Elaine has participated in MPC’s Adaptive P.E. class for four years. Her instructor, Mark Clements says she is a role model to others. Elaine would like to thank the Old Capitol Lions Club for sponsoring her RIDE’s tickets so she could travel to the class.
Elaine Redford on her sleigh
The Monterey Host Lions Club presented BVIC Directors, Jeannie and Cheri, a bench in honor of Dr. Cusenza. The beautiful bench has a plaque inscribed In memory of Dr. Frank P. Cusenza. Donated by Monterey Peninsula Host Lions Club. Friends & Family.
Vehicles Available Now!
All vehicles have been safety checked and smogged, if required. Call Russ Hatch at 659-5360 or 594-1871 for info regarding donations or purchases of used cars, trucks, boats and other vehicles in good resalable condition – a tax write-off for the donor.
Dr. Feel Good, Steve Kane, reminds people to contact him at 375-6677 if there is anything you’re interested in attending. Be it a play, concert, or sporting event.
Back by popular demand, COUNTRY STORE & AUCTION. Save the date! Saturday, November 1, 2008. More details to follow. We no longer have our big room in our main building so are looking for an outdoor event tent/room to use in our parking lot. Please call Jeannie if you have one to loan.
The next event should be in early March.
VISTA UPDATE
Mia, a 9th grader at Seaside High School, was the first visually impaired student to receive our VISTA grant for the 2007-2008 school year. Mia has a severe visual impairment which makes reading printed material impossible. Her primary reading media is Braille. Currently she uses a BrailleNote, a type of portable computers for writing, reading and home work. Through our VISTA grant, she was awarded a printer so she can print out her work to be reviewed.
Mia was very thankful. She wrote to us:
“I want to thank you all for providing a printer for me! Now I do not have to think of rushing to the Visually Impaired class to print any documents needed before the bell rings for first period. My mornings are running very smooth now that I can print my work at home, and bring it to school ready to turn it in like other students. Having this printer at home is very special to me! Thank you all for spending your time and effort purchasing this printer and getting it into my hands. I appreciate it!.”
Mia’s letter is a perfect example of why VISTA was created. We provide assistive devices, so visually impaired students in the Monterey area can study and do homework like other students. We are grateful to VISTA donors who help Mia and other students like her.
Your tax-deductible donations to the VISTA grant will help other students.)
NEW ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES
The VictorReader Stream is the BVIC’s newest assistive device. If you found the iPod difficult to use come see this unit. The VictorReader Stream is a digital talking book and music player designed for the visually impaired. Reading small print on a screen is eliminated by pressing buttons and listening to an announcement. Download your favorite books and MP3s on your Stream and leave home with your library in the palm of your hand. This versatile, powerful DAISY-MP3 and NISO player lets you read and navigate through complex books, such as reference manuals and school books, as well as novels and magazines. You can also use its built -in text to speech to read books in text format such as from Bookshare.org or scanned by yourself.
(call Moonset to arrange for a demonstration)
AN INSPIRING BVIC MEMBER
Barbara, a 79 year old retired registered nurse worked in the operating room for 42 years. Barbara became the first person in the Monterey area to use the GUIDE, specialized computer software, and regained much of her independence. (The features and capabilities of the GUIDE were introduced in the September/October Blindfold.)
In 2004, Barbara called the BVIC just to ask for a white cane. Robin delivered the white cane to her, and also began to involve her in more rehabilitation services designed for achieving independence. When her vision loss became more severe, Barbara relied on friends to read her mail. She stopped reading newspapers and books. Her confidence faltered and her computer skills diminished.
With the GUIDE program, she is able to do many tasks again. She emails her family and friends daily. Listening to news and writing letters are no longer impossible. Barbara has progressed, learning to scan her mail with a scanner and using the GUIDE to read it to her. She said she did not know such things could happen to her describing it as bringing her to her knees. She’s looking forward to exploring another interest, using the computer to research her genealogy.
Barbara’s quest to regain her independence brought her a surprising reward. One day she wrote to an email address from an old address book. A few moments later her half sister whom she had long lost contact with wrote her back. She sobbed for a long time after reading the email.
Barbara’s determination and her heartfelt enthusiasm to learn is an inspiration to our staff. We hope she will be an inspiration to others.
Bus User Tips from the O&M Corner
Most of you who use the buses frequently do not need tips, but there are those of us who are still just toying with the idea of beginning to use the buses more, or are new to the area. If you do not have enough vision or vision aids to read bus schedules, you can call MST at 1-888-678-2871 or access their website at www.mst.org. Orientation and Mobility services include not only instruction in how to use the bus system for those who are interested, but also assistance with getting the
MST courtesy card. The courtesy card is a photo identification card that shows the bus driver that the bus user is eligible for discounts on regular fares based on disability or age. Cards are available with an application signed by a doctor for those who are disabled or can prove that they are 65 or over. Medicare cards, can be used to prove eligibility for the discount fare. Bus drivers can request to see a Medicare card or courtesy card if you are paying the discount fare.
For those of you who have difficulty with deep steps, you can request the bus driver to lower the lift for you. When you stand back the lift will be lowered to sidewalk level, and you can step up one small step onto it. It has a railing to hold on to. It will be raised to the height of the bus aisle so that you can walk forward directly to the ticket machine at the front of the bus. The lift is for people in wheelchairs as well anyone who has a physical disability, which makes using the deep bus steps too difficult.
The buses have the capability of kneeling, which means the first step can be lowered to curb level for those who may only have difficulty with the first step. Often drivers will lower the bus for people with support canes, but again, anyone can ask the driver to lower the bus.
The O&M specialist can arrange an empty bus familiarization lesson for someone who is visually impaired and has never experienced using a bus. During this lesson you get to walk on the empty bus, find the ticket machine and feel where the coins and dollar bills go, walk down the bus aisle and learn about the type of seating available, where the buttons or wires to signal a stop are, where the doors are, and what the steps and doors feel like when entering or leaving the bus. This makes it easier the first time one must enter a full bus and encounter being in a line, finding the ticket machine, finding a seat, finding the doors, and interacting with other passengers.
The purpose of Orientation and Mobility training or instruction is to enable a blind or visually impaired person to travel, or walk, more independently and safely. Many people who have to stop driving because of vision loss are unfamiliar and uncomfortable with using public transportation. Many such individuals do not need much if any cane instruction, but may need to know how to use the buses because reading signs, finding bus stops, and recognizing landmarks from the bus window is a problem. Also, many people may be concerned about making safe street crossings to get to return bus stops or to destinations a block or two away from the nearest bus stop. O&M training can give the individual the ability to cross streets safely; to maintain orientation; to be able to find objectives; and to know techniques for using buses independently. During mobility instruction the individual practices using new skills with an orientation and mobility specialist nearby, until the individual is ready to go solo.
Deciphering bus schedules, coordinating transfer times, and planning bus routes are another set of skills the O&M Specialist can teach a visually impaired person. Obtaining information is much easier when you know what to ask to get the most accurate route plan. At first this may seem overwhelming, but like anything else it becomes far less daunting once an individual has a chance to practice it. Once one knows how to use buses and knows that one can do it, freedom of movement is no longer restricted to just walking or riding as a car passenger. One can walk out the door and take the bus somewhere. It’s much less expensive than a taxi, and it is sometimes an interesting way to meet other people!
New Cooking Products
Cutting and chopping - there is only one rule: cut the food, not the fingers!
Pouring and Measuring:
Handling Hot Food:
Hello Everyone! I’m Sylvia Gardner, 2007 was my first year as vice president of the BVIC Board of Directors. I got involved with the BVIC through the Old Capitol Lions Club of Monterey. In addition to supporting the BVIC in their fundraising efforts, the Old Capitol Lions work the start line at the Big Sur International Marathon every April. I’ve been serving coffee, tea, Gatorade, and bananas to the marathon runners at 5:00 a.m. for the last 10 years.
Just to keep things light at that time in the morning, I started wearing funny hats. It’s really an eye opener for the runners! It started with a Viking helmet complete with horns and yellow yarn pig-tails. Then, a pink flamingo adorned my head and after that, a crown fit for a queen. Many more hats have joined the collection over the years. I think I have one for each occasion.
I moved to Monterey from Fresno 26 years ago. I live in Salinas with my husband, Tom, my mother and two cats. I enjoy working in my garden, traveling and surfing on my computer. As many of my friends know, I also enjoy periodic trips to southern California to visit my favorite big cheese – Mickey Mouse. Or, as my husband is so fond of saying – the Rodent King! I’m a BIG fan of Mickey and his partner Walt Disney.
I look forward to continuing my duties as a member of the BVIC Board in 2008 and supporting the staff in their ongoing service to the community.
The BVIC was awarded a $20,000 matching grant from the Harden Foundation. The funds will be used for our new part-time Social Worker position. This means that any donation received from individuals, corporation, companies, foundations, fundraising events or special event will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $20,000) by the Harden Foundation. This is an exceptional opportunity for the BVIC as well as for our donors to benefit two-fold!
We are so pleased to welcome Patrick Soule as our part-time Social Worker. Patrick’s expertise coupled with his wonderful and caring nature makes him
ideal for the position.
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Patrick Soule and I’m excited to be the new social worker here at the Blind and Visually Impaired Center. I look forward to meeting the many wonderful people associated with this Center. I hope to answer any questions you have about the Center, and connect you with resources to make life easier. Please feel free to call so I can help serve you.
I have been trained as a Licensed Professional Counselor from Eastern Michigan University. It is wonderful to have recently relocated to lovely Monterey Bay with my sweetheart Jillean. My childhood was playing on the lakes and rivers of Southeast Michigan. I served in the Air Force Reserve as an Airborne Medic and have spent time as a sailor and farmer and mountain guide.
My pleasure is in working with people of all walks of life, so please let me know how I may assist you!
Free 911 Cell Phone Service
Did you know that any cell phone manufactured after 1997 is required to call 911 for free? If you or someone you know is in need of a “free 911” cell phone, please contact the BVIC. Instructors will provide hands-on instruction and program the cell phone as needed. If, on the other hand, you have an old cell phone with charger, donations to the BVIC are tax-deductible.
Free 411 Phone Service
Dial 1-800-FREE411 and get the listing for free. This free service is paid by advertisers.
Look for your Membership letter in the mail.
We appreciate your early response.
January 22, 2008, 1:00 p.m., at the BVIC. All are encouraged to attend.
To get the Blindfold by email instead of “snail mail” email vision@blindandlowvision.org and put Blindfold in the subject line. You can also visit our web site at www.blindandlowvision.org and click Newsletters.