Making Drug Labeling and Information Useable by People with Vision Loss

December 12, 2007

Nearly 20 million people in America report difficulty seeing even when using eyeglasses or contact lenses. For many, reading drug container labels, such as those on prescription medications, and package inserts about the medication is difficult, or even impossible. AFB has launched Rx Label Enable, a campaign to improve access to drug labeling information for people with vision loss.

We encourage you to make the resources of this campaign widely available to your personal and professional networks.

On AFB's Rx Label Enable Campaign page we have included the following resources:

• Tell Us Your Story, an informal survey for consumers and their families about the problems they have encountered in accessing information about prescription and over-the-counter medications.
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  A Report to Congress: The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, Section 107(f): A Study on How to Make Prescription Pharmaceutical Information, Including Drug Labels and Usage Instructions, Accessible for Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals.
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  AFB's comments to the Food and Drug Administration regarding the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003: Study on Making Prescription Pharmaceutical Information Accessible for Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals.
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  AFB's Issue Brief: Access to Prescription Drug Labeling.
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  Subscribe to AFB's Rx Label Enable Campaign newsletter.

For information on managing medications, go to AFB's SeniorSite Know Your Meds: Medication Management.