SeeAbility Success in Sheffield Sight-Saving Campaign

Sheffield City Council have given their support to a unique sight-saving initiative which has helped hundreds of people with a learning disability access sight tests and low vision support.

The eye 2 eye Campaign was launched in 2005 by SeeAbility, formerly The Royal School for the Blind, to help prevent people with a learning disability losing their sight unnecessarily.  There are over 5000 people with a learning disability in Sheffield and more than 1000 will have a significant but undetected visual impairment which could put them at risk of going blind.   Over 500 people with a learning disability and their carers are now aware of the project and an increasing number are getting the help they need to have specially adapted sight tests and low vision support.  Thanks to the resounding success of the project, Sheffield City Council have decided to support the project for another 18 months.

Laura Christie, SeeAbility's eye 2 eye Community Development Officer has worked closely with a wide range groups to help raise awareness of the importance of eye healthcare including regular and appropriate sight tests for people with a learning disability. 

Last year SeeAbility became opticians Dollond & Aitchison's chosen charity with a view to both organisations working together towards improving eye healthcare for people with a learning disability.  Laura has been running training sessions for D&A optometrists so that they are more able to give effective sight tests to people with a learning disability. 

"D&A cares passionately about eye health and is committed to providing first class sight tests to everyone," explains Andy Cole, Head of Learning and Development for D&A.  "SeeAbility's eye 2 eye Training Programme has enabled our optometrists to gain a much greater understanding of the issues facing people with a learning disability.  Everyone who has attended the training programme has found it helped them to give far more effective sight tests to people with a learning disability."

SeeAbility are keen to help as many people as possible in Sheffield access a specially-adapted sight test so if you know someone with a learning disability who might benefit from the project please call 0800 121 8900 or visit www.seeability.org or www.lookupinfo.org