The Vision Impaired Peoples Aid Foundation has been given a $3000 State Government grant to attract more volunteers. Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan, left, VIPA president Graeme James and his guide dog Chelsey.
By Rebecca Fraser
Graeme Jones, 57, has helped form the Vision Impaired Peoples Aid Foundation of Victoria (VIPA).
The foundation assists vision impaired low-income earners to access the latest technology and aids designed to help them adjust to their vision loss.
Mr Jones lost his sight more than two years ago as a result of diabetes. The former driver said his life changed dramatically when he became legally blind and he now wanted to help others cope with the experience.
Mr Jones said many vision-impaired people could not afford to buy equipment .
VIPA was trying to raise funds to help buy more equipment, including special magnifiers and televisions.
Mr Jones said he had even purchased a special beeper so that he did not overfill his coffee cup. “It is little things like that that make everyday life easier but they can be quite costly.
VIPA recently received $3000 from the State Government’s $3 million Victorian Volunteer Small Grants program.
Mr Jones said they would use the money to conduct a local media and advertising campaign to recruit volunteers from diverse backgrounds.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan presented the cheque. He said it was difficult for someone with full vision to imagine the difficulties that vision impaired people faced every day.
“Thanks to groups like VIPA, there are ways vision impaired people can reduce the effects of their condition and maintain a quality of life that many people take for granted,” he said.
Organisations interested in applying for Victorian Volunteer Small Grants should visit www.dvc.vic.gov.-au/grants or call 1300 366 356 for more information and an application form.
To volunteer, make a donation or seek assistance from VIPA, contact Graeme Jones on 9704 8019 or visit the VIPA website at www.vipa.org.au.
