Deaf, blind and partially sighted services
Are you deaf, blind or have poor eyesight or hearing? Find information and services to help you lead an independent life.
If you live in the county, visit our Locate - care and support in County Durham website to find social care and support services and information.
Specialist support
Our sensory support team will provide general advice, information and training to help you stay independent and safe. Services and support choices include:
- help at home
- adaptations to your home
- personal alarms / sensors (Telecare)
- employment support
- leisure activities
With your agreement, you might be referred to a relevant organisation for help.
Add your details to our register
We keep a register of blind, partially sighted, deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the county. You can add your details to the register as follows:
Registering as blind or partially sighted
Ask your opthalmologist to complete a Certificate of Visual Impairment Form and send to our adult sensory support team. There are two categories of registration:
- severely sight impaired / blind
- sight impaired / partially sighted
Registering your hearing loss
We are required to establish and maintain a register of people with hearing impairment; however, registration is entirely voluntary. There are a number of categories of deaf and hard of hearing registration dependent on your degree of hearing loss.
If you want to register you can:
- download a
- download a
- contact us
- speak to your hearing aid provider
The form will ask for your level of hearing loss. This is made easier if you have already seen an audiologist and they have recorded your level of hearing loss on an audiogram. Your GP can refer you to an audiologist if you have not seen one.
- First Contact/Social Care Direct
- First Contact/Social Care Direct
- 03000 267 979
- 0191 383 5752