Much of the work done by Vision Australia’s staff involves helping others gain what might seem like minor wins in their lives, but it all contributes to an often profound impact on those people and a bigger victory for the country.
The question is a simple one: What does a typical day look like for you?
A simple question but Ms Marg Harvey’s answer gives a valuable insight into not only her role and contribution as an orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist at Vision Australia, but also the vital role the organisation plays in their clients’ lives and their contributions to the country and economy.
Harvey is a former teacher who now works with people aged practically from zero to 100 who are blind or have low vision.
As an O&M specialist she not only helps them with all aspects of their mobility, from walking around in the community to catching public transport and getting prepared for dog mobility and other aids, she also does assessments of environments at schools and other public facilities, workplaces, and advocates around accessibility improvements such as installation of traffic lights, road crossings and other infrastructure.
But what does a typical day look like?
“I’ve been to see a student at a school,” she says. “He’s transitioning to high school next year. And he’s also a recent arrival in Australia, from Afghanistan. So complex vision loss, very complex health issues.
“He was getting around really well at school, has mapped it out despite his really low vision. So my plan there is for him to learn to use a long cane as an aid that will support his low vision, be a bit safer and also help the community understand something about him.
“This afternoon I’m seeing a very independent person who is blind. He works hard to be independent, but he needs training to navigate a massive road crossing so he can walk to the hairdressers to get his hair cut.
“But the funniest one is . . . I work with this little lad who’s two, and he is totally blind as well. It was raining here in Dandenong [Victoria] but when I got there, he was already outside, fully dressed in his little waterproof pants and his raincoat, and we spent the whole session out in the rain.
“So I just put my raincoat on and we just spent the whole time floating things down the gutters, tapping the water to see how deep it was and really allowing him to develop his skills and understanding of his environment.”
You can take the woman out of teaching but . . .
If Harvey’s role gives blind and low vision people practical skills and knowledge to help navigate their sometimes new and challenging world, colleague Ms Debbie Loke and her team play an important role in building confidence and a safe bridge to that sometimes scary new land.
Loke, a trained orthoptist, is Vision Australia’s national social support and wellbeing lead.
The organisation deals with people at every stage of their journey of vision loss, says Loke.
“In Australia, it takes adults an average of five years to seek support for vision loss,” she says. “Sometimes this can be a fear of confronting a vision condition; in many cases it’s simply not knowing who to turn to or when.”
The social support and wellbeing team help to ease that transition.
There are a number of programs, groups and funded pathways to help blind and low-vision people connect not only with others facing similar challenges but also groups to help them regain confidence, and colleagues like Harvey who can assist with navigating daily life.
“We have a well-being check-in and chat program that’s targeted to our clients who are 65 plus and above. It’s a one-on-one Telehealth program that supports older clients and their families in adjusting to vision loss.
“There’s another team that runs our quality living group program, a forum and safe space for clients in a similar age or stage, where they can get together and talk about their story, learn strategies and tips and help each other out.”
Other groups in recreational programs get together around certain activities, such as craft and woodwork.
Loke believes her former ophthalmic colleagues can also play an important role by continuing to refer people to the services available at Vision Australia.
“Vision Australia has the services and the supports in place that can provide that wraparound service to that client who might be going through a particular stage of their vision-loss diagnosis,” she says.
For Harvey, the reason for doing that is simple.
“You want people to have the same opportunities as every other person. That’s how I feel about it.
“That’s how we should be.”
More reading
Vision Australia – working to give people a future and a ‘fair go’
Vision Australia – help beyond the store front
Vision Australia: Blind, low vision children need more support to start school year strong
