Mission: migrant empowerment
We believe that access to healthcare is key to successful integration. Having poor eyesight (and hearing for that matter) seriously affects our ability to learn a new language and to use PICTOMED’s visual communication tool. Vision helps us take in the world around us and either adjust to it or make the changes we want to see.
Target population: Marginalised people with migrant background and language barrier and who may have had limited access to vision screening.
Where: community centres for migrants or other meeting points by non-profit organisations, language schools (e.g. Autonome Schule in Zürich or Luzern), federal refugee centers etc. in Switzerland.
When: Summer 2024 (April to September), one visit or session will be 2-5 hours. If successful, may be repeated annually.
Program points:
1. Raise awareness and education about language barriers in healthcare settings:
- Explain international right to interpreter service when seeking healthcare
- Practical barriers to interpreter service in the healthcare setting
- Demonstrate PICTOMED’s visual communication tool
- Distribute vouchers for OneTime access (= 5 CHF) to use during next health visit. One voucher per participant, 3 vouchers for small family, 5 vouchers for large family (> 3 children).
- by using LEA symbol chart (paediatric method to assess visual acuity): far and short sight
- Stereo testing, color blindness screening
- Clinical eye test including ocular motility, fixation, accommodation and convergence
- Certificate showing vision result
- Advice and reference if screening shows low vision or other vision problems