LOCSU Attend SeeAbility Campaign Launch at Windsor Castle

On Tuesday 28th April, LOCSU Chair, Dr Joy Tweed, and CEO, Janice Foster, attended the launch of SeeAbility’s ‘from moments missed to moments that matter’ campaign at Windsor Castle.

The reception shone a light on the challenges people with learning disabilities and autism can face when trying to access eye care. 800,000 people with learning disabilities are living with a sight problem in the UK, and as many as half are not getting the support they need.

SeeAbility’s new initiative seeks to expand services to reach more children and young people in special schools, striving to ensure that “fewer lives are lived out of focus.”

Tagged a moving and inspirational evening, the campaign launch was attended by many from across the eye care sector, as well as donors and beneficiaries of the charity.

It included moving personal stories, paired with calls to action from HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, and The Rt Honourable Sir John Major KG CH.

“Those personal stories still remain with me,” said Joy Tweed, “such as hearing that for one young person his vision wasn’t tested until he was 20 years old, and then discovering he had a significant refractive error and need for glasses.

“However, there were also encouraging stories from people and their families where help and support from SeeAbility had made a real difference to their lives.

“I particularly enjoyed chatting to some of the SeeAbility Associates present and hearing from them first-hand about their roles and experiences.”

Janice Foster added: “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with SeeAbility, building upon the foundations of our Easy Eye Care Pathway collaboration.

“When we consider that children with learning disabilities are 28 times more likely to have serious sight problems, it is not acceptable that four in ten have never had access to eye care. This is not OK. We must all work together to do better.

“I aspire to demonstrate the courage portrayed through the stories I heard at the launch – accessible eye care matters.”
You can find out more about the campaign, and SeeAbility, here.