The mission of VisionAware [1] is to provide information, resources, and step-by-step daily living techniques that can increase independence and enhance quality of life for individuals with vision loss. VisionAware is also committed to increasing the visibility of organizations and resources that address the unmet needs of people who are blind, visually impaired, or have low vision.
An estimated 285 million people in the world today are blind or have low vision (World Health Organization, 2010). In the United States alone, the American Foundation for the Blind [2] reports that approximately 25 million American adults age 18 and older experience significant vision loss. This includes individuals who have "trouble seeing," even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, as well as people who are blind or unable to see at all.
Among U.S. adults aged 40 and older, the National Eye Institute estimates that 4.5 to 5.5 million individuals are blind, have low vision, or experience age-related vision loss; in addition, low vision and blindness increase significantly with age, particularly in people over 65.
Although estimates of adult blindness, low vision, and vision impairment can vary, one factor remains consistent: The majority of these individuals do not have regular access to vision rehabilitation services [3].
To better respond to the information and rehabilitation needs of the increasing numbers of adults with vision loss, the American Foundation for the Blind [4] and Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation [5] are joining forces to create a state-of-the-art, comprehensive, and expanded web resource.
The new site will integrate VisionAware [1], currently sponsored by Partners for Sight, into the AFB family of web sites, which serves millions of people annually by delivering information and resources about living with vision loss. The site is expected to be unveiled in early 2012 and will target working-age adults, senior citizens, and the families and caregivers of people with visual impairments. You can read the full announcement at the American Foundation for the Blind web site [6].
VisionAware [1] is an Online Resource Center that provides free, practical, hands-on information to increase independence and enhance quality of life for adults with vision loss, along with families, friends, and related professionals.
The VisionAware Online Resource Center provides:
VisionAware.org was founded in 2006 by Anne Yeadon, M.A., VRT, with funding from Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation [5].
The VisionAware team is composed of experienced vision rehabilitation professionals who bring you our step-by-step adaptive techniques, independent living resources, and publications. Many of us are blind or have low vision ourselves. Our goal is to provide information and resources that can help adults and their families cope with vision changes, adapt everyday tasks, keep their jobs, enjoy their hobbies, and retain their independence.
Maureen Duffy, Editorial Director: Maureen.Duffy@VisionAware.org [7]
Add our RSS feed of the Are You Aware? newsletter to your RSS news reader or web site by using this link:
http://www.VisionAware.org/view/are_you_aware_rss [8]
VisionAware.org respects your privacy. Below is an outline of the information that we gather and how it's used. We invite you to contact us if you have questions about this policy. You can contact us by email at info@VisionAware.org [9]
Whenever you request a page through your browser, navigation and clickstream data are stored in a log file and/or database. Any search terms that you enter into the VisionAware.org Site Search are also logged. This information cannot be used to identify specific individuals, and is only used for:
This information is maintained on a secure server.
The email addresses collected from subscriptions to the VisionAware.org newsletters are not sold, or disclosed to any third parties. These addresses will only be used to send out VisionAware.org communications (for example, the VisionAware.org newsletters). You will not receive any mailings you did not request.
Cookies are a technology that can be used to provide you with tailored information from a web site. A cookie is an element of data that a web site can send to your browser, and which your browser may then store on your system.
You can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie. Doing this will allow you to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to accept cookies or not. Cookies are also used for storing login information and for performing site-traffic analysis.
If you have questions regarding our privacy policies, or require assistance in opting out of our email lists, please contact us at info@VisionAware.org [9]
Links:
[1] http://www.VisionAware.org
[2] http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=15&TopicID=413&DocumentID=4900
[3] http://www.visionaware.org/vision_rehabilitation_services
[4] http://www.afb.org
[5] http://partnersforsight.org
[6] http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=47&DocumentID=5552
[7] mailto:Maureen.Duffy@VisionAware.org
[8] http://www.visionaware.org/view/are_you_aware_rss
[9] http://www.visionaware.org/mailto