July newsletter No. 269
Winner of the Voice hopes to break down barriers for blind people in NI
People with sight-loss could miss benefit payments:
People with sight loss are missing out on benefit payments because of the way their vision is tested, it is claimed. The Wales Council of the Blind (WCB) said assessors were using specialist equipment incorrectly, leading to false results. More details: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48682106
USA, new way to finance medical research and help cure blindness
“Legislation has been introduced in the US Congress to provide a partial government guarantee for $1 billion in Eye Bonds, a five-year pilot program to finance research for curing blindness and develop a new way to finance medical research”. https://finance.toolbox.com/article/eye-bonds-pioneer-new-way-to-finance-medical-research-and-maybe-help-cure-blindness
Judy Dench says failing eyesight caused her to give up driving
Dame Judi Dench has opened up about her faltering eyesight, saying that giving up driving as a result of her failing vision was “absolutely appalling” In 2012, Dench revealed she had been diagnosed with macular degeneration, a degenerative eye condition which is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, according to Macular Society.However, it wasn’t until 2017 that the Oscar winner stopped driving. Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/judi-dench-eyesight-driving-licence-kill-someone-death-wild-borneo-adventure-a8973376.html