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About WCB.
Wales Council of the Blind is the umbrella agency representing vision impairment within Wales. We work to campaign, lobby and support the improvement of services for people with sight loss. [Read more...]
Latest news.
Guide Dogs Family Event in Pembrokeshire
Guide Dogs is holding a family event at Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire in South West Wales on Saturday 13th September.
Guide Dogs' family days out are a great way for your family to relax, have fun together and meet other families with a child with sight loss. They also allow children with a vision impairment to build confidence and make lifelong friends. Children with a vision impairment plus one parent/guardian are free and immediate family members are £7.50 each. To register your interest please contact the Family Events Team via email on familyevents@guidedogs.org.uk.
To find out more about Guide Dogs Family Events, click here.
Wales Pioneers Eye Care Reform: Optometrists can now certify vision impairment for all conditions
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and Optometry Wales have announced that, in a first across the UK, Wales will allow optometrists to officially certify Vision Impairment for all types of eye conditions. This major change is expected to improve support for people with sight loss and reduce the pressure on busy hospital eye departments.
The change has been welcomed by Wales Council of the Blind's Director, Owen Williams, who has shared that he is “delighted”. You can read the announcement, including statement from WCB here. There is also a report about this development on the Optometry Today website.
Welsh Government Consultation on Draft Disabled People's Rights Plan 2025 to 2035
The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on its 10-year Draft Disabled People's Rights Plan for Wales.
The plan is based around the Social Model of Disability and the principles and obligations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People. It defines four overarching areas for action:
- Neighbourhoods and places.
- Employment, income and education.
- Independent living.
- Justice and supporting environments.
Disabled People’s Rights plan for Wales
The Welsh Government will shortly be consulting on a draft Disabled People’s Rights plan for Wales.
This plan, based on the work of the Disability Rights Taskforce, sets out their cross-government 10-year ambition and the long-term outcomes they are working towards to ensure disabled people can flourish as equal members of Welsh society, and to challenge discrimination and prejudice. A Taskforce worked together to develop the recommendations which informed this plan. Disabled people were active partners in the Taskforce’s process, sharing insights and lived experiences, which have shaped actions to address disabled people’s rights and dismantle existing barriers.
They now want to encourage all members of the public, in particular disabled people and stakeholders, to take part in the consultation. Your input is essential to improving the Disabled People’s Rights Plan, making sure it meets the needs and goals of disabled people.
Wales Council of the Blind will be working with its members to hold a series of workshops on this – if you would be interested in taking part, please contact bec@wcb-ccd.org.uk.
Save the Date - Wales Eyecare Conference 2025
The annual Wales Eyecare Conference 2025 will be held on Thursday 6th November at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Further details will provided later. For information about previous conferences, click the 'Eyecare Conference' tab at the top of this screen.