Petition on low vision services extended due to demand

Petition on low vision services extended due to popular demand

Media release.

New Zealanders now have until 30 June to sign a petition to Parliament on the need for low vision services. Escalating public support for "an inquiry into the need for accessible, comprehensive low vision rehabilitation services for the growing number of New Zealanders who do not qualify for membership of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind" has led to the extension of the petition's closing date. Copies of the petition can be downloaded from: www.visualimpairment.org.nz

"Low vision, especially among older New Zealanders, is a huge problem that's been overlooked for far too long," said Dr Lynley Hood, spokesperson for petition organiser VICTA (Visual Impairment Charitable Trust Aotearoa NZ). "Over 94,000 New Zealanders have uncorrectable vision loss severe enough to interfere with their ability to do the sort of everyday tasks that most people take for granted, like reading, shopping and driving, but only 11,500 of them are blind enough to qualify for help from the Foundation."

VICTA was established in 2013 to address the unmet needs of the approximately 84,000 New Zealanders disabled by irreversible vision loss for whom information and support is scant, or non-existent. VICTA's patron is Dame Catherine Tizard. VICTA's founding trustees are Associate Professor Gordon Sanderson (chair), Dr Don Brash, Dr Lynley Hood and Kerry Buchan.

ENDS

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