Kempsey resident, Richard Mackay is working to shed a light on visual impairment and reaching out to locals with disabilities to let them know they’re not alone.
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“When you become visually impaired or have a disability of any kind you don’t think anyone else is going through the same problem and it’s hard,” Mr Mackay told the Argus.
Mr Mackay is part of a social group for people with disabilities who get together once a month at the Kempsey Macleay RSL Club, and is encouraging other people to come along.
“It’s important for people in our community to know that while life changes - it’s not the end of life – and there are others out there who understand what you’re going through.”
Mr Mackay has never let his severe blindness put a stopper on living his life.
“I had to be vision impaired before I learned how to scuba dive, to abseil and to ride tandem bikes – all of which I did while I was blind.
“It's quite surprising just how much you can do, not how much you can’t do.”
Mr Mackay also teaches Spanish at the Sydney University of the Third Age (Sydney U3A) and has lived in Spain and Mexico.
Educating the community on how to behave around blind people has been a priority for Mr Mackay whose guide dog, Pascall is often distracted by people and other animals in the street.
The most common dangers Mr Mackay and Pascall are confronted with include attacks from other dogs, children trying to pat Pascall and people attempting to talk to Mr Mackay in the street.
“A guide dog is a working dog and as a working dog he is my eyes so if you distract him you’re probably putting my safety at risk.”
Mr Mackay is encouraging Kempsey locals who are living with a disability to consider coming along to the monthly get together at the Kempsey Macleay RSL.
