If you meet someone wearing a checkered eye, it means they can't see well; they are somewhere on the blindness spectrum. The Checkered Eye Project (CEP) is a Not For Profit Corporation, as of August 2021. It was originally founded as a business and is now in the process of applying for status as a registered charity. The Project was launched in 2000 by Libby Thaw, a stay at home mother in Port Elgin, Ontario. Living with low vision herself, Thaw noticed an unmet need for a hands free identifier that could also be discreet if need be, and designed one. When requests for support for the necessary awareness effort were declined by service agencies for the blind in Canada, Thaw decided to go ahead on her own. Funding for the project is provided by Thaw, with a small income coming from the sale of checkered eyes. While a few retail stores offer checkered eyes, many of the “outlets” are people who wanted to help by making checkered eyes available in their communities. In cooperative awareness efforts e in the US, New Zealand, Switzerland, Thailand, and most recently Italy, the process is largely in the hands of people with low vision. Collaborations with chapters of the Rotary Club have also boosted our efforts. Hoping to enlist chambers of commerce and eye care specialists, the CEP is slowly gaining awareness and partners in the education process. Mission Statement:
The Checkered Eye Project mission is to cooperate with individuals and organizations in a creative manner to:
increase understanding of the blindness spectrum educate the public about the two options for self identification as a person on the blindness spectrum, the checkered eye symbol and the white cane make wearable checkered eye symbols available in many formats. History and Best Practices:
The Checkered Eye symbol was created by Libby Thaw, who lost a significant portion of her eyesight in adolescence. Libby was instructed to use a white cane to increase her visibility in traffic. She found if she was still carrying the cane while shopping or in other consumer activities, it was sometimes easier to get the help she needed. However, since Libby is able to see quite a bit, the cane was just as often misunderstood and ineffective in these face to face situations. Others with low vision say that the ID cane makes them feel conspicuous and vulnerable. There are also people with low vision who have other disabilities, which make using an ID cane difficult or impossible; for example, those who use wheelchairs or walkers. In response to these and other concerns, the Checkered Eye emblem was created. The checkered eye itself is a simple line drawing of an eye, the center of which, the iris, is black and white checkers. The wearable symbol bears the Checkered Eye and the text "LOW VISION". It has been translated to French, Spanish and Thai as well. The background is white, the outline, emblem and text are black. The symbol is round and is available in several sizes as a pin, patch, pendant, and clothing safe sticker. People with low vision may wear the checkered eye. Low vision is significantly less than average sight which is NOT CORRECTABLE back to average, with regular glasses or contact lenses. People with many levels of blindnesss may choose to use the Checkered Eye. WHAT NOT TO DO. DO NOT use the Checkered Eye to replace a white cane for safety purposes. If your vision is impaired to the point where it puts your safety at risk, this symbol will not alert drivers or pedestrians to your situation. It is intended for face to face scenarios only. Do Not wear the symbol to show support for the awareness effort. Wearing the emblem is not for average sighted people. Like the white cane, the Checkered Eye is reserved for those wishing to self identify as being somewhere on the blindness spectrum. For those wishing to show support for the project, t-shirts are available. Do Not use it as a legal identifier. The Checkered Eye is not recognized as an official show of qualification for services or discounts offered to blind people. It is not a method of identifying one as being legally blind. Do Not wear the symbol, or any close likeness, as an accessory. We realize that the Checkered Eye has an attractive and stylish look, particularly without the words, however, wearing the symbol for anything other than its intended purpose compromises its meaning. Do Not wear the symbol as a joke. It may appear funny to put it on glasses for a costume, or to use it to "punk" someone, but again, this may compromise the difficult process of educating the public about it's intended meaning.
