If you are interested in the AMD thread (5 previous posts under Simply Seeing Or Not) you may like to take a look at the RNIB page, and scroll right down to this video Staying Independent with AMD.
The RNIB is the Royal National Institute for the Blind here in UK.
Unlike the Macular Society video which I complained about in the previous post with cartoon character Gloria, this video features Shirley, a real person with AMD who lives independently, enjoys audio books, teaches a cookery class for people with a visual impairment (because she didn't want to eat processed food from the microwave). She uses a folding white stick called a 'thimble stick' I think, but not all the time. Mainly when she travels on the London Underground. (Yay! She travels on the London Underground!)
Shirley says the news of AMD was 'horrible'. I'd agree with that. But the choice of language - and I quote here from the Macular Society video - 'fear and devastation' 'terrible plight' and 'little hope' is very different in the RNIB video. Neither is Shirley surrounded by sad little figures in attitudes of despair.
It is worth remembering I think that the condition is not life threatening, though it is clearly life-style threatening
I want to support the Macular Society. They fund much of the research which I hope will find a cure for macular degeneration and other eye diseases.
My last blog post on the topic Seeing Red was forwarded by the local organiser of a Macular Society group to the Society and elicited a response from Graham Newham of the Society which you can read in the comments on that post. It is good to know my voice is being heard, and I do know mine is not the only dissenting one!
Next post on the topic - Things I wish I had known....
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