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Imagine if you cannot see to read your prescription labels. The dangers of dosage mistakes can lead to illness, hospitalization or even death. Almost 12 million Americans have vision impairment, including one million who are blind and three million who have vision impairment after correction, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And some of those individuals live right here in our community.

Many individuals who are blind, visually impaired or print impaired do not realize that thousands of participating pharmacies throughout the U.S. and Canada offer FREE accessible prescription labels. This is why Community Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is stepping up to devote some time and resources to spreading the word through Medication Safety Awareness for the Blind (MSAB).

Together we can make a difference. One of the most popular types of accessible prescription labels is ScripTalk talking medication labels. Through this program, the pharmacist places a small electronic tag on the prescription package. A patient can then receive a FREE talking prescription reader, or download a free mobile App that will read all their prescription label information out loud, including: drug name, dosage, instructions, instructions, warnings, pharmacy information, doctor name, prescription number and date.

Many of us just don’t stop to think how important it is that we can read the information on our prescription labels. Those who cannot read this small print need to know that accessible labels exist and that they can help ensure medication safety and independence. Medication Safety Awareness for the Blind can make an immediate positive impact on the community.

To learn more about MSAB and how to participate, visit https://mailchi.mp/envisionamerica/msab.