Daily living component activity 8 descriptor B (2 points)
Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than glasses or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information.
An example of an individual who may satisfy daily living component activity 8 descriptor B could be an individual who requires a vision aid, such as a magnifying glass to assist them with reading.
Another example of an individual who may satisfy daily living component activity 8 descriptor B could be an individual who is dyslexic and uses a coloured overlay to assist them with reading.
An individual may have prisms in their glasses prescription to correct their vision. In such cases, the prism should not be considered an aid as it would be part of the glasses prescription.
If a larger prism has to be held in front of an individual’s glasses, then the prism lenses should be considered an aid.
Example: an individual with myasthenia, who requires an aid in addition to her glasses
Gill has myasthenia gravis, which causes weakness and drooping of the eyelids and weakness of eye muscles.
This results in some double vision. This double vision is more apparent when she’s reading after a very short time, so she has a prism that she uses in front of her normal glasses to enable her to continue to read.
Aids and appliances
An individual should be able to read and understand information, both indoors and outdoors.
This descriptor may apply if an individual uses or could reasonably be expected to use aids or appliances, such as screen magnification, to read text when indoors and a portable magnifying glass to read when outdoors.
If despite the use of aids the individual cannot read basic or complex information both indoors and outdoors, a higher descriptor may apply.
Aids or appliances can include but are not limited to the following items:
- magnifying glass
- prism lens(es) not included in a pair of glasses
- coloured overlay
- enlarged text
Example: an individual with macular degeneration, who satisfies daily living component activity 8 descriptor B
Application form
Jonathan has macular degeneration, a condition that has caused his vision to decline over the last 6 years.
He has completed his Adult Disability Payment (ADP) application form, noting that when he uses a computer, he uses the magnifying function.
He has included a letter from the eye specialist that confirms his condition and shows that his vision is 6/18 (moderately poor) in his left eye and 6/12 (reduced) in his right eye. Normal vision is 6/6.
In his application, as well as explaining that he uses the magnifying function on his computer, Jonathan reports that he uses a handheld magnifying glass when he reads letters that he receives.
Case manager’s decision
As Jonathan has reduced vision in both of his eyes but has some vision, he requires something to help him see better, apart from glasses.
The case manager determines that Jonathan satisfies daily living component activity 8 descriptor B, because the magnifying glass or magnifier on his computer is an aid to performing this activity.