Visual Acuity – Think Big, Think Bold
In our 2013 awareness week we focused on poor visual acuity in people with Down’s syndrome and the impact is has upon daily life.
Fact: Vision is poorer in all people with Down’s syndrome
Up to 50% of people with Downs Syndrome will need to wear glasses, but even when glasses are worn, 100% of people with Down’s syndrome have poorer visual acuity than other people. Visual Acuity is still poor even when a person with Down’s syndrome is wearing correctly fitted glasses for either long or short sight.
Our 2013 awareness week aim was : To increase greater understanding of visual acuity and what it means for people with Down’s syndrome.
People with Down’s syndrome see the world differently – their world lacks fine details and sharp contracts. In order to compensate for the poorer visual acuity we can make the world around them BIG and bold.
Big and Bold printed materials and images will help – people with Down’s syndrome are visual learners so to help them succeed make sure they can see things. It is very important to take their poorer visual acuity into account in all learning environments.
Starting at your child’s school by making them aware of the poorer visual acuity in people with Down’s syndrome. Encourage them to make simple changes to think BIG and bold.
We have a prepared a few simple sheets to help you –
- School – Think Big Think Bold
- BIG and bold writing sheet
- How I See Things – explaining visual acuity in people with Down’s syndrome and what it means.
- Facts poster to take to your local Opticians.
We thank Dr Maggie Woodhouse and her team at The Down’s Syndrome Vision Research Unit, Cardiff University, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences for their research and help. We encourage you to read and share Dr Maggie Woodhouse’s research into understating Visual Acuity in children with Down’s syndrome and testing and fitting correct glasses for people with Down’s syndrome featured in our Journal.
For further information about vision in people with Down’s syndrome go here