SeeAbility: Providing better eye care for those with autism or a learning disability

We recently met with SeeAbility North West to hear about the services they offer and found out about their new initiative ‘Easy Eye Care’ Pathway which aims to provide better eye care for those with autism or a learning disability.

With the rest of the eye care sector, SeeAbility are reminding people of the importance of eye tests, eye health and appropriate glasses and treatment.

SeeAbility promotes eye care for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Adults with learning disabilities are 10 times more likely to have a significant sight problem, yet much less likely to have eye tests or access the necessary prescriptions and treatments. For children, the disparity is an even more shocking 28 times more likely!

A simple eye test and prescription for glasses can transform someone’s life, and also pick up and other more serious health conditions, such as glaucoma, high blood pressure and tumours.

For this reason, SeeAbility have worked with the Optical sector and commissioners to introduce the Easy Eye Care Pathway.

This gives participating local high street opticians practices extra support, training and resources to confidently provide eye tests their community setting for local people with autism or a learning disability.

The list of participating practices is available here  www.seeability.org.uk/find-an-optometrist where you can search by post code.

 This Pathway is now available to people across the North West region, following the successful launch in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

SeeAbility have a range of information including easy read fact sheets, contact details and advice on their website which you can visit here

You can also email them at S.Kill@seeability.org