Vision Health Month

VISION HEALTH M O N T H PAG E 10 For many Canadians, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) is something of an enigma. W hile the organization's name provides some basic insight into what they do, it doesn't tell the whole story. The CNIB is a registered charity that offers community- based support to blind and partially-sighted persons so they have the confidence, skills and opportunity to take part fully in day-to-day life. Additionally, the CNIB provides blind and partially-sighted persons with a national voice, advocates for a barrier-free society, strives to eliminate avoidable sight loss with world-class research, and promotes vision health through public education. That list of services also includes providing low-vision rehabilitation services, says doctor of optometry Irene Mestito-Dao, who has volunteered her services to the CNIB twice a month for the past 18 years. "Low vision refers to anyone with vision loss," she said. "People with low vision aren't legally blind, but are people who are having trouble with their vision (legal blindness means that with best correction in the better eye, vision is 20/200 or worse; or, the visual field is less than 20 degrees in diameter). In Manitoba, about 38,000 people deal with vision loss. Of that number, 17,200 are legally blind. Only 7,000 people actually access the CNIB's services. "Reasons for failure to access the CNIB's services vary," Dr. Mestito-Dao said. "The top two are that people lack awareness, or they don't want assistance. Of those 17,200 legally blind people, 9,640 reside in Winnipeg, while the rest live outside the city. Unfortunately, some people just don't know how to deal with vision loss, so they don't seek help in dealing with it." Those who do come to the CNIB to get involved in the low-vision rehabilitation program have the benefit of working with skilled, knowledgeable volunteers such as Dr. Mestito- Dao. When someone comes in for treatment, the first step is a vision assessment. "When someone's dealing with vision loss, the first thing to do is take a look to see what can be done to help them," she explained. "Low-vision rehabilitation is fairly broad-based. We train people in how get around, show them how to use a computer to their advantage, show them how to communicate better with people, and even provide them with tools for employment training. In addition, the CNIB also offers support groups and organizes social activities like yoga, a Bible club, a book club and camps for kids. While adults and children are trained in how to deal with — and overcome — their visual limitations, support is also provided to those who live with them on a day-to-day basis. "For example, not only will we help kids learn how to get around and find the best ways for them to learn at school, but we'll also provide support to their parents. We help parents to deal with their child's vision loss, and educate them in how to assist their child as they cope with their low-vision challenges on a daily basis." There's one very important thing to note about the CNIB's low-vision rehabilitation services, said Mestito-Dao. "These services are not covered by Manitoba Health, which doesn't consider low- vision rehabilitation a treatment," she said. "Consequently, low-vision aids and guide dogs aren't covered. The CNIB covers the cost of those things, but in doing so, often has to close off other services like support groups to find money to cover the costs." Currently the provincial government funds approximately 30 per cent of these costs. However, that leaves the charity to raise the remaining 70 per cent, which is difficult in these economic times. She hopes that in the future, the provincial government might consider fully covering those costs so the CNIB won't have to sacrifice other services. "Statistics show that only 32 per cent of working age people with vision loss are employed," Dr. Mestito-Dao said. "Statistics also show that 55 per cent of Canadians with vision loss don't graduate from high school." Better rehabilitation services would make a huge difference, she added. "Better services will make them more employable and more self-sufficient," Dr. Mestito-Dao said. "The CNIB is doing all they can to help people with low-vision problems. More government assistance would go a long way in helping us do an even better job." CNIB IS THERE FOR YOU BY TODD LEWYS Dr. Irene Mestito-Dao, owner of Henderson Vision Centre, has volunteered her services to the CNIB twice a month for the past 18 years.

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