cash grants to blind people. Listed below are some of the main grant-giving organisations and charities.
Action for Blind People - Provide low income grants to boost income generally or to meet specific bills These can be applied for each year. Special grants are also available for various aids and equipment.
Blind Business Association Charitable Trust - Grants are given for business education and training;providing business start up grants and, in special cases, grants for existing businesses.
Blind in Business - Provides adapted and/or specialist hardware and software along with any necessary training at a number of schools and colleges.
CommunicAbility James Powell UK Trust - Helps disabled people by providing communication aids, equipment and related services for the purposes of social, personal and domestic communication. In the case of a visually impaired person, this might include a Brailler, a television reading aid or computer technology.
Electronic Aids for the Blind - Co-ordinates appeals on behalf of students, unemployed people, people on low incomes and children who need specialist electronic equipment but are unable to obtain it from statutory sources or personal resources.
Royal National Institute for the Blind - Provides grants to help registered blind and partially sighted people on a low income with the aim of enabling them to remain independent.