Advocacy
How We Advocate for People with Vision Loss
By Cynthia Stuen, Phd/DSW, Policy and Professional Affairs, Lighthouse International
Lighthouse International has long been active in advocating for sound public policies that will benefit individuals with low vision. Our advocacy efforts span the breadth of government, ranging from local issues in New York City and New York State issues in Albany, to national issues in Washington, DC.
Lighthouse President and CEO, Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN, was appointed as a member of the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped Executive Board. From this position, she is on the forefront of policy and legislative issues that affect New York State residents with impaired vision.
On the Washington, DC, front, our advocacy efforts were instrumental in securing initial funding for the five-year Medicare Low Vision Demonstration Project. Taking place in six geographic areas, this groundbreaking demonstration project is designed to study the impact of Medicare coverage for vision rehabilitation services.
We have also been involved in advocating for the inclusion of low-vision devices in Medicare coverage. Ranging from strong reading lenses and magnifiers to electronic magnification systems (closed-circuit television systems known as CCTVs), low-vision devices are critically important tools that enable people who are visually impaired to read, write, cook - and remain safe and independent. The cost of some low-vision devices is prohibitive, especially for older Americans on fixed incomes. Without Medicare coverage, an alarming number of people will be at risk for medical complications, accidents and injuries, further straining our over-tapped healthcare system.
We are committed to remaining on the front lines in Albany and the Capitol to ensure a brighter future for the growing number of people with vision loss in New York and across the country.
For more information, please contact Cynthia Stuen, PhD/DSW, at (212) 821-9484 or cstuen@lighthouse.org