An open day this Friday will highlight the latest in blind and low vision assistance technology that will be a feature of a new Vision Australia centre in Wollongong.
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The blindness and low vision service provider helps people with vision loss to live the life they choose. Among the displays on Friday is the latest in wearable assistive technology. And there’s a cooking display with accessible kitchen equipment. Assistive technology experts will discuss what equipment might best suit each individual.
Business manager Caroline Yan said more people are turning to technology to support daily tasks. “We know for many of our clients that technology is the key to them being able to carry out daily living tasks that sighted people make take for granted. Being able to read your mail, identify household items or telling what notes are in your wallet are things that many people wouldn’t give a second thought to, but they can be the difference between people being able to be independent or not”.
There will also be free visions screenings at the Open Day on Friday.
“Our team, including orientation and mobility specialists, occupational therapists, assistive technology specialists, orthoptist and children’s services staff will all be available on the to speak with people about the support they can provide,” Ms Yan said.
“Vision loss can be a confronting experience, so we want people to know exactly what services are available to them and how we can support them to live the life they choose.”
The Open Day will also provide information about new support service funding arrangements, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme and My Aged Care.
- Vision Australia Wollongong, 2/106 Market St, Wollongong.
- Vision Australia supports more than 27,500 people of all ages, life stages and circumstances through 28 Vision Australia centres in Victoria, NSW, ACT, Qld, South Australia and Western Australia and through outreach programs in the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
- Vision Australia estimates there are 384,000 people in Australia who are blind or have low vision. Of those 37,000 are blind and 347,000 have low vision.
- The blind and low vision population in Australia grew by 7.6 percent to 384,000 between 2013 and 2016.
- Vision Australia predicts there will be 564,000 blind and low vision people in Australia by 2030, based on ABS population projections.
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