Manx Blind Welfare Society will be visiting schools, businesses and other organisations during Vision Awareness Week to explain more about visual impairment and blindness.
The Society is hosting a week of events from 12th to 18th September to promote good eye health, explain the services and support available to blind and visually impaired people in the Island, and highlight what the community can do to ensure everyone has the opportunity and independence to live their life as they choose.
During the third Vision Awareness Week staff and volunteers from the Society will be giving talks around the Island and offering training on how to assist visually impaired people.
Manx Blind Welfare Society Volunteers Coordinator & Events Organiser Debbie Thomson said: ‘Throughout the year the Society provides free training to any organisation which would like its staff or members to be better prepared to interact with visually impaired people and is happy to give talks about our work. During Vision Awareness Week we want to encourage more schools, businesses and other organisations to take advantage of the free training and talks.
‘One of the aims of the week is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by visually impaired people as well as what can be achieved by blind people when barriers to learning, work and social environments are removed. We want to spread these messages throughout the Island by visiting as many organisations as we can to give talks and training.
‘For example, we can deliver training relevant to an organisation’s needs and which develops skills which can help give an improved service for customers and clients, as well as an enhanced working environment for blind and visually impaired colleagues.
‘Another aim of Vision Awareness Week is to promote good eye health, and we will be focusing on that in our talks. We want more people to understand that regular eye checks are essential, as some conditions which can cause sight loss can be managed if detected and treated early enough, and the fact that a healthy lifestyle and diet can help preserve eye health.’
She added: ‘We already have a busy schedule for the week, but if you think you could benefit, please get in touch. We’d be delighted to visit during Vision Awareness Week, or at any other time which is convenient.’
Vision Awareness Week 2016 will begin with an open day at Corrin Court on 12th September. This will be a chance to learn about the services and support available for visually impaired people in the Isle of Man, as well as ways to get involved with the Society’s work.
Other events include the return of Bright for Sight Day on September and Walk My Way, the Island’s biggest guided walking event, on 18th September. The RNIB Eye Pod, a sight loss simulator, will also be visiting the Island.
For more details about talks, training opportunities and other Vision Awareness Week events, call 674727 or email enquiries@mbws.org.im.
To find out more about MBWS visit www.mbws.org.im.
Photo - Staff from Manx National Heritage take part in a Manx Blind Welfare Society awareness talk at the Manx Museum.
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