[blindza] Re: Article: People with sight loss can face at least 25% higher costs for everyday living
- From: Mubanga Chipalo <mubangachipalo@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2015 17:01:25 +0200
On 2/4/15, Jacob Kruger <jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> While this doesn't necessarily relate to local issues perfectly, think the
> principles are similar enough - see article below.
>
> Jacob Kruger
> Blind Biker
> Skype: BlindZA
> "Roger Wilco wants to welcome you...to the space janitor's closet..."
> ---original message---
> People with sight loss can face at least 25% higher costs for everyday
> living than those who are fully sighted, according to a new study by
> Loughborough University for the sight loss charity Thomas Pocklington
> Trust.
>
> Leicestershire, UK, 28-1-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — For the first time, the
> methods used to calculate the Minimum Income Standards (MIS) were
> applied to the living costs of people with disabilities. The research
> looked at sight loss and hearing loss and showed clearly that both
> impairments lead to substantial extra costs if a minimum acceptable
> standard of living is to be reached.
>
> “This is the first time specific Minimum Income Standards have been
> calculated for people with disabilities,” says Katherine Hill, senior
> researcher at the Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP),
> Loughborough University, who led the research. “We know that living
> with a disability can be expensive. This research shows that the extra
> costs incurred can be quantified – an important step if support
> systems are to meet disabled people’s needs. The study identifies
> costs that make life a quarter more expensive for someone with a level
> of visual impairment that would qualify them to be certified as sight
> impaired, compared with costs for a sighted person.”
>
> The study, ‘Disability and minimum living standards: The additional
> costs of living for people who are sight impaired and people who are
> Deaf’ was carried out by researchers at the CRSP, Loughborough
> University and University Campus Suffolk. The costs were calculated
> using the same methods used for national Minimum Income Standard –
> groups of members of the public (in this case people living with sight
> loss or hearing loss), were asked to list all the things required for
> a minimum living standard.
>
> The study found that even when people have some vision, sight loss
> affects so many aspects of life that a range of extra costs are
> incurred, generating substantial increases. Between them these add
> over £50 to the weekly budget currently accepted as the Minimum Income
> Standard for a sighted adult, which is almost £199.
>
> The additional costs were to pay for things such as physical aids, as
> well as more general aspects of living, including the need to have
> opportunities to participate in society and maintain independence.
>
> Extra costs included:
> ◾Technology (25% of extra cost): such as a higher spec, more
> accessible mobile phone, larger computer screens and specialist
> software, and TVs with talking menus. Such tools are essential for
> communication, access to written materials and to make best use of the
> sight that people have.
> ◾Domestic help (25%): Having a cleaner, even once a fortnight, can
> help to keep homes clean and looking good – important for a person’s
> self-esteem.
> ◾Transport (13%): Taxis may be needed when attending medical
> appointments where eye drops are administered. Additional travel may
> also be required to get to appointments which can be long distances
> away, and to reach events specifically for people with sight loss.
> Transport subsidies can reduce travel costs but are not universally
> available and can be limited to off-peak travel.
> ◾Social activities (10%) and holidays (8%): As people with sight loss
> often rely on friends to help them to travel or take part in
> activities, being able to reciprocate – with a drink or meal – was
> seen as very important. If specialistaccommodation is needed, holidays
> can be expensive.
> ◾Household goods (10%): Some itemsmay need adapting to besight-loss
> friendly eg. more and brighter lighting; laminate floors and leather
> upholstery which are easier to clean; specialised kitchen and bathroom
> items that are easy to maintain and safe. A handyperson might also be
> needed for DIY jobs that require sight.
> ◾Health care (6%): Sight loss can lead to extra prescription costs, eg
> for eye drops, complex prescription spectacles, extra pairs of
> spectacles or more frequent changes to prescriptions.
> ◾Electricity (3%): Higher costs can result fromthe need for more
> lighting, which may be required for longer periods, and from using
> technological items.
>
> The study clearly shows that the cost of living is substantially more
> expensive as a result of sight loss. However, it notes that the
> current benefits system of providing Personal Independence Payments
> (PIPs) may not take all of these costs into account.
>
> Some of the most substantial needs – most notably the need for a
> cleaner and the cost of recognising the contributions made by other
> people in order to be able to attend holidays, social activities and
> appointments – are not recognised at all in the PIP assessment and,
> says the report, “there is a high risk of needs going unmet or only
> very partially met under the PIP system”.
>
> Pamela Lacy, Research and Dissemination Manager of Thomas Pocklington
> Trust says: “Understanding the true cost of sight loss is crucial if
> support systems are going to prevent people from having to live in
> undue hardship. The evidence in this new study is an important first
> step. We hope it will help in the development of a fairer system which
> fully takes on board the true costs of sight loss.”
>
>
>
> Notes for editors
>
> Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity for people with sight
> loss. Its research programme commissions and funds social and public
> health research initiatives to identify ways to improve the lives of
> people with sight loss. www.pocklington-trust.org.uk
>
> Disability and minimum living standards: The additional costs of
> living for people who are sight impaired and people who are Deaf, is
> available from http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/crsp/publications/ A
> summary of findings related to sight loss is available at:
> http://www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/
>
> The research was carried out by Katherine Hill, Abigail Davis, Donald
> Hirsch, Matt Padley and Noel Smith atthe Centre for Research in Social
> Policy, Loughborough University and University Campus Suffolk.
>
> Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an
> international reputation for research that matters, excellence in
> teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in
> sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
>
> It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university
> rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world,
> and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and
> Sunday Times. Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of
> UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and
> has been voted England’s Best Student Experience for six years running
> in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its
> contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven
> Queen’s Anniversary Prizes.
>
> In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in
> London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University in London,
> based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and
> executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise
> opportunities.
>
> The Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP) is an autonomous
> research centre based in the Department of Social Sciences at
> Loughborough University.
>
>
>
> Contact for all media enquiries
>
> Sue Cooper
> T:01759 368286
> E: sc2323@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
>
> Additional contact information
>
> Alison Barlow
> Senior PR Officer
> Marketing & Advancement
> Loughborough University
> T: 01509 228696
> E: A.J.Barlow@xxxxxxxxxxx
> @lborouniPR
>
>
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>
Dear Jacob, This article in my inbox sounds interesting therefore I
would like to know the person who suffers most among the following
disabled persons: a person with sight loss, the deaf person and the
physically challenged person.
Its my hope many blind people will take part in this debate.
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