Colour Blind Awareness Day
Colour blindness impacts 1 in every 12 males and 1 in every 200 females. Most colour blindness is inherited genetically, meaning colour blind people often become aware of their colour blindness during their younger years. However, it is also common that some people may not realize they are colour blind simply because they do not know that others see colour differently. It is also not uncommon for children to hide their condition.
That is why Colour Blind Awareness Day takes place every year on September 6th. John Dalton was one of the first scientists to study the condition and it is celebrated on his birthday in honour of the strides he made in colour blindness research.
Read about our plans for Colour Blind Awareness Day 2022 here.
What can you do?
- Spread the word. If you are colour blind, proudly share your story and experiences with others. You could end up becoming a role model for a young child who may be struggling to come to terms with his/her colour blindness. Sharing your story on social media or via word of mouth are two great ways to increase awareness of colour blindness and bring the community together. If you are a sports fan, call out clubs who don’t show sports in a way that makes it easy for you to follow the match and reach out to organisations such as CBA to get support and connect with others.
- Promote testing. Have you taken a colour blindness test before? Then you know how simple that is. Encourage friends, family, and social media followers to take a few minutes out of their day to take the test.
Bruno Fernandes, an ambassador for the campaign, pledged his support for colour blind players and fans alike.
“Not being able to watch a UEFA Europa League or a Man. United match on TV in full colour, to help easily distinguish between teams, referees’ cards, and coloured objects in the stands, seems almost unimaginable to me. None of my teammates have identified as colour blind but for sure there are many in football who may face a range of difficulties when playing or watching the game. That is why it is so important to raise awareness, provide greater information and make changes so that those who live with colour blindness don’t feel left out and experience the game to the fullest. Football is a universal language and everyone has the right to speak it clearly and confidently.”
Bruno Fernandes, Portugal and Manchester United midfielder
