• More than 11,500 New Zealanders are blind, deafblind or vision-impaired.
• Most of these people can see some degree of light, shapes and even large print.
• Most people who are blind, deafblind or vision-impaired are aged over 65.
• Most people who are blind live by themselves.
• About 360 people in New Zealand read braille.
• About 300 people use guide dogs.
• Around 6 000 people read talking books and magazines.
• People who are blind, deafblind or vision-impaired work in many different occupations and have careers as lawyers, farmers, physiotherapists and many other jobs.
• They can play many different sports with some guidance and with specially modified equipment. For example, blind and vision-impaired cricketers have a cricket ball that makes a sound when thrown or hit so they can hear instead of see it coming.
• Many people who are blind use computers in the classroom and in the office to assist them.
• Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the most common form of blindness in New Zealand. Other common causes are diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
• About 8.5% of Foundation members are children or young people who were either born with a vision impairment or who lost their sight before the age of 21 years.

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