Over 4 million Americans experience severe vision loss and blindness, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), puts a $51.4B burden on our annual economy. And with statistics that show out of three Americans with diabetes experiencing signs of diabetic retinopathy — now the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults — the negative impact felt by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the surface many of the challenges to inclusion and opportunity for many individuals experiencing blindness.
The driving force behind the social and economic burden of blindness is the onset of additional debilitating conditions, morbidity, and lost productivity. Collectively, these forces stand in the way of inclusion and independence, deeply weaving their way into the physical, psychological, and social fabric of life for people who are blind and visually impaired. As these harmful barriers assume an even greater impact amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) has recognized the potential to elevate a national campaign focused on health and well-being.
Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, shared that “the more we engage individuals most at risk, the better we can create a pathway to empowerment the more they can play a leadership role toward securing full and equal inclusion and independence in our society”.
The campaign aims to increase physical well-being by undertaking a health and wellness campaign entitled “Get Up & Get Moving,” bringing together partners from the public and private sectors to create opportunities for physical activity through safe peer-to-peer and social events, leveraging technology, when possible, to make mobility easy.
ACB’s Campaign committee chair Tom Tobin, affirms that “the more we get up and get moving, the more we can come together and take back our health, showing the world that we can break down the barriers to independence when empowered with the right knowledge, tools, and desire.”
What we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic a powerful indicator of how a diminished physical, emotional, and social lifestyle can place a heavy weight on health and wellness. Now is the time we must drive a national campaign that gets Americans who are blind and visually impaired up and moving.
Related Links
- ErgData from Concept2: A major update of the ErgData app from Concept2 is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for Android. During development, Concept2 worked with the American Council of the Blind (ACB) to help ensure the app was accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.
- Tell the FCC that Peloton equipment must be accessible for blind and low vision users by Feb. 8: The American Council of the Blind issued an action alert for our members. For those interested to ensure that exercise and fitness equipment is accessible for blind and low vision users, please file reply comments at the FCC by Tuesday, Feb. 8.
- Read Clark Rachfal’s Get Up and Get moving article on Modern Wellness The Role of Health and Wellness in Independence
- ACB Health and Wellness Podcasts
- Get Up & Get Moving Kick-off
- History of the Get Up & Get Moving Campaign
- Planet Fitness, Home of the Judgement Free Zone, and the Coalition for Inclusive Fitness, Announce Accessible Exercise Equipment Commitment Benefitting People with Disabilities: Planet Fitness and the American Council of the Blind, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and National Council on Independent Living (collectively “Coalition for Inclusive Fitness” or the “Coalition”) announced a commitment to expand access to accessible exercise equipment.