Wednesday 8th January 2020, National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) is reassuring people of the availability of its country wide services should they begin an unexpected journey of sight loss in 2020.
Already there are over 54,000 people in Ireland living with severe sight loss (29,501=Leinster; 6,336=Connacht; 15,427=Munster; and 3,546= Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan).This figure will grow as the population ages because one in five adults will be affected by sight loss by age 75. However, in many cases the incidences of blindness can be prevented through early detection.
Kevin Kelly, NCBI Head of Advocacy said “Receiving a diagnosis of sight loss can be overwhelming and confusing for many people as they begin to adjust. Queries around how to retain their independence, get around safely, relearn daily task such as cooking, retain or enter employment are common. NCBI offers tailored services to respond to individual’s needs to help them on this journey. These include practical and emotional support, rehabilitation services and technology advice all designed to help people with sight loss to live independently and confidently.”
NCBI has offices across the country and works with people who are both blind or visually impaired from birth as well as those who have acquired their sight loss through illness or accident.
NCBI chain of 117 charity shops helps raise much needed funds to ensure the delivery of these free frontline services.
ENDS
For further information, please contact June Tinsley, Head of Communications on 01 8821917 or 087 9955076