Civil servants have been ordered “back to the drawing board” over the quality of a government consultation on help for people affected by sensory impairment.
Angus Council said See Hear had some way to go before becoming a credible idea, with blind councillor Sheila Hands suggesting the language used in the consultation showed a lack of understanding of issues involved.
Ms Hands, who was born with a congenital eye condition and lost her sight completely in her teenage years, said she had been disappointed by the content of the consultation paper.
“One of the things that disturbed me was the use of language,” she said. “It frequently talks about sight or hearing loss and rehabilitation. The language is indicative of not understanding the problem.
“That indicates that they have suffered some loss, which is quite different to congenital impairment and I think they have totally missed the mark on that.
“It also struck me that it focuses on children and older people they are not looking at all at adults in the middle.”
She added: “This is 2013, when around 70% of adults with a visual or hearing impairment are unemployed and it (the consultation) totally lacks the opportunity of aspiration, inclusion and achievement.”
She added: “There is a huge barrier in communication in terms of sensory impairment but if we in Angus set a good example then hopefully, others will follow.”
Glennis Middleton added: “I think it was a pretty poor consultation, to be frank. Although this is in the name of the Scottish Government, I think the civil servants should go back to the drawing board.”
A report explained local access to assessment and diagnosis of sensory loss is through a GP, with NHS Tayside providing specialist services.
“Angus Council provides a range of direct and commissioned specialist social care services that address the support needs of children and adults who have significant sensory loss,” the report added.
“Many service users are referred to Angus Council through the specialist NHS assessment clinics, although self-referrals can be made.
“Angus Council holds a statutory register of people who are blind or partially blind. No such register is required for people with significant hearing loss.”
The council’s response said the authority did not believe the See Hear recommendations in their current format “will make a real impact.”
“It is evident…there appears to be an issue with access to services and public information,” it added.
“Angus Council would therefore want to ensure that public information is improved in this respect.”
The authority said it would argue for a joint development between health and social care that brings together support for hearing and sight loss.