Every October, during Blindness Awareness Month, I recall the line in the Jimmy Buffett song, “Mañana”: “Don’t try to describe the ocean if you’ve never seen it.” Well, anyone who was born blind falls into that category.
Those of us who aren’t blind or visually impaired most likely never think about the challenges of living with limited or no sight. The fact is that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 million Americans have vision loss, including 1 million who are blind. The CDC also reports that while most vision loss comes with age, more than 1.6 million Americans living with vision loss or blindness are younger than 40 and women experience permanent vision loss or blindness more than men.
Ellyn Drotzer is president and CEO of Lighthouse of Broward for the Blind & Visually Impaired in Sunrise. (courtesy, Lighthouse of Broward)
Broward County is home to approximately 175,000 people with a visual impairment and has one of the highest incidences of visual impairment in the nation. At Lighthouse of Broward for the Blind & Visually Impaired, where I serve as president and CEO, we see only about 3,000 of these people, but we could do so much more if they and their families only knew about our services.
Blindness Awareness Month is about more than the numbers. It’s about the blind and visually impaired rising above their impairments with confidence and celebrating their successes. It’s about encouraging them, supporting them and providing them with the services they need to live and thrive in a sighted world. Because unfortunately, according to the National Library of Medicine, vision impairment is also associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness and social isolation.
Through specialized rehabilitation, life skills training and employment opportunities, we can enhance the independence, productivity and dignity of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired.
At Lighthouse of Broward, we effectively engage children with assistive technology, build socialization skills and maintain a focus on sensory-stimulating activities, all with parents actively involved in their child’s development. Our youth program is focused on improving daily living skills, social interactions and self-determination while learning safe travel techniques. Teens are immersed in group and individual instruction to gain essential independence and career-readiness skills, preparing them to transition confidently into adulthood and supporting their academic, vocational and personal goals.
A robust Ready to Work program helps adults improve essential skills in daily living, mobility and adaptive technology, whether for internships or employment.
The National Eye Institute reports that those who are 80 and older account for a large share of blindness. That’s why it’s vital to serve blind and visually impaired seniors ages 55 and older. This year, we launched off-site VISIT (Visually Impaired Seniors Using Technology) training at the Sunrise Senior Center, offering weekly two-hour sessions in six-week cycles for small groups of five to seven seniors. The off-site model increased accessibility for those facing transportation or mobility challenges, and expansion to additional Broward County centers is being explored.
Here’s what you can do to help your blind and visually impaired family and neighbors:
Have patience and be mindful. You can see a visually impaired or blind person, but they obviously cannot see you. We celebrate White Cane Day on Oct. 15 not only to highlight the accomplishments of those with visual impairments but also to recognize the importance of the white cane in their safety and mobility. It’s also incumbent upon all of us to be aware of those with impairments and remove societal barriers.
Experience what they experience. Lighthouse of Broward hosts our annual Dining in the Dark, an experience that includes our guests wearing blindfolds during select portions of the evening to feel firsthand one of the many challenges the blind and visually impaired face every day. You can help support our programs by attending on Nov. 15 at Margaritaville Resort. It will be a night filled with good vibes and greater purpose.
Make a donation in someone’s name that you know is blind and visually impaired. Many times, we get gifts, for example, to honor someone in our community.
Beyond all of this, the most important thing you can do is act. If you know someone who is blind or visually impaired, have them or their family reach out to us. That is what we are here for.
Ellyn Drotzer is president and CEO of Lighthouse of Broward for the Blind & Visually Impaired in Sunrise.