Themes and Directions:

NCBI service delivery is based upon the highest possible principles of customer care in which the users of NCBI services will be afforded every opportunity to voice their opinions on the appropriateness to them of NCBI’s services. NCBI will also design, in collaboration with people who are blind or vision impaired, methods for improving services and, as appropriate, introduce new, more relevant, services.

In externalising this approach to working partnerships and collaborations, NCBI will work towards the creation of a network of like-minded agencies that have the information and expertise to provide timely and substantive policy input to the NCBI, the community, and all levels of government. Essential partners will include other organisations working in the area of vision impairment and blindness, as well as interested individuals, coalitions, professional organisations, and pan-disability groups. Together, we should create a vocal, influential network to challenge the barriers to inclusion that currently exist.

Key Activity 1:

We will establish a framework for consultation with people who are blind or vision impaired.

Supporting actions:

• Consult with purpose and at regular intervals with persons who are blind or vision impaired on their view of the type and nature of services provided by NCBI.

• Develop a system of service user feedback in the course of service delivery.

• Establish four regional consultative forums to be comprised of blind or vision impaired people and volunteer representation to feed into NCBI policy formulation.

• Review NCBI’s governance to ensure that blind or vision impaired people contribute to NCBI, through their expertise and from their unique experiences as blind or vision impaired people.
  
  

Key Activity 2:

We will collaborate and develop working relationships with external agencies/organisations

Supporting actions:

• Regularly review NCBI services to determine if there are any that NCBI should consider mainstreaming, transferring to or sharing with other service providers.

• Formalise our working relationships with other organisations to directly benefit the service user as well as to support NCBI’s advocacy work on behalf of people who are blind or vision impaired.

• Strengthen links with mainstream equality and human rights agencies to advocate for full inclusion. In so doing we must ensure that NCBI does not take on a role that is not fully ours but the responsibility of all of Irish society.

• Establish a network of sight loss organisations for the purposes of collectively advancing the mutual interests we share for people who are blind or vision impaired in specific and general ways.
  
  

Key Activity 3:

Develop a seamless eye care and visual rehabilitation pathway to ensure timely and relevant information to people who are blind or vision impaired.

Supporting actions:

• Research people’s experiences of receiving information and referral.

• Educate and inform ophthalmic, health professionals and other agencies so that they can give potential service users accurate information and make appropriate and timely onward referrals.

• Develop strong links with health and ophthalmic services to ensure highest levels of eye health care and the promotion of information regarding preventable sight loss.

• Develop a programme of awareness to ensure that potential service users and the public at large are informed about sight loss issues and rehabilitation services available.