Workshops open the door to safe mobility in Townsville
A two-day workshop in Townsville will give local people who are blind or vision impaired the chance to expand their horizons in more ways than one.
The Guide Dogs Queensland event on 8 and 9 March is designed to showcase what can be achieved through learning new skills, and what services are available to help people stay active, mobile and safe despite their low vision.
Former cane farmer Joe Pilchowski lost most of his sight through a tumour on his pituitary gland 14 years ago and is looking forward to being assessed for a Guide Dog with one of GDQ’s instructors.
Mr Pilchowski, who will also do an orientation walk of Townsville city’s centre, has used a cane since losing his vision, but is ready to take the next step as his vision continues to fade.
“I’m at the stage now where I don’t know how much longer I’ll keep my mobility and I really want to maintain that. If I had a Guide Dog I’d be able to get more involved in the community – in any way I can,” he said.
Michael Grant, 30, was given Guide Dog ‘”Zac”, in 2008 and will attend GDQ’s mobility expo and join the group walk of the city in a bid to demonstrate how active a person who is blind can be with the right support.
“Because of the public’s generosity in donating to the Guide Dogs I am able to have a job, I don’t sit around and watch TV, I’m out in the community working,” he said.
Mr Grant who has albinism, works for ‘Life is More’ and helps find short term crisis accommodation for people and families who become homeless. He said ‘Zac’ has enabled him to remain independent.
“Having Zac with me makes life much less stressful. Walking with him is so much easier, safer and faster than with a cane. It’s like putting on the cruise control in your car, he’s brilliant,” he said.
GDQ Rehabilitation Services Manager Bashir Ebrahim OAM said the two-day event on the 8th and 9th of March included a Low Vision Clinic where people with low vision could be assessed for training and aids, and a Mobility Expo which showcased the services and equipment available to Townsville’s blind and vision impaired community.
“If people are losing their sight or have low vision, the clinic is a good first step. We can refer people to appropriate services much sooner instead of struggling and feeling like they are on their own,” he said.
Mr Ebrahim said the clinic featured an optometrist who was able to check eye conditions free of charge and could refer people to training and support services such as that offered by GDQ.
“If people are experiencing difficulty in reading or their near or far vision is fading, the clinic is a good start to having their eyes checked out to see if there’s anything else going on,” he said.
The program over the two days also features an information session for parents of children who are blind or have low vision, and a ‘City Travel Day’ for clients who would like to explore the city with the help of GDQ’s instructors.
Mr Ebrahim said the clinic and services were all free of charge thanks to the donations given by the community to Guide Dogs Queensland, which receives less than seven per cent in government funding.
“The association receives no funding for our Guide Dog service despite the fact it costs $30,000 to breed, train and place each one,” he said.
To find out more about the Mobility Expo, Low Vision Clinic, City Travel Day or Parent’s Seminar contact Guide Dogs Queensland in Townsville on 4728 6922.
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