I. Bruce , M. Baker, and B. Ryan

Royal National Institute for the Blind, and
City University, London,
United Kingdom

In 1986/87 RNIB conducted a survey among 595 blind and partially sighted adults in Great Britain (Bruce , McKennell and Walker 1991)

Since then there have been several pieces of complementary research, none covering all levels of uncorrectable sight loss across the UK.

To provide a platform for participating in social and political debates on disability and to meet internal service planning requirements, RNIB undertook a survey in 1999 among a nationally representative sample of people aged 16 and over across all levels of uncorrectable sight loss.

Over 1000 people were interviewed in their own homes for 2½ hours by interviewers from the Office of National Statistics including a sub-sample of 150 people from the UK’s minority ethnic group population.

The survey reports on the sight test administered, information about onset, registration status and history, and residual vision. Information was collected on health, other disabilities and on social networks/functioning. Reading habits (braille, tape, print and computers) were investigated. Mobility and daily living activity including shopping, transport, daily living skills, leisure, social security, rehabilitation services and voluntary organisations were also collected.

The paper will report some of the more significant findings about the lives and lifestyles of adults across the United Kingdom who have visual impairments ranging from total blindness through to minor levels of uncorrectable sight loss.

The director of the survey is Ian Bruce who is Director General of RNIB and a visiting professor of not-for-profit management at London City University Business School. Mark Baker is RNIB’s Research and Strategy Associate and Barbara Ryan its Senior Low Vision Officer.