Opinion pieces

When Patricia Ross lost her sight to Macular Degeneration, it knocked her flat. She felt she had lost her independence. But now, thanks to expert training from Vision Australia, this 76 year old Great Grandmother from Colyton is right up to speed with the very latest accessible technology.

Forty-four year old, Laurinda Martin, from Mount Warrigal is legally blind, but thanks to the latest technology, and expert training from Vision Australia, she doesn’t let her vision impairment slow her down.

Vision Australia supports valuable research into the social inclusion of people with a disability. This research is being carried out by Scope Victoria, who provide a range of disability services, including accommodation and respite care, across Victoria.

Two years ago, 73 year old Marilyn Pursche from Albury, was devastated when she lost her eyesight overnight. Now, she attends a weekly technology training group at Vision Australia’s Albury centre on Olive Street and keeps in touch with friends and family via Facebook.

Thanks to an iPad and some training from Vision Australia Argentinian born Patricia Cardozo, 61, from Southport is able to connect with friends and family from overseas.

Four years ago, sixty two year old Bruce Blackshaw from Croydon Park, was devastated when he lost his eyesight overnight. The then TAFE head teacher had a form of optic neuropathy known as Non-Arteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION). Now he attends Vision Australia's Texpo annually to keep up to date with the latest technology.

Although she has very poor vision, thanks to an innovative Online talking book player developed by Vision Australia, Lesley McEwan, 60 from Willoughby reads more than sixteen books per month.

On Wednesday 10 September, at Hoyts Cinema in Woden, ACT is hosted a special movie session of “The Hundred-Foot Journey” to enable local people who are blind or have low vision to experience an AD movie. A similar event was held at Events Cinema in Burwood, NSW on 1 September.

Deva is a newly graduated Seeing Eye Dog with a highflying job. She works with Sydney based criminal lawyer, Vaughan Roles, 39, and is a regular attendee at Parramatta local court.

On Sunday 24th August, Sydney’s Centennial Park was host to the Swisse Color Run.