My name is Luke and I have created these services as support for people with sight loss. I have been registered blind for nearly a decade and it was the most difficult part of my life. I was lucky in receiving services quickly as I found out who could support and made contact. This was efficient as the pressure on statutory services wasn’t what it is today and the early intervention was key in my recovery.
When I came to terms with my impairment, I went looking for employment. I thought ‘Who is going to want to employ a blind man?’ A position came up as a Volunteer Coordinator for a charity that supported people over the phone with their visual impairment. This taught me so much about the third sector (the charity sector) but I wanted to help people at the start of their sight loss journey.
I attended a part masters degree course to become an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer. From this course I was able to secure a position within Leeds Teaching Hospitals supporting people at the point of diagnosis. This is one of the busiest eye clinics in Europe and gave me the opportunity to work with some of the top consultants in the country.
Covid hit and brought many services to a stand still but by working together with the professionals at the NHS, we were able to offer patients services to support them with their vision loss.
The pandemic taught me that there was more to life then travelling 3 hours a day to/from work and so I secured a job working with individuals with other impairments; autism and learning disabilities where sight was also an issue.
From this I was co-opted into a local sight loss charity as Service Manager where I got to plan, shape and deliver low vision, home visits and present living well with sight loss courses. By developing a whole network of professionals in East Lancashire, waiting lists for statutory services reduced from 2 years to a few months. This partnership working is imperative to make a success of modern day services.
I have used all the experience I have to develop the services within my company including assessments and awareness training. As I said before early intervention is key and I will make contact within a few days of being aware of you.
I can help you through your sight loss journey, call me.
