license and need to learn how to
use other modes of transportation
or learn how to adapt to traffic
patterns when walking through
cities. The psychological toll on a
patient can be high and counsellors
and social workers are available to
help ease the stress of this lifealtering experience.
“We offer peer-to-peer support that
pairs clients with volunteers to who
act as mentors,” she said. Families
are invited to join the programs
in order to understand what their
loved ones are going through.
“We want them to help reinforce
and work on skills,” she said.
She added many areas in Canada
are too remote for regular visits
or one-on-one engagement, so
phone support has been set up as
well as programs where volunteers
within the community take on a
mentor role.
The CNIB has actively utilized
social media to offer support to
clients and their families including YouTube videos and regular
resource postings to Facebook
and Twitter.
Advocacy is a large component
of helping both patients and
society deal with vision loss. CNIB
will come into workplaces to help
employers provide an accessible
environment.
This usually involves very little
cost to employers and often only
includes improvements to computer screen magnification or installing additional lighting.
“We will do a full workplace
assessment to help build a better
environment,” she said.
To learn more about the resources
available through the CNIB visit
www.cnib.ca
SEEING BETTER
IF YOUR CLIENT IS NOTICING A REDUCTION IN
THEIR VISION OFFER A FEW HELPFUL TIPS.
PUT A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE SITUATION.
1. Light. No one, not even cats, can see in total blackness. We
need light to see, and as our eyes age, we need more light to see
well. People with low vision benefit from a bright, even, constant
light source.
TURN DOWN THE GLARE.
2. Glare. While good, even light is helpful, glare is not. Generally,
our eyes have trouble adapting to abrupt changes in lighting as we
grow older. Bright sunlight, glare from a window, and reflection
from a glass tabletop can all make it harder to see.
SHARPEN THE CONTRAST.
3. Contrast. Objects of similar colours next to each other are
hard to tell apart. Young eyes can usually pick up colour distinctions easily but older eyes may, for instance, have trouble seeing
the edge of a carpeted stair or the rim of a white plate on a white
tablecloth. Strong colour contrasts help us to see.
Courtesy of Canadian National Institute of the Blind
Optical Prism | October 2014 33