Covid-19 Survey Report from Henshaws

We have been asked by Henshaws to share with you their report on a survey they did with 955 visually impaired people on Covid-19.

You can download the survey through the following links, which also has an accessible version available:

Download the Covid-19 Henshaws Survey Report in PDF.

Download the Covid-19 Henshaws Survey Report in Word.

They started this survey at the beginning of the lockdown as they knew the restrictions that were put in place would have consequences for people already facing challenges in their everyday lives due to sight loss.

Key findings in the final report show:

• The overwhelming majority of respondents had not been contacted by their local authority sensory team during the early stages of the pandemic.
• 41% of respondents had not received any of the public health messaging about Covid-19 in a format which is accessible to them.
• One quarter of respondents had been informed they are at very high risk from Covid-19 (extremely vulnerable and should be shielding).
• There is considerable variation across Greater Manchester with regard to the support people with sight loss received during this time.

Henshaws wanted to share the findings in their final report with our partners across the health and social care sectors in the hope that we can form an integrated approach, which fully includes and recognises charities, to ensure support is in place to reduce the risks of the longer-term impacts this could have on our community.