I’m Rebecca, and I’m proud to be an Eye Care Champion with SeeAbility. I have a learning disability, and I know how important it is to get the right eye care. That’s why I work with SeeAbility to make eye care easier to access for people with learning disabilities and autism. 

Eye Care Champions like me work with opticians, doctors, and other services to make eye care fairer for everyone. You can read more about what we do here. We help set up Easy Eye Care pathways for people with learning disabilities. They are run through local opticians, and offer people longer appointments and a simple report after the eye test. 

It’s about encouraging people to go and use the services and making sure they know the support is there.

I’d like to share what Wendy Craven, Clinical Director at Primary Eye Care Services, and I have been doing in my hometown Bury to improve eye care for people in my community.

Making eye care fair in Bury

I noticed there were no Easy Eye Care services for people with learning disabilities or autism in Bury. It felt unfair because everyone should be able to look after their sight.

When I spoke to people in my area, I found that many didn’t know where to go for support. Some felt nervous visiting opticians because they didn’t think the practice would understand their needs.

I decided to take action.

Visiting my local opticians

We decided to take action by visiting local optician practices and talking to them about the importance of delivering the Easy Eye Care service.

I shared my experience with the opticians to explain why accessible eye care is so important. 

“Rebecca’s dedication and persuasive skills have been incredible. I have never met someone so perfectly suited for their role.” 

– Wendy, Primary Eyecare.

Together, we’ve visited several opticians across Bury to encourage them to deliver the Easy Eye Care service. Wendy’s strong local connections were a big help in opening doors, and I was able to share why these services matter so much because of my lived experience.

I spoke about how small changes, like offering quieter appointment times or taking time to explain what will happen during an eye test, can make a huge difference.

We also told them about SeeAbility’s resources and training, which are designed to help opticians provide specialist care. Many practices were keen to get involved.

Success in Bury

Thanks to our dedicated efforts, more practices in Bury are now offering the Easy Eye Care service. Over the past year, we have successfully accredited the following:

• Leightons Optometrists, Holcombe Brook
• Specsavers, Bury
• Specs Direct, Whitefield 
• Vision Express, Bury 

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our collaboration with Specsavers Middleton, which is preparing to launch the service soon alongside their Heaton Park practice.

Why this work matters

Good eye care isn’t just about glasses. Poor eyesight can make it harder to work, learn, or enjoy hobbies. For people with learning disabilities or autism, having the right support can make a huge difference in their everyday lives.

How you can get involved

If you’re an optician, think about how you could make your practice more welcoming for people with learning disabilities and autism. You can get in touch for more information by contacting eyecare@seeability.org

If you know someone who might need support with their eye care, tell them about the services available in their area.

Find an optician near you.

You can also find out where Easy Eye Care is operating through our website.