Number of people with severe vision impairments expected to double by 2020
Kes: The statistics cited below are contextualized within Bookshare.org's volunteer outreach program as described in their most recent newsletter, but I'm posting it here to remind folks that not everyone who has a severe vision impairment identifies as blind.
Age-related vision impairments are often severe enough to require the use of adaptive technologies, but may not result in the total lack of vision that most people equate with blindness.
On the other hand, as someone who spent the first twenty years or so of my life as low vision, this can often prove to be more stressful and more frustrating, as the individual feels pressure to not lose their sense of independence or of their identitty by being perceived by others as having become disabled. This process is so common that we don't even question it: how many people have you known who put off getting a stronger eyeglass prescription or adopting the use of a cane because they didn't want to stand out? Well, by 2020, the number of folks who may be using screen readers and white canes could well have doubled, and all those people are still going to want--no expect--access to books, newspapers, and magazines.
Perhaps those future readers will be your parents; perhaps those future readers will be you. Either way, I'm expecting that will be the moment when the ebook revolution really happens. I'm looking forward to some lively times.
**This is not meant to scare you, but those age-related vision problems can begin as early as the age of forty, and most of the conditions, as in the case of cataracts and the usual variety of glaucoma, are slow and painless so you may not notice any symtoms such as discomfort or loss of vision. Please, if you are over forty, start getting serious about getting your eyes examined once a year.**
Volunteer Outreach Beyond Students
by Nicole Norton, Volunteer Coordinator
Bookshare volunteers just launched a program to increase awareness of its online accessible library among senior citizens and veterans. Filled with the volunteer spirit that characterizes Bookshare, a small group of Bookshare volunteers will launch this project beginning by researching the best approaches and technology options.
According to the National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/visionimpairmentandblindness.html
and Institutes of Health, the prevalence of blindness is expected to double between 2000 and 2020 [Kes: the best discussion of these statistics I could find is at
http://www.agingeye.net/mainnews/usaging.php ].
In the U.S., there are approximately 160,000 legally blind veterans.
http://commonspot.aao.org/veterans/news/low-vision.cfm
When you factor in the number of veterans diagnosed with low vision, the number jumps to more than one million veterans.
A 2004 study conducted by the Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group, found that low vision blindness increases with age, specifically in people over 65 years old.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
http://www.vision2020.org/main.cfm?type=WIBAGERELMUSCDEG
glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy are the most common eye diseases in Americans age 40 and over.
The loss of the ability to read is frightening; however, Bookshare can help qualified individuals who cannot read standard print continue to enjoy books and the pleasurable pastime of reading. If you are a senior citizen or veteran, and a Bookshare Member, would you be willing to share your Bookshare experience with us? You will be helping us learn more about your needs and supporting this important volunteer project. If you'd like to assist with this project, please contact our volunteer coordinator.
scottr at Benetech dot org
* For "statistical snapshots" of the current number of blind adults and children refer to
http://www.afb.org/section.asp?SectionID=15
Age-related vision impairments are often severe enough to require the use of adaptive technologies, but may not result in the total lack of vision that most people equate with blindness.
On the other hand, as someone who spent the first twenty years or so of my life as low vision, this can often prove to be more stressful and more frustrating, as the individual feels pressure to not lose their sense of independence or of their identitty by being perceived by others as having become disabled. This process is so common that we don't even question it: how many people have you known who put off getting a stronger eyeglass prescription or adopting the use of a cane because they didn't want to stand out? Well, by 2020, the number of folks who may be using screen readers and white canes could well have doubled, and all those people are still going to want--no expect--access to books, newspapers, and magazines.
Perhaps those future readers will be your parents; perhaps those future readers will be you. Either way, I'm expecting that will be the moment when the ebook revolution really happens. I'm looking forward to some lively times.
**This is not meant to scare you, but those age-related vision problems can begin as early as the age of forty, and most of the conditions, as in the case of cataracts and the usual variety of glaucoma, are slow and painless so you may not notice any symtoms such as discomfort or loss of vision. Please, if you are over forty, start getting serious about getting your eyes examined once a year.**
Volunteer Outreach Beyond Students
by Nicole Norton, Volunteer Coordinator
Bookshare volunteers just launched a program to increase awareness of its online accessible library among senior citizens and veterans. Filled with the volunteer spirit that characterizes Bookshare, a small group of Bookshare volunteers will launch this project beginning by researching the best approaches and technology options.
According to the National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/visionimpairmentandblindness.html
and Institutes of Health, the prevalence of blindness is expected to double between 2000 and 2020 [Kes: the best discussion of these statistics I could find is at
http://www.agingeye.net/mainnews/usaging.php ].
In the U.S., there are approximately 160,000 legally blind veterans.
http://commonspot.aao.org/veterans/news/low-vision.cfm
When you factor in the number of veterans diagnosed with low vision, the number jumps to more than one million veterans.
A 2004 study conducted by the Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group, found that low vision blindness increases with age, specifically in people over 65 years old.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
http://www.vision2020.org/main.cfm?type=WIBAGERELMUSCDEG
glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy are the most common eye diseases in Americans age 40 and over.
The loss of the ability to read is frightening; however, Bookshare can help qualified individuals who cannot read standard print continue to enjoy books and the pleasurable pastime of reading. If you are a senior citizen or veteran, and a Bookshare Member, would you be willing to share your Bookshare experience with us? You will be helping us learn more about your needs and supporting this important volunteer project. If you'd like to assist with this project, please contact our volunteer coordinator.
scottr at Benetech dot org
* For "statistical snapshots" of the current number of blind adults and children refer to
http://www.afb.org/section.asp?SectionID=15