Armidale resident Steve Widders hopes that the visit from Gulliver, the world’s biggest guide dog last Wednesday, will encourage the community to support Guide Dogs NDIS: A Vision for All campaign.
The campaign is seeking 10,000 signatures in support of Guide Dogs call for the government to ensure that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds orientation and mobility services, including canes and guide dogs, for people whose functional mobility is affected by vision loss.
Please visit www.visionloss.org.au to add your signature and message of support to the campaign.
Steve, who is vision impaired, admits he became depressed when he first began to lose his eyesight. But he bounced back with help from his family and Orientation and Mobility Instructors from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to a full, active life which now includes work as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer at Armidale Dumaresq Council, and trekking the Kokoda with the Blind Courage team.
Steve is also organising the Walk/Ride Widders (With Us) event in which a journey from Brisbane to Sydney in October this year is to remind everyone about the importance of men paying attention to health issues. Steve has a long cane.
“The orientation and mobility training I have received from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT allows me to lead an active life with total independence, mobility and confidence,” said Steve.
Jeremy Hill, Regional Manager for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT across Northwest NSW, said orientation and mobility services made it possible for people with impaired vision to be independent.
“Our services enable people with vision impairment to go to school, go to university, go to work and pursue social and sporting interests without having to rely on others to take them,” said Mr Hill.
Over the past year Orientation and Mobility Instructors from Guide Dogs have provided almost 80 training programs to Armidale residents who have trouble getting around due to vision loss.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT plans to present its campaign signatures to the Federal Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin, NSW Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance and ACT Minister for Community Services Joy Burch on International White Cane Day, Monday October 15.
Regardless of the outcome of NDIS Guide Dogs NSW/ACT will always need the community’s generosity to fund its various services and aids, including:
the free provision of all orientation and mobility services and guide dogs to people aged 66 years and over who won’t be eligible to receive services covered by the NDIS; and
the free provision of secondary aids like electronic travel devices including the Mobile Geo and Trekker Breeze talking GPS technology and hand-held radar devices called Miniguides.
To support Guide Dogs NSW/ACT’s NDIS: A Vision for All campaign please register online at www.visionloss.org.au or call 1800 804 805. For more information about local services, please Guide Dogs NSW/ACT in Tamworth on 6761 3152.
