Services for deaf British Sign Language Users, people with hearing loss and deafblind people
The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership funds Deaf Action to provide support for deaf people.
Deaf Action
Deaf Action can
- provide advice and guidance to British Sign Language (BSL) users help you live independently
- refer BSL users to our locality teams for a social care assessment if you need more support
- assess people with hearing loss, deafblind people and BSL users for specialist equipment such as flashing doorbells and smoke detectors, and advise on other equipment you can buy yourself
Get in touch with Deaf Action
- Call 0131 556 3128
- Text 07775 620 757
- Email admin@deafaction.org
If you’re a BSL user you can contact Deaf Action by using Contact SCOTLAND-BSL
If you are hard of hearing or deafened, you can contact Deaf Action via Relay UK by dialling 18001 then the required telephone number free of charge. Standard network rates for your phone provider may apply. More information about Relay UK.
Other available services
Visit the Deaf Action website for information on the other services provided to deaf people.
Health in Mind’s Deaf counselling service is open to BSL users, people with hearing loss and deafblind people.
Services for blind and partially sighted people
The Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership funds 2 organisations to provide support for blind and partially sighted people.
- Emotional support, signposting to other services and technology help from Visibility Scotland is available at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh Community Rehabilitation Support Service and on the phone
- Rehabilitation and mobility training from Sight Scotland
Both Visibility Scotland and Sight Scotland can refer people with sight loss to our locality teams for a social care assessment if you need more support.
Sight Scotland also administers the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) register on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council.
If you have a permanent visual impairment you may be eligible to be certified as sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind). A Certificate of Vision Impairment acts as evidence of the degree of your sight loss and your eligibility for benefits and concessions.
If your eye specialist certifies you as blind or partially sighted, you have the option to register with us. Registration triggers an assessment of your needs, including rehabilitation. If you have any questions about the register or wish to update any details, please contact Sight Scotland.
Get in touch with Sight Scotland
- Call 0131 385 7488
- Email community@sightscotland.org.uk
- Send a letter to Colin Hilditch, Head of Community Services, Sight Scotland, 2A Robertson Avenue, Edinburgh, EH11 1PZ.