On June 8, at the Dallas County Health Department in the Community Room from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Visually Impaired People Organization Inc. will be hosting a Low Vision Awareness Day.

Visually Impaired People (V.I.P.) is a nonprofit organization and provides education and hosts recreational activities. The Low Vision Awareness Day made its debut in 2000.

Being born with cataracts, which then developed into glaucoma at the age of nine, William Bowman, CEO of V.I.P., said he hopes to provide the public with information on visual impairment and showcase the technology that improves sight.

According to Bowman, the idea of a Low Vision Awareness Day event first came about during a workshop conference meant to empower the visually impaired and their caregiver.

Bowman said he sees the event as an opportunity for people to network with others with the same disability to see how they deal with the everyday inconveniences of their life.

As Bowman aged, his glaucoma developed into a corneal disease, which caused him to lose his sight. He also had a retina detachment in his right eye, causing blindness within that eye.

Bowman said he strives to inspire people with visual impairments to live a productive life.

“You can’t be successful if you don’t have the right tools,” Bowman said. “Something as simple as a magnifier will help. At school, a lot of times, they did not have what I needed. Then, one day, someone decided to get me what I needed, and my grades started coming up and my test scores were higher.”

During the event, assistive technology will be available for viewing and information will be provided regarding the various kinds of technology. Visitors will have the opportunity to work with the technology, and learn how to implement them into their lives.

The Dallas County Health Department is located at 100 Samuel O. Moseley Drive. West Alabama Public Transportation will be available to transport people to the event.

Door prizes will be given away, and Golden Ranch Bar-B-Q and Grill will be offering a 15 percent discount if a conference flyer is shown.

No registration will be required and the event is free to the public. Volunteers willing to assist with the event are welcomed.

For more information, contact Bowman at 334-354-4015. To learn more about V.I.P., visit www.visuallyimpairedpeople.org.