Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria, one of the 2024 recipients of the Mable Community Grants, has launched their project 'A vision through the window to a world of inclusion'. This initiative aims to help those with vision loss to live more active and socially connected lives.
The program, which is held by a facilitator with lived experience of vision loss, offers resource kits and virtual training to support workers and carers Australia-wide. It aims to help them better connect with and support people who are blind or vision impaired in their community.
The training workshops will cover common vision conditions, challenges, and participation strategies for people who are blind or vision impaired, as well as safe, supported guiding methods. After the workshop, participants will get a digital resource kit with guidelines, facts, and helpful materials for supporting those with vision loss.
Program manager Rachel DeSumma says, "The project is the first within our organisation to deliver a resource kit to support workers and carers. Through talking to people with vision loss, we can see just how important effective support is and, further, identify the common barriers to knowing how to best support someone."
"We really want to enable people with vision loss to get involved in the community and have the best support they need to do this. This is an effective way to bridge that gap and share resources with those working directly with people who are vision impaired," she shares.
In 2020, research by Vision Australia found that over 840,000 Australians were living with vision loss. With this figure expected to have now increased, it's hoped the project will build the capability of support workers and carers to feel confident and encouraged to facilitate people with vision loss in leading the lives they wish to lead.
With bookings open to participants Australia-wide, Miss DeSumma encourages those who can, to get involved.
"The project is ready, and we're welcoming support workers and carers to sign up for one of our sessions. Additionally, we welcome any participants with vision loss to engage in our virtual online fitness programs available via our website."
Become a participant today or to find more projects, visit the Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria website.
About the Mable Community Grants
The Mable Community Grants help to fund people and projects that champion inclusion and independence for people with disability and older Australians.
Since 2019, $215,00 worth of grants have been given to fund changemakers with projects and programs that can improve inclusion and independence for older people and people with disability.
In 2024, four grants of $10,000 each were available, with Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria being one of the recipients.
We can't wait to share our plans for 2025 soon.
About Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria
Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria aims to enhance the lives of people throughout Victoria who are blind or vision impaired through sport and recreation. Since their establishment in 1977, they have evolved into a small but thriving charity that is setting the benchmark for blind sport and recreation in Australia. Supporting more than 1,200 members, they encourage people with no or low vision of all ages and backgrounds to lead more healthy and active lifestyles.
Learn more about Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria.
Photograph by Gary Sissons.
