Being diagnosed as legally blind limits a person`s ability to obtain a driver`s licence. But a person who is legally blind is generally entitled to low-visibility aids and other benefits to improve daily functioning. Annual grants are provided to the North Carolina Lions VIP Fishing Tournament, which attracts more than 500 blind and visually impaired people to the Outer Banks with their guests ages 12 to 91. The tournament, which attracts people from 77 counties, is the largest gathering of blind and visually impaired people in North Carolina. Camp Dogwood is a recreational facility that serves blind and visually impaired citizens in North Carolina`s cities and towns. It offers blind and visually impaired people an environment specially adapted to their needs. Located on the shores of Norman Lake, some of the most popular activities include boating, swimming, fishing, skiing and tubing. In the United States, people are legally blind if their best eye has 20/200 vision or less using glasses or contact lenses. A vision of 20/200 means that a person cannot be more than 6.1 m (20 ft) away to see what a person with normal vision can see at a distance of 200 ft (60.96 m). Deafblind people receive annual support for their annual retreat at Camp Dogwood. Camp Dogwood weekend was established in 1981 by Sue Etheridge due to the isolation of deafblind people across the state. We see the need to create an environment that not only offers activities with full accessibility but also gives campers the opportunity to meet other deafblind people who face similar challenges.
Support and mobility sticks are available free of charge to anyone who is blind or visually impaired in North Carolina. These poles improve the overall quality of life by increasing personal autonomy. The 1949 legislature introduced the White Cane Act. This law prohibited the use of a white stick by any person other than a visually impaired person and gave such persons the right of way at road, road or highway intersections if they held out the stick at arm`s length while crossing or were accompanied by a guide dog. It entered into force on 1 January 1950. The U.S. also considers people legally blind if their field of vision is 20 degrees or less, even using glasses or contact lenses. A 20-degree field of view means that people have difficulty looking to the side (peripheral vision) when looking straight ahead. An eye test is used to measure a person`s field of vision.
Legal blindness does not mean that a person cannot see at all. People who are legally blind often have some vision, but their field of vision can be very narrow or blurred. Or they have blind spots that glasses can`t correct. Medical Evaluation: Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Christopher J. Rudnisky MD, MPH, FRCSC – Ophthalmology & JoLynn Montgomery PA – Family Medicine Family Medicine Education Grants for sighted children of visually impaired parents are available to support their pursuit of higher education.