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MORE THAN DOGS FOR MOBILITY About our supports
Although our beloved Guide Dogs play a crucial role in much of what we do, we have a wide range of versatile supports to meet the unique needs of a range of patients from newborns to mature adults.
- Occupational Therapists support people to achieve individual goals in everyday life, including personal care, domestic tasks, and recreational activities.
- Orientation & Mobility Specialists work with people to identify personal mobility goals to be safe and independent accessing their community, using public transport, crossing roads and more.
- Acquired Brain Injury Mobility Specialists work with people who have experienced vision loss after a brain injury. There is a focus on maximising the use of residual vision for safe and independent mobility, whilst also developing strategies to manage cognitive changes that may affect mobility.
- Orthoptists specialise in low vision and can assist people to understand their visual condition and identify appropriate equipment or strategies for using their functional vision.
- Assistive Technology Specialists understand the best equipment to support independence with a range of activities.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Guide Dogs Victoria can provide services through the following funding programs:
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
- My Aged Care
- Transport Accident Commission
- WorkCover
- Job Access
- Department of Veteran’s Affairs and Philanthropy
CONSIDERING A REFERRAL?
We can support people with un-correctable vision loss. They may be diagnosed with, though certainly not limited to:
- Partial / Total Vision Loss
- Glaucoma
- Anirida
- Ocular Albinism
- Hereditary vision loss, e.g. Retinitis Pigmentosa
- Age Related Macular Degeneration
- Visual field loss from brain injury e.g. Hemianopia
- Visual Agnosia
Whether your patient is young or young-at-heart; if they have recently experienced a change in vision or had long-term low vision; whether they are looking for a Guide Dog or non-dog support services — we will always provide support.
If you’re ever unsure, call us for a chat on 1800 804 805.
We can always offer assistance.
COMMON SIGNS OF LOW VISION When you might refer
In many cases, making a referral is beneficial regardless of the circumstance. Clinical vision loss and functional vision loss create different challenges for people in different situations, and they are not necessarily interlinked.
For example, a patient who has had a recent stroke may experience difficulties due to functional vision loss—without a clinical presentation—which may create challenges for their wider rehabilitation program because of issues with awareness, balance or mobility.
A person struggling with low vision might experience difficulty with:
- Independence in the home: For example, difficulty handling tools in the shed or maintaining safety in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Personal care: For example, difficulty grooming, identifying clothes and managing hair or makeup.
- Technology: For example, struggling to use devices like phones, TVs or computers.
- Recreation: At school, out shopping or within the community.
- General mobility: Consider making a referral in any instance where you’re unsure how a person will travel home, if they have experienced any unexpected falls, or suffer common headaches.
PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN What to include in your referral
Nothing is mandatory for referral, but the more information you can provide, the better. In an ideal case, your referral will include each patient’s:
- Discharge summary
- Vision report
- If they have funding eg. NDIS or a Funding status, e.g. NDIS Participant
- Additional context or supporting information
