International Day of Disabled Persons
Imagine losing your sight and with it your capacity to be independent, access education, work or engage socially. In the world more than one billion people live with some form of disability. Visual disability affects 217 million people with moderately or severely visual impairment and 36 million with blindness. 2.5 billion people around the world have uncorrected refractive error with 1.1 needing near correction due to presbyopia (https://visionimpactinstitute.org/). 80% of those affected by disability live in developing countries and are among those most marginalised.
Since 1992, on December 3rd the International Day of Disabled Persons is observed across the world. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. You can read more about it here: http://www.un.org/en/events/disabilitiesday/background.shtml
177 countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The purpose is to “promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/ConventionRightsPersonsWithDisabilities.aspx
Through our 84 chapters worldwide, VOSH/International reaches some of the most needed communities across the world bringing essential eye health care and preventing many people becoming permanently visually disabled. Our community clinics deliver quality and equitable refraction, low vision, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy detection. We often engage in partnerships to offer cataract surgeries and manage ocular disease. VOSH is also working to support the development of optometry schools in several countries through faculty deployment, technology transfer program and VOSH clinics joining locally optometry to expand local capacity. Through our support to global campaigns such as Our children’s vision we contribute to expanding access to eye health services for children across the world.
As a low vision specialist, I have witnessed the difference the glasses and magnification devices can make to the lives of people who would otherwise be unable to carry out ordinary activities we take for granted. Every optometrist knows the power of refraction and ocular health assessment to allow clear vision to travel, work, go to school. On this International Day of People with Disabilities, I want to reiterate VOSH/International’s commitment to ensuring eye health services are inclusive, accessible, affordable and of good quality for everyone so avoidable visual impairment can be reduced, and more people can enjoy their lives free of visual disability.
Tracy Matchinski, OD, FAAO, FVI, President VOSH/International