Rise In Blindness Through Accidents

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31159, 8 September 1966, Page 8

Rise In Blindness Through Accidents

(New Zealand Preet Association) AUCKLAND, September 7. The number of people who have lost their sight in car accidents is causing the Foundation for the Blind serious concern, the welfare superintendent for the foundation, Mr J. E. May, said yesterday.

He said he could not remember a marked incidence of blindness as a result of road accidents until 18 months ■go.

Seven cases of total blindness caused by road accidents have been admitted to the foundation during the last 18 months. “Of this figure, several came to us during the last two or three months,” said Mr May. All were young—a 32-year-old schoolteacher, two secondary school boys, one aged 14, the other 17; two young married men, an unmarried man in his early 20s and a registered nurse in her 20s. With young people such as these there was an even greater need for a rehabilitation

centre for the newly-blinded, Mr May said. “The newly blinded could be taken to a rehabilitation centre straight from hospital, avoiding the undesirable months at home when a blinded person is likely to become depressed and uncertain with nothing to do.” A contract has been let for building at Homai College for the Blind at Manurewa a rehabilitation centre, a pre-school unit and separate deaf-blind section. The project is estimated to cost £lOO,OOO. “The rehabilitation centre, which will be able to cater for 12 newly-blinded people living in, at one time, should be completed within 12 months,” Mr May said.