Lord Mayor supports campaign to ‘See Change’ for people with sight loss in Belfast
Despite legislation to protect the rights of disabled people, blind and partially sighted people still face inequality accessing information and services.
To combat these barriers to full inclusion, people of varying ages, backgrounds and experiences of sight loss, have come together, with the support of RNIB (the Royal National Institute of Blind People), to launch a new campaigning group, ‘Belfast See Change’. The group want to make positive change for the 9,540 people estimated to be living with sight loss in the Belfast area, alongside those travelling into the area for work, study or leisure.
At the group’s official launch on Thursday 10 October (World Sight Day), Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, joined the group to discuss some of their key campaigning priorities.
From being able to independently read instructions on grocery packaging, or being able to enjoy favourite TV shows and film with audio description, to getting information from health services or education and training providers in accessible formats - blind and partially sighted people experience a significant information and inclusion gap.
As well as this, a lack of access to adequate transport and safe streets on journeys, have a huge impact on the life of someone with sight loss.
Dawn Hopper, group Chair, experienced a significant deterioration in her sight four years ago, at the age of 40, whilst working as a Chartered Accountant and Internal Auditor. Dawn is particularly passionate about highlighting the need for adequate emotional and practical support services, whilst working towards this change.
Dawn said, “I discovered that life can be just as fulfilling after sight loss. That anything is possible with the right support, adjustments and understanding. However, there is much to be done to get these in place on a consistent basis throughout our communities to enable people to live with confidence.”
“I’ve had ongoing eye issues since my first retinal detachment at age 17 during my college exams and have had to undergo 14 eye surgeries in total now, with long periods of painful and isolating recovery in between. During this, a change in pressure in my eyes caused irreversible damage to my sight four years ago and I am now registered as severely sight impaired. It has all been very traumatic.”
“I’ve had to re-learn how to do everyday things, from making a cup of tea without burning myself, to moving safely around my local area with the use of a long cane and now with guide dog Micky, and using assistive software on the computer to magnify or read out what’s on screen. I used to be able to just jump in the car to go and do something, and visit friends, or my family in Donegal. That’s been particularly hard, now having to rely on public transport, taxis or other people.”
“I reached out for counselling to help me cope with the newfound anxieties of everyday life, and through RNIB’s Community Connection team have met other people who are blind or partially sighted, whether from birth or later in life. This has been invaluable in helping my outlook on life, increasing my confidence and helping me feel like ‘me’ again.”
“Through the Belfast See Change group we want to influence decision makers and work with them on solutions to ensure that the needs of people with sight loss are recognised, understood and addressed; to achieve real change in the hearts and minds of policy makers, local councillors, decision makers and the general public, leading to practical, emotional and social change in our communities that enable people who are blind or partially sighted to feel valued, understood and empowered in every area of life.”
“It has been very insightful to join the Belfast See Change group today and hear first-hand about their practical experiences of living with sight loss,” said Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray.
“As a council, we want to ensure Belfast is an inclusive city - one where everyone is able to access vital services, without obstacles or impediments – and we are continuing to work with all our city partners to achieve this goal.
“I wish the group well with raising awareness of the challenges they face and I look forward to hearing more about their progress during my year in office.”
Dr Jackie Witherow, Director of UK Nations at RNIB said: “There is a lack of knowledge of the realities of being blind or partially sighted in our society today. This causes significant barriers to people with sight loss carrying out every day essential activities, resulting in a huge impact on mental and physical health, career aspirations and educational attainment. We will continue to partner with relevant groups, agencies, government bodies and organisations to increase awareness, address misconceptions, and increase opportunities for people with sight loss in Northern Ireland.”
To find out more about the Belfast See Change group or RNIB Northern Ireland’s wider campaigning work, visit rnib.org.uk/NorthernIreland, or contact the RNIB Policy and Campaigns team on [email protected].
Notes to Editors
Media enquiries can be directed to Kirsty Campbell, PR and Communications Officer, RNIB Northern Ireland by emailing: [email protected] or phoning: 07702 856 686.
Additional Information
About the Belfast See Change group
The Belfast See Change group’s vision is ‘to create an accessible world and see change, so that the practical, emotional and social impacts of sight loss are appreciated and taken into account by decision makers in society’.
Their mission is ‘to collaborate, create and build on partnerships within our communities to increase general awareness of the challenges of sight loss and see change in society.’
Already the group has scored a victory, challenging a major airline over its approach to a person seeking to travel with a guide dog.
The group are eager to attract more members, particularly younger members of the community: “You don’t have to live in Belfast, you simply have to be someone who is blind or partially sighted who uses the city in their daily life. We hope that ‘Belfast See Change’ will be just the first of a new generation of change makers.”
Key Stats
Sight is the sense people say they fear losing the most.
Currently, one in five of us will experience sight loss in our lifetime, and the number of people living with sight loss is expected to double by 2050. RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool - statistics on sight loss | RNIB
Four out of every ten blind and partially sighted people report that they are not able to make all the journeys that they want or need to. To compound this, when people do venture out, two-thirds of people of working age and one-third of people of pension age report colliding with an obstacle on the pavement in the last three months.
Anxiety levels are significantly higher in people with sight loss – 34 per cent reporting high levels of anxiety, compared to 23 per cent of the UK population. RNIB (2024) Voice of the customer report: The Emotional Impact of Sight Loss.
93% of people with sight loss can see something - How I see - how blind and partially sighted people see | RNIB | RNIB.
References
- RNIB (2024) Voice of the customer report: The Emotional Impact of Sight Loss
- RNIB (2023) Understanding Society: wellbeing and life satisfaction, Unpublished secondary analysis of Understanding Society
- RNIB (2023) Outlook
- RNIB (2021) Voice of the customer report: Eye care pathway part 1