Visually Impaired People Day
In Germany, the 6th of June is observed as Visually Impaired People Day. This day is designed to raise public awareness about the challenges that people with vision impairment or loss face daily. It also advocates for incentives and programs that provide more access for people with visual difficulties or blindness.
In Germany, there are over a million people who are dealing with some type of visual impairment, and around the world, approximately 285 million people are visually impaired. That’s why everyone needs to take the time to observe this holiday when it rolls around every June.
The History of Visually Impaired People Day
This day was first created by the DBSV in 1998. The DBSV is the German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted, an organization that has been in existence since 1912.
It created this holiday to allow sighted and visually impaired people to come together and have an honest conversation about blindness and visual impairment, and what society can do to improve conditions for them.
Important Facts About Visual Impairment & Blindness
Below are several facts that we’ve learned while writing up this holiday. We think that everyone should take the time to familiarize themselves with the following facts, so they can educate themselves on the subject and understand how important it is for all of us to advocate for people with visual disabilities.
- In the U.S., approximately 12 million people aged 40 and older have a vision impairment.
- An estimated 94 million Americans are at high risk of developing serious vision loss.
- In Germany, approximately 80,000 to half a million people are blind, and approximately one million people are visually impaired.
- Only about a third of blind and visually impaired people in Germany hold a salaried job.
- The German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted represents 500,000 visually impaired people and 155,000 blind people.
Observing Visually Impaired People Day
During this day, everyone can come together to find solutions to the problems that blind and visually impaired individuals face daily. Sighted people can also work to advocate on behalf of blind individuals so that they can lead as normal a life as possible. People can also spread the news about this day using the hashtag #VisuallyImpairedPeopleDay on social media.
Siku ya Watu wenye Ulemavu wa Maono (Visibly Impaired People's Day) ni siku ya watu wenye ulemavu wa kuona nchini Ujerumani. Siku hii imekusudiwa kuongeza ufahamu wa umma juu ya changamoto ambazo watu wenye ulemavu wa kuona au upotezaji wa kuona wanakabili kila siku. Pia inatoa motisha na programu ambazo hutoa upatikanaji zaidi kwa watu wenye matatizo ya kuona au upofu. Nchini Ujerumani, zaidi ya watu milioni moja wana tatizo la kuona, na ulimwenguni kote, karibu watu milioni 285 wana tatizo la kuona. Hiyo ndiyo sababu kila mtu anahitaji kuchukua muda wa kuchunguza likizo hii wakati rolls karibu kila Juni. Siku ya watu wenye ulemavu wa kuona ilianzishwa na DBSV mnamo 1998. DBSV ni Shirikisho la Ujerumani la Vipofu na Maono ya Sehemu, shirika ambalo limekuwapo tangu 1912. Siku hii ya sikukuu iliwawezesha watu wenye uwezo wa kuona na wenye ulemavu wa kuona kukutana na kuwa na mazungumzo ya uaminifu kuhusu upofu na ulemavu wa kuona, na kile jamii inaweza kufanya ili kuboresha hali yao. Mambo muhimu kuhusu Ulemavu wa Maono na Upofu Chini ni ukweli kadhaa kwamba tumejifunza wakati wa kuandika juu ya likizo hii. """Tunafikiri kila mtu anapaswa kuchukua muda kujipatia ukweli wafuatayo ili waweze kujielimisha juu ya mada hii na kuelewa jinsi ilivyo muhimu kwetu sote kuunga mkono watu wenye ulemavu wa kuona." Katika Marekani, karibu watu milioni 12 wenye umri wa miaka 40 na zaidi wana matatizo ya kuona. Takriban Wamarekani milioni 94 wana hatari kubwa ya kupoteza uwezo wao wa kuona. Katika Ujerumani, karibu watu milioni 80,000 hadi nusu ni vipofu, na karibu watu milioni moja ni wenye ulemavu wa kuona. - Karibu theluthi moja tu ya vipofu na watu wenye ulemavu wa kuona nchini Ujerumani wana kazi ya kulipwa. Shirikisho la Ujerumani la Vipofu na Vipofu wa Sehemu linawakilisha watu 500,000 wenye ulemavu wa kuona na watu 155,000 vipofu. Siku ya watu wenye ulemavu wa kuona ni siku ambayo watu wote wanaungana ili kutafuta suluhisho kwa matatizo ambayo watu vipofu na wenye ulemavu wa kuona wanakabili kila siku. Watu wenye uwezo wa kuona wanaweza pia kufanya kazi ya kutetea masikioni watu wasioona ili waweze kuishi maisha ya kawaida iwezekanavyo. "Watu wanaweza pia kueneza habari kuhusu siku hii kwa kutumia hashtag #VisuallyImpairedPeopleDay kwenye mitandao ya kijamii."""