Advocacy
The Importance of Advocacy
Vision loss is taking an enormous toll in the U.S. and around the world. 161 million people worldwide have a vision impairment and without intervention the number will almost double by 2020. Of the 161 million people, 37 million are blind and 124 million have low vision.
Vision loss affects people of all ages. Every five seconds someone in the world goes blind. A child goes blind every minute. It's very likely that you or someone you love may face vision loss due to age-related Macular Degeneration, Cataracts , Diabetes-Related Eye Disease, Glaucoma or some other eye disorder.
In the United States alone, with the aging baby boom generation, an epidemic of diabetes and people living longer, more services will be needed by more people over a much longer time span. More than 20 million Americans have diabetes and more than 6 million have macular degeneration. Another 15 million are pre-symptomatic for macular degeneration.
How do we battle this growing problem? We must expand our reach to prevent and treat eye diseases, and work together to search for cures. Funding for the eye-care health is woefully inadequate. We must take action now.
Lighthouse International Makes a Difference
Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a non-profit organization that helps people of all ages who have vision loss. Lighthouse International helps people with low vision and blindness maintain their independence and lead safe, productive lives, and we educate professionals and the public about the importance of prevention and treatment of vision loss.
Advocacy initiatives have always been an important part of the Lighthouse mission. In 1909 we worked with the New York City Board of Education to allow visually impaired students equal access to classrooms.
Our tradition of advocacy continues today, as we make sure that low vision is on the agenda for the World Health Organization (WHO) and Vision 2020, as well as the State Legislature in Albany and the U.S. Congress and federal agencies. Lighthouse International has always been and will continue to be an advocate and a leader in the field: locally, nationally, and internationally.
2007 Legislative Priorities
Lighthouse International has established two main policy issues to focus on, on both the federal and state level, for the 2007 legislative session.
Federal
- Low Vision Optical Device Coverage by Medicare
- Support Early Treatment/Detection of Eye Diseases
New York State
- Increased Reimbursement for Contractual Services
- Increased Support for Programs Serving 7-13 year olds
What can you do?
Get involved. There are important resources here to help you get involved. Get the facts on vision loss. Read about the significant policy issues. Research the current legislation. Find your elected officials and let them know that this is important to you. Join our advocacy network and receive updates on Lighthouse International's advocacy efforts.