Visual impairments seem to be linked to poverty!

Blindness or visual impairment is often a precursor to poverty in Canada, according to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

"In a nationwide study we determined 25 per cent of those who were asked had a university degree, but many are still are unemployed and usually if you have a university degree you’d have a better chance for a job," said Cathy Moore, national director of consumer and government relations for CNIB.

"There is a stigma associated with visual impairment," Ms. Moore said Tuesday after a Halifax news conference to release the results of a study.

The study, An Unequal Playing Field: Report on the Needs of People Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired Living in Canada, involved 352 adults from across Canada.

Results showed that 48 per cent of participants had gross annual incomes of $20,000 or less.
The attitude of potential employers toward the blind was mentioned as the most common obstacle, with 27 per cent of respondents saying employers don’t believe a blind applicant has potential. Another 26 per cent said employers don’t want to hire people with a vision impairment.

"We wanted to release the results of the study in the different provinces and municipalities across Canada because they are the levels of government who are in the position to do something about the problems," Ms. Moore said.

"One of the biggest unmet needs is for public transportation for the visually impaired, and that is true among those who live at the poverty line everywhere."

Ms. Moore said solutions can be found within government and in the business community.
"Some people with vision problems need help shopping or paying bills and since vendors want people to pay bills and shop, they can come up with solutions, like bigger print and other ideas to make it easier," she said.

Ms. Moore said one of the CNIB’s most important functions is education.

"Like how green leafy vegetables are not only good for your heart, they’re good for your eyes — that knowledge can help to reduce the risk of vision loss," she said.

"A once-a-year eye exam can help prevent glaucoma, which is very detectable and very treatable if caught in time."

Ms. Moore also pointed out that quitting smoking can reduce the chances of age-related vision loss by 30 per cent.

"Many people don’t know smoking can make you blind," she said.