Diabetes UK Support Groups provide support and information to people with diabetes and their families. Locally there is a group based in Wishaw (01698 748616) and a Lanarkshire Parents Group (01698 322389).

If you have a substantial and permanent vision loss in both eyes you may wish to register as blind or partially sighted. Registration simply means having your name added to a confidential list of people who have a permanent sight loss. Keeping this register allows North Lanarkshire Council to meet the needs of people with a visual impairment and it is also required for certain financial benefits and consensus. Registration is entirely voluntary. If you decide you wish to register, you must be referred to the hospital by your GP or optometrist. Your Eye Consultant will decide if you are medically eligible and then certify using form BP1 that you can be registered as blind or partially sighted. For further information contact a Rehabilitation & Mobility Officer at your local Social Work Office.

To find out more about registering as severely or partially sight impaired, please contact a Rehabilitation & Mobility Officer at your local Social Work Office.

The Lanarkshire Low Vision Project provides low vision aids to people with a visual impairment within Lanarkshire. Referrals can be made by your GP or optometrist, and are carried out by named optical practices in each town. You will be provided with advice and equipment such as a magnifier to help with reading small print for example, if the optometrist thinks this will be helpful. A Rehabilitation Officer from North Lanarkshire Councils Housing & Social Work Services can advise on how to make the best use of remaining vision using lighting, magnification and colour contrast. If you would prefer to make your own arrangements you can contact your local Social Work office to arrange an appointment. A Disability Information Officer can also supply information about local and national suppliers of the equipment. Contact them on 01698 274460 or email: makinglifeeasier@northlan.gov.uk.

If you have a permanent and severe sight impairment that cannot be corrected by glasses and are having difficulty in walking around safely and/or using public transport etc. you may benefit from the services offered by the Councils Rehabilitation & Mobility Officers. These Officers will offer training on travelling independently and the use of appropriate mobility aids. In addition they help with sighted guide techniques and confidence building. An assessment can be arranged by contacting your local Social Work office and asking for an appointment with a Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Officer.

If you have a permanent and severe sight impairment that cannot be corrected by glasses and are having difficulty in walking around safely and/or using public transport etc. You may benefit from the services offered by the Councils Sensory Impairment Team. This service aims to identify practical problems that the person may be having, determine a Rehab Training Programme, discuss any concerns that the person and/or their family/carer may have, make referrals to other Agencies for services and offer advice and information. This service can also offer Mobility Training, so that you can learn how to use a white cane or other techniques to assist you to get around safely. An assessment can be arranged by contacting your local Social Work and asking for an appointment with a Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Officer.

A range of large print books is available at all of the North Lanarkshire Council Libraries. There are library branches in all of the main towns. See www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk for all current locations and opening hours. Home Library Services are also available. This is a free service available to all residents of North Lanarkshire who are unable to visit a branch or mobile library because of a disability or long term illness which normally confines them to their home. When you apply to join the service, you will be visited in your home by a member of the library staff who will ask a few questions about the type of book you like; whether you prefer large print or ordinary print, hardback or paperback, etc. You may also choose to receive talking books, music cassettes and compact discs.As soon as your requirements are established, we will select items for you, which will be delivered to your home every 4 weeks by library staff. At the same time staff will collect any items you are returning to us. All library staff making visits to your home carry identity badges. More information can be found at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk [Home> Community life and leisure> Libraries, archives and learning centres> Library services> Library Home Delivery Service]. CALIBRE offers audio books for those who struggle to read due to sight issues or other disabilities. Its library has the largest lending collection of audio books in the UK of many genres for all ages. For an application form you can either contact Calibre on 01296 432 339, print off the PDF version of the application form at www.calibre.org.uk [Home>Membership] or copy the Word version to your own computer. All application forms will only be accepted by post to the following address: Calibre Audio Library, Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 5XQ. For information on membership fees please visit the Calibre website for details.

North Lanarkshire Councils Library Service provides talking books in a range of formats including cassette, compact disc and MP3. See www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk Community life and leisure Libraries, archives and learning centres Library services Library Services for people with special needs for further information.

There are a number of organisations that produce talking newspapers, see below for details: PLAYBACK – Produce a weekly recording of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, the Playback monthly magazine, and a wide range of other recorded material for visually impaired people. Based in Glasgow they can be contacted on 0141 334 2983 or via their website: www.playback.com. CUMBERNAULD AUDIO NEWS – A talking newspaper service for the visually impaired, producing Cumbernauld News, Celtic View and Rangers News. Based in Cumbernauld they can be contacted on 01236 610440. MONKLANDS TALKING NEWSPAPER – Produce a talking weekly newspaper for the visually impaired in the Monklands Area. Based in Coatbridge they can be contacted on 01236 710911. WISHAW AND MOTHERWELL TALKING NEWSPAPER – Produce a talking version of the Wishaw Press, Motherwell Times, Bellshill Speaker and North Lanarkshire News. They can be contacted on 01698 355075. CUE AND REVIEW – Transcribe twenty two print magazines and newspapers into audio format for the visually impaired. They provide titles for everyone, especially young people. For further information on this Glasgow based organisation visit their website www.cueandreview.org.uk or phone 0141 563 0306.

The Lanarkshire Low Vision Project provides low vision aids to people with a visual impairment within Lanarkshire. Referrals can be made by your GP or optometrist, and are carried out by named optical practices in each town. You will be provided with advice and equipment such as a magnifier to help with reading small print for example, if the optometrist thinks this will be helpful. A Rehabilitation Officer from North Lanarkshire Councils Housing & Social Work Services can advise on how to remain as independent as possible using special equipment, and lighting, magnification and colour contrast. If you would prefer to make your own arrangements you can contact your local Social Work office to arrange an appointment. A Disability Information Officer can also supply information about local and national suppliers of the equipment. Contact them on 01698 274460 or email: makinglifeeasier@northlan.gov.uk.