8 Surprising Things We Learned About Sight Loss
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The Learning Support team welcomed EYECAN, Jersey’s local sight loss charity, to come in and share more about how they support people with visual impairments in our community to mark Blind Awareness month. It was a great chance to learn about the valuable work they do and how they might be able to help our students and colleagues.
We thought we’d share with you a little of what we found out:
1. They’re a friendly bunch
The EYECAN team are approachable, helpful, and always happy to chat. If you ever have a question or need some advice, you can get in touch with them at info@eyecan.je
2. They’ve been around for a while!
EYECAN was originally set up in 1886 as the Jersey Blind Society. In 2015, they rebranded to EYECAN to better reflect their aim of helping people with sight loss live as independently as possible.
3. They give great practical advice
Whether it’s help at home or out and about, they offer tips and support to make daily life easier for people with sight loss.
4. They run activities and social groups
EYECAN offers a range of sessions and events for people referred through the community team.
5. They help us support our students
Some of our team recently attended a training session with EYECAN, which gave us helpful tips and a better understanding of the challenges visually impaired students might face in college.
6. They were out for White Cane Awareness Day
You may have spotted them on Brook Street last month, as they were helping to raise awareness about how the white cane supports safe, independent travel and some of the challenges individuals may face who use one.
7. They offer a ‘try before you buy’ option for tech
From screen readers to magnifiers, they help people get set up with the right assistive tech that can make a big difference day to day.
8. They’re here if someone needs a bit of extra support
EYECAN can help connect people to other services if they need it – whether it’s for wellbeing, practical support, or just someone to talk to.
If you’d like to know more, visit their website!