Although I was not born in Warwickshire, my connection to Stratford upon Avon and my love for the Royal Shakespeare Company has meant that Warwickshire has played an enormous part in both my personal and professional life.
I first became associated with Warwickshire Vision Support when I was approached to write a foreword to the Catalogue for the Warwickshire Talking Book Service more than 20 years ago. Like many other people, I knew family members and friends living with sight loss who missed the written word and who felt cut off from so much of our rich culture. Sight loss changes the way we live. We see proud independent people gradually losing their confidence and withdrawing from life – shopping, visiting family and meeting friends becomes more challenging as our sight deteriorates. This is when we most need help and support and Warwickshire Vision Support is there to help us.
Today, the number of people living with sight loss is increasing at an alarming rate. There are now an estimated 20,000 people living with permanent and uncorrectable sight loss in Warwickshire. These people need our support to enable them to continue to live full and independent lives.
Warwickshire Vision Support has been providing that support for more than a hundred years. From initial assessments and rehabilitation services, through to advice and information; access to essential resources; and, of course that essential social support that so many people living with sight loss need so much – Warwickshire Vision Support continues to offer an excellent quality service to its members.
On a personal level, many of you will have heard of my own struggle with sight loss. My recent diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration has brought its own challenges. But I am a firm believer that with the right support we can continue to work, continue to explore our world and continue to live life to the full. Thank you for joining us at Warwickshire Vision Support – together we can make a real difference.
