Every seven minutes, someone in America will permanently lose
their eyesight.
Specialized services enable blind people to:
read and write braille
come and go safely with a long cane or guide dog
use computers with speech synthesizers, or braille or large-print displays
take care of their homes and personal needs using specially designed techniques and devices
secure satisfying and productive employment.
Eliminating specialized servicesa dangerous and costly idea. Specialized services are the key to
dignity, productivity, and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. In an age of cost cutting and budget slashing,
blind and visually impaired people are increasingly concerned that the services that best serve their needs will be eliminated, and
that the only option will be large all-purpose disability and health service organizationswhere some blind
people have already fallen through the cracks.
Its very likely that in your lifetime, you or someone you love will become blind or
severely visually impaired. The loss of specialized services isnt just someone elses problemwe may all feel the
effects at some point in our lives. Because were living longer than ever before, more and more Americans are experiencing vision
loss, which increases sharply with age. And, because of medical advances, children born prematurely or with multiple disabilities are
now surviving, and a high proportion of these children are blind or visually impaired.
There are already ten million Americans who have problems seeing, and this number is growing at an alarming rateamong older
people it is expected to more than double by the year 2030. And yet, even with a population this large and skyrocketing, America
remains a seeing society, with few allowances made for the unique needs of people who cannot see or cannot see well. Myths
and stereotypes abound when people think about blindness. Blindness is one of the most feared and misunderstood disabilities,
distorting both public opinion and the attitudes of professionals who lack specific knowledge about visual impairment.
What does it mean to be blind? If youre like most people, you cant imagine how you would function in daily life
if you lost your sight. For one thing, youd learn very quickly that most information is perceived visually. Imagine all the things youre
used to doing every daypreparing for work in the morning, reading the newspaper, or riding the train or busthen imagine doing
them without being able to see. Or imagine being a parent of a child who is blindhow would you teach your child the skills he
or she would need to grow to be a productive adult?
People who are blind or visually impaired have learned effective solutions to the challenges brought about by vision loss; however,
these solutions are not immediately obvious. Although it may be possible to think of some ways to compensate for vision loss, this
is not the same as knowing about the specific skills that millions of successful blind people use every day, such as using a long
white cane correctly to walk down the street and avoid oncoming traffic, or reading and writing braille to communicate. These skills
can best be taught by specialistsprofessionals who can teach people to adapt to the challenges posed by blindness or visual
impairment.
Specialized services are a proven and cost-effective solution to the challenges of
blindness and visual impairment. If you needed major surgery, would you want it performed by a general
practitioner, or by a qualified surgeon specially trained in the procedure? You would choose the expert for your care. Blind people
have the same right to receive the services they need from qualified specialists.
Specialized serviceswhich enable blind people to receive an effective education and learn the skills that are needed to participate
in family and community lifeare the alternative to becoming dependent on family and friends or costly government support. Without
specialized services, blind people risk what we all fear most: loss of independence and dignity. Society loses toowe all lose
productive, tax-paying workers or active retirees who contribute to family and community.
Eliminating specialized services will not mean real savings. It will cost society more in the long run. For example, if you lost your
sight, you might find that a general rehabilitation agency can offer you a tape recorder and someone to read your mail for you.
However, specialized services would teach you the skills you would need to use talking computers and read and write braille. Not
only would you keep your privacy, but society would not have to keep paying someone to do for you what you could do for yourself.
For the 200 people who lose their vision every day in the United States, specialized
services are the key to regaining independence. Remember, blindness can affect every one of us. If you
were the parent of a blind child, or the child of an older parent who is losing sight through age-related eye disease, you would want
your loved one to lead a life of independence, productivity and dignity. Specialized services are an important step toward that life.
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