MPs and Peers to hear about the eye health needs of people with learning disabilities

Members of Parliament and national charities are to hold an event in Parliament to hear about the eye health needs of people with learning disabilities. Together with their carers, eye care, health and social care professionals they will have the opportunity to give their views and share their experiences at a unique listening event to be held on Tuesday 19 January 2010.

The event is being hosted by SeeAbility, Mencap, RNIB and the Eye Health Alliance and supported by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health & Visual Impairment and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Learning Disabilities.

Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual Impairment Sandra Gidley MP (Liberal Democrat, Romsey) said:

“This listening event will highlight the problems of the one in three people with a learning disability who have a sight problem yet have difficulty accessing care and treatment. As a consequence, the majority have never even had a sight test. They may not be able to communicate that they have a problem with their eyes, yet improving their vision can make a huge difference to their quality of life and improve their independence.”

David Scott-Ralphs, Chief Executive of SeeAbility, said:

“We know from SeeAbility's work through our eye 2 eye Campaign that people with learning disabilities face many barriers in accessing good, appropriate eye care. People with learning disabilities are most likely to have sight problems and least likely to get the right help and support with their eye care. This event is an important opportunity to raise these vital issues with policy and decision makers and to suggest ways to improve awareness and practice nationally.”

David Congdon, Mencap's Head of Campaigns and Policy, said:

“This event is a valuable opportunity for everyone involved with people with learning disabilities, including their families, support workers and carers, to express their views on this matter. We hope that many people will take part in this event and help contribute to the debate on this vitally important issue for people with a learning disability.”

Heather Marshall from the Eye Health Alliance, said:

“Eye health is important for everyone but for people who have difficulty communicating that they have a problem with their eyes, it is even more crucial that they have appropriate eye care.

A person’s sight is often overlooked, yet improving their eye health can make a huge difference to their quality of life and increase their independence.”

This event aims to address the issues around the eye health needs and support of people with learning disabilities. We need people with learning disabilities and anyone who support them to share their experiences of eye care services, such as having sight tests or attending hospital eye clinics.