News

Seeing the world through new eyes

Fri, 15 Sep 2017 04:57:00

A local education program is opening students’ eyes to the everyday challenges faced by people who are blind or have low vision.

About 80 students from Irymple South Primary School visited Vision Australia this week to learn about the organisation and how it assists people in the community.

Vision Australia Service Engagement Consultant Sally Edwards said the program was run out of the Mildura centre for primary and secondary school students, adult learners and local organisations.

“We want to help people understand more about eye conditions, so when they go out in the community they’re more aware of people with a white cane, seeing eye dog, or an ‘I have low vision’ badge,” Ms Edwards said.

“We also want them to think about how they can be more supportive of other people in the community.”

Ms Edwards said the grade 3 and 4 students were able to experience what it’s like to be vision impaired.

“We set up games and activities, like bowling and quoits, for the students to play while wearing glasses that simulate different eye conditions,” she said.

“I also talked about the services that Vision Australia provides and demonstrated some of the equipment designed to help people who are blind or have low vision live more independently.

“We’ve got so much information and equipment available here at the centre, so the students could touch and experience things like magnifiers and white canes and understand how they can help people.”

Ms Edwards said one of the most important take-home messages was that Vision Australia doesn’t look after people, it supports them to do the same things as everyone else in the community.

“Just because someone has a disability, doesn’t mean they have to be looked after,” she said. “In most cases, they’re very independent and might just have to do things a little differently.”