Reporter Peter Devine takes a trip into the dark to find out what problems blind people face every day ...

PEOPLE with good eyesight can remain ignorant of the darkness that exists for millions of blind and partially sighted people.

I visited Henshaws to take part in a five-hour course that puts people in a sightless world.

Eye conditions such as glaucoma are becoming more common in our ageing population.

The VIAT course – visual impairment awareness training – aims to educate people and also give volunteers the chance to understand what life is like for the people they will help.

Our introduction includes descriptions of different eye conditions and an outline of the disability act.

We then try on special glasses which mimicked the effect of eye conditions and were blindfolded and asked to carry out normally easy tasks, such as pouring a glass of water.

With our eyes covered we then headed out for a guided walk along Talbot Road.

It was so difficult to walk along busy road and depend totally on another human being – in my case guide Kim Malcolm.

But as our trainer Glenis Howard points out, it is more of a challenge for blind people, who have to mentally map out their every move, often without a leading arm and a second pair of eyes for comfort.

As we set out I worry about how I am going to navigate uneven pavements, a traffic crossing, overhanging branches and traffic whizzing by, but sounding even closer than usual.

It is a scary experience to be plunged into the dark in the middle of the day, while I could still hear the ordinary sounds.

But I think it’s an experience everyone should have – and it has really helped me to understand how much of a vital service Henshaws provides.

The course explains to people like me what a fantastic job, Henshaws do in raising awareness of the varying conditions and giving independence and support to blind people and their families.

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ANYONE wishing to donate to The Advertiser Appeal, which is aiming to raise £50,000 to fund the Henshaws patient support service, should go to www.justgiving.com/helphenshaws.

Donations for our appeal can be made directly to Henshaws – just make sure you say the donation is for ‘Helping Henshaws’ or ‘The Advertiser Appeal’. Cheques should be made payable to: ‘Henshaws Society for Blind People’.

If you want to organise an event, write to: Peter Devine, The Advertiser, Mitchell Henry House, Chadderton, Oldham, OL9 8EF, email peter.devine@myadvertiser.co.uk or call 0161 211 2817.

Henshaws is based at Atherton House, 88-92 Talbot Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0GS. Tel: 0161 872 1234 or email fundraising@henshaws.org.uk

For more information on the charity visit www.henshaws.org.uk.

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