Tag: World Sight Day

Breathing Space bench launched with sight loss community

A new Breathing Space bench has been unveiled by national sight loss charity RNIB Scotland in partnership with NHS24 and Breathing Space this week, marking World Sight Day (Thursday 8 October) and World Mental Health Day (Saturday 10 October). 

The bench is part of a Scotland-wide network of more than 100 installed since 2018, and will provide a quiet, welcoming space where anyone, including the blind and partially sighted community RNIB Scotland supports, can pause, reflect, or start a conversation about how they’re feeling. 

RNIB research shows people with sight loss are more than twice as likely to experience unhappiness or depression than the UK average. Isolation is a major factor: many people who lose their vision find it harder to get out, see friends, or take part in the activities that once supported their wellbeing — and that loss of connection can have a profound effect on mental health. 

RNIB Scotland Director James Adams says: “Nobody should have to navigate the emotional side of sight loss alone.

“Whether that’s through our own counselling and wellbeing services, or simply a conversation on a bench like this one, we want people to know that support exists and that reaching out is a sign of strength. We’re grateful to Breathing Space and NHS24 for working with us to bring it here, right at the heart of our community hub.” 

The bench was unveiled by local councillor, James Dalgleish and representatives for Breathing Space, RNIB Scotland and the blind and partially sighted community. It is based at Hillside Crescent Gardens, outside RNIB Scotland’s community hub which is home to Café VI, a Product and Advice store, and a range of social and peer-support groups for the blind and partially sighted community. 

The bench plaque also features braille, and a scannable QR code so visitors can access mental health support online.  

The bench has been jointly funded by RNIB Scotland and Breathing Space, with costs shared equally between the two organisations. 

Tony McLaren, National Coordinator for NHS 24’s Breathing Space service said: “Everyone should be able to access information and support in a way that works for them. That’s why we’re proud to support RNIB Scotland in unveiling this accessible community bench on World Sight Day.

“As a service that provides emotional support to people experiencing low mood, anxiety, stress or loneliness, Breathing Space understands the importance of removing barriers and helping people find the right support when they need it.

We hope this bench encourages people to take a moment, connect with their community and know that support is available if they’re struggling.” 

World Sight Day: Girl who inspired Disney to create a princess with glasses challenges “nerd face” emoji

Lowri Moore, the British schoolgirl who got Disney to create a heroine with glasses in their hit Encanto, has set her sights on challenging the popular “nerd face” emoji, which she says perpetuates stigma against glasses wearing.

In 2019, aged just 9, Lowri Moore, from Nottinghamshire, wrote a letter to Disney asking them to represent more glasses wearers in their films. Two years later, Mirabel Madrigal of Encanto burst onto our screens – proudly wearing her glasses. Encacto director Jared Bush said he had been inspired by Lowri, telling her “I am your biggest fan. I am so impressed by you.” 

Now, on World Sight Day, Lowri is turning her focus from the big screen to the phone screen. 

In a letter to the Unicode Consortium, the body responsible for all new emojis, Lowri, who earlier this year won the award for ‘Campaigner of the Year’ from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, says: “Unfortunately, the only glasses wearing emoji I can find is a nerd face […] As I’m sure you know, people who wear glasses are not nerds. But unless we address this, there’s a chance the next generation will grow up believing this lie about themselves.”

Lowri’s #GlassesOn campaign is calling for the option to add glasses to all emojis, to reflect the diversity of glasses wearers and reduce the stigma that many young people still feel about glasses.

For both children and adolescents, having vision problems is linked to lower self-esteem and quality of life. Research from 2005 showed that UK children with glasses are 35-37% more likely to be bullied.

Lowri’s full letter to the Unicode Consortium appears below. Kicking off her campaign, Lowri paid a visit to a UK secondary school where the students co-signed her letter.

One passionate pupil said: “When I realised I needed glasses, I actually didn’t want to wear them at all. I thought I wasn’t going to be cool. I thought everyone looked cool without glasses, so it made me feel left out.”

Another said: “Glasses are an everyday thing and it’s just not fair to not see it on an emoji. I want to express myself with a glasses emoji because that’s who I am. I think Lowri is doing this for us – for everyone that wears glasses”.

Peter Holland, CEO of IAPB, stated: “Lowri’s advocacy for the world to open its eyes to the real power of glasses and the people wearing them, rather than reinforcing stereotypes, is vital. For children, as for the rest of the world, eye issues are on the rise. Children in the UK are becoming short-sighted 1.5 times more rapidly than they did 50 years ago.

“Yet good eyesight is crucial in ensuring a child has the best chances in life. Children with vision impairment have poorer educational outcomes, and glasses can reduce the odds of failing a class by almost half****. Making sure children can wear glasses when they need them without the fear of being called a ‘nerd’ is an important step on the way towards better eyesight globally.”

Lowri’s campaign is part of a broader range of activities for World Sight Day 2022 and the Love Your Eyes campaign to create greater public awareness of the importance of caring for your own eyes and getting them tested.

To help people find out if they are taking good care of their eyes, IAPB has developed this quiz with the top tips..

Lowri’s letter in full:

Dear Mark Davis, President of Unicode Consortium, 

My name is Lowri Moore, I am 13 years old and I live in Nottingham UK. Being a teenager, I am on my phone a lot and I love to use emojis. I’ve noticed that you have recently added lots of options to represent people better, thank you for doing this. I think it’s really important that people can find an emoji that looks like them.

I’ve worn glasses all my life and I can’t see a thing without them. So my glasses are really a part of me. Unfortunately, the only glasses wearing emoji I can find is a nerd face (unless you are a granny or a teacher) and I wondered if this is something you could please change.

I’d love to see the option to add glasses to face emojis, similar to changing skin  colour or hair colour as you have already made available.

I would also like to see the original emoji wearing glasses too, but preferably not this one that looks like a nerd 🤓. I think this can be damaging as it helps to confirm the negative stereotype and stigma that we are trying hard to destroy.

As I’m sure you know, people who wear glasses are not nerds. But unless we address this, there’s a chance the next generation will grow up believing this lie about themselves. You have the power to help us change this and that is why I am reaching out to you to ask for your help.

Yours sincerely,

Lowri