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Islanders are being invited to learn more about what it’s like to have sight loss and use a cane during Cane Awareness Day events next week.
Local sight impairment charity EYECAN will be using simulation spectacles to allow islanders to experience what different types of sight loss are like at Charing Cross on Cane Awareness Day on Thursday 6 July.
EYECAN members are also planning to walk with their canes along King Street and Queen Street to increase awareness, and will be available to answer people’s questions.
The event hopes to challenge misperceptions of sight loss and cane use, as the charity says that many members of the public are misinformed about sight loss.
Sarah Shaw, an advocacy and welfare worker for the charity, explained that only about 4% of people with sight loss have lost their sight entirely.
“People do make assumptions," she said. "They expect people to be completely blind whereas most of our clients have some vision left.”
Examples of sight loss can include blurred vision, field loss, tunnel vision.
Sarah added: “Our clients have had some really unpleasant experiences.”
EYECAN has said that their members have been “manhandled by strangers”, jumped at, and accused of fraud – and that these experiences had caused their members to reconsider going out.
Pictured: EYECAN members are also planning to walk with their canes along King Street and Queen Street to increase awareness, and will be available to answer people’s questions.
One of the charity's members has started going out with a guide instead of with a cane after she was grabbed by the shoulders and “manhandled by strangers who considered this an appropriate way to steer her out of their path".
Another cane user was approached by someone who accused her of pretending to be blind to fraudulently get benefits.
Cane Awareness Day is on Thursday 6 July, when EYECAN members will be at Charing Cross from 12:00-14:00.
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