What support can I get?

Services for visual impairment

ACC may be able to assist you if you have a claim for an injury that affects your vision.

On this page

  1. What help can I get?
  2. What do I need to do to get help?
  3. How am I eligible?
  4. How long might ACC take to determine if I am eligible?
  5. What happens next?
  6. Related legislation

What help can I get?

Depending on your particular needs, we may be able to help with:

  • training in daily living activities
  • training in orientation and mobility
  • training in literacy and communication
  • transcription
  • aids and appliances
  • counselling.

For example

Service

Examples

Daily living

Training in cleanliness, grooming, safety, laundry, ironing, cleaning, gardening, social skills, shopping, cooking, use of phone, financial management, equipment, home maintenance, childcare etc.

Orientation and mobility
  • Training on how to identify surroundings such as home, work, school.
  • Training on how to travel including bus, walking and taxi.
  • Training on the use of orientation and mobility equipment such as a cane.
  • Guide dog and assistance dog.

Literacy and communication
  • Coaching on how to access information.
  • Teaching reading and writing skills, such as Braille and use of adaptive technology.

Transcription

Turning print into Braille, disc, electronic audio etc.

Aids and appliances

Adaptive technology, Braille items, magnifying device, monocular, electronic note taker, PC equipment, cane, Dictaphone, glasses, large print labeller, telephone, clock, watch, self-threading needle, talking electronic device (books, clocks, scales etc), voice diary, writing frame etc.

Counselling

Counselling for depression, grief, anger management, assertiveness, motivational skills etc.

What do I need to do to get help?

1. Before ACC can make any payments we have to confirm that your vision was affected as the result of an injury. So the first step is to make a claim. For more information about making a claim, see How do I make a claim?

2. ACC will ask you to complete a claimant consent form so that we are able to access your medical records. We need these to confirm the extent of your injuries. Normally we will need:

  • a recent report from a registered optometrist or a registered ophthalmologist
  • recent GP or specialist reports, if you have additional medical conditions.
  • ACC then asks the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind (RNZFB) to review your case. We will write to you to let you know you have been referred to the RNZFB.
  • Someone from the RNZFB will arrange an initial meeting with you and any other relevant people, such as your family or GP to identify the kind of help you might need. The RNZFB will then tell ACC what services they recommend you get.

Note:

  • In cases with complex needs you may need other types of assessment, eg assessments for serious injuries, nursing or social rehabilitation needs. ACC will advise RNZFB so these assessors can work together on your case.
  • You can authorise other people, such as a family member or your doctor, to make applications for assistance on your behalf.
  • It is important not to incur any costs before you talk to us. ACC cannot guarantee payment for help that we have not arranged.
  • ACC does not fund the replacement of glasses/contact lenses that have been broken/stolen/damaged as a result of injury.

How am I eligible?

The injury that has left you visually impaired must have been accepted for cover by ACC. We need to have determined that you need the services as a result of that injury. We cannot provide services if you had vision impairment before the injury, unless there has been a change (eg deterioration) in your eyesight as a direct result of the accident.

To be considered eligible for assistance your optometrist or a registered ophthalmologist needs to confirm you have a change in your vision as direct result of the accident.

Important:
The help you will get depends on your individual circumstances. Please contact us to confirm if you are eligible, or to identify other ways in which we can help. See Contact ACC Claims for our contact information.

How long might ACC take to determine if I am eligible?

ACC needs to receive your medical reports confirming the extent of your visual impairment.

ACC regards 21 days as a reasonable timeframe for the majority of decisions about what assistance you may be entitled to. In some cases it may take longer, eg if we need further information.

Please contact us if you have not heard from us within a reasonable period of time. See Contact ACC Claims for our contact information.

What happens next?

ACC will contact you to discuss what the RNZFB have recommended. We will write to you to confirm what services have been approved to help you.

The RNZFB may make further appointments with you to provide the services and help that ACC has approved.

When your vision is impaired, there are other ways that ACC may be able to help you. See What support can I get for more information.

Note:
If you are unhappy with the decision, you can ask for it to be reviewed. See What if I have problems with a claim?

Related legislation

Accident Compensation (AC) Act 2001

Updated: 26March2010