Eye Care Champions

Not only are people with learning disabilities less able to access good eye care due to barriers to accessibility, they are 10 times more likely to have a serious problem with their eyes. Our Eye Care Champions give people with learning disabilities and autism the knowledge and opportunity to access the eye care they need.

Our Eye Care Champions have the combined experience of working in eye care and also lived experience of disabilities. This includes learning disabilities, autism and sight loss. This makes them ideal advocates to understand accessibility issues and to communicate effectively with others.

They work in local communities in London and the North West of England. We have big plans to roll out the programme to other areas in the UK.

Who our Eye Care Champions help

People who have learning disabilities or autism

To understand the need for good eye health, know what to expect from eye care services and what reasonable adjustments you’re entitled to.

Learning disability professionals, support groups, family members and carers

To raise awareness and improve skills so people’s support team have a better understanding of their needs and how to support them.

Eye care professionals

To make your eye care or sight loss services more accessible for people who have learning disabilities or autism.

How they do this

Free training and advice, either in person or online.
Sharing our free easy read resources.
Sharing our free optometrists database of accessible services for people who have learning disabilities or autism.
Attending conferences and events to raise awareness.

Get in touch

If you’d like to speak to our Eye Care Champions about how they can support you or your team, please email Steve Kill at s.kill@seeability.org.

Our Eye Care Champions give out their top tips for looking after your eyes for people with learning disabilities during all the changes we have seen with the Covid pandemic.

"As an Eye Care Champion I talk to local learning disability groups to build up their confidence about what sight tests involve, and change attitudes towards eye care. This is my first job and has filled me with confidence - I never dreamt that I would be standing up at conferences where I share my experiences of the reasonable adjustments that can be made in optical practices and eye clinics. I’m proud to be part of a programme which is transforming inclusion for people with learning disabilities in their communities." - Grace, one of our Eye Care Champions, who has a learning disability and sight problems herself

Every Day In Focus campaign

Not only are people with learning disabilities less able to access good eye care, they are 10 times more likely to have a serious problem with their eyes.

Our programme, Every Day in Focus, gives people with learning disabilities and autistic people the knowledge and opportunity to access the eye care they need. Getting good quality eye care as early as possible is important to improving people’s quality of life. It helps people to achieve the things they want in life.

In 2020, we announced an exciting collaboration between SeeAbility and Vision for Life (Essilor’s Social Impact Fund). It will directly reach thousands of people with learning disabilities, as well as eye care professionals.

Vision for Life’s funding will help support our seven Eye Care Champions. They will ensure people with learning disabilities have the right information and support they need to get their eyes tested and vision corrected.