Instead of the long tri-folded newsletter, we thought it might be easier to open like a book and not have to keep flipping the page around. Let us know what you think. Hope you like it!
Call Russ Hatch at (831) 659-5360 for info regarding donating or purchasing a donated vehicle.
The Monterey Symphony, in collaboration with the BVIC invites you to share in the joy of an afternoon of beautiful music. Mr. Joe Truskot of the Monterey Symphony has generously donated a block of tickets to an afternoon performance of the Spring Concert on April 14th at Sherwood Hall in Salinas. This event is free of charge to the BVIC and the project coordinators are arranging transportation to and from the concert for all wanting to attend.
If you are interested in joining us for this special event, call CATHY COLE at 648-0829 to be put on the sign-up list. Please mention if you would like to bring a guest/escort, and provide your phone number and address. The earlier the better,
so we can arrange for the needed transportation.
Save the Date- Saturday, July 14th
for the 4th Annual BVIC BBQ & Horseshoe Tourney. Sunshine, friends, great food & good old fashioned fun!
Are you starting to feel uneasy about stepping off curbs? Do you notice yourself avoiding steps or feeling very uneasy about using them? Have you stopped taking the bus somewhere because you feel the street crossing you have to make to get to the return bus stop is too risky? Do you hate going out at certain times of day because the light level makes it difficult to see much? Are you afraid to go out for walks anymore for fear of tripping over uneven sidewalk? Have you stopped driving but feel anxious about the prospect of using buses?
All of the above questions are the kinds of challenges in getting around safely that many people with low vision experience. If you can say yes to any of the above questions you may be a good candidate for receiving an Orientation and Mobility assessment and possible instruction. In Orientation and Mobility we teach techniques for the visually impaired or blind person to negotiate the environment more safely. Once a consistent level of safety is achieved through learning and practicing O&M methods, a person can walk or get to almost any place he or she was able to get to independently before vision loss. That person can overcome the fear of falling or of crossing streets once instruction is completed.
We also teach more extensive Orientation and Mobility methods and cane techniques to people who are totally blind. The
important thing for people to know is that O & M instruction is for people with all levels of vision loss when the vision impairment interferes with mobility. Orientation and Mobility not only teaches new safety techniques but also enhances the low vision or blind person’s freedom to roam. Many adults with vision loss experience isolation and depression when it seems they must always depend on others to go somewhere. Though there is nothing wrong with getting a ride from a friend or family member, it is great to know you can get somewhere without enlisting others help when you want to go out.
If you have more questions about O&M instruction, please call Rena at the BVIC. I will be glad to discuss your questions or make an appointment to talk about what your mobility needs and goals are.
For more information, you can contact jitterbug at www.jitterbug.com or 1-800-918-8543 or you can call Robin at 649-3505.
Our Vision Care & Assistive Technology Day was well attended. Many participants found Dr. Ming Lu and Dr. Wodecki’s lectures informative and interesting. We thank both doctors for their valuable participation and for their volunteerism. The vendors stayed busy during the event demonstrating the latest in technology and answering questions. We are planning the second Vision Care and Assistive Technology Day and will implement improvements learned from the first of our series. The tentative focus of the next events is “dealing with vision loss caused by diabetes and related diseases”. To share input or a request about this upcoming event, please contact us at 649-3505.
After struggling for many years with low vision from RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa), I decided it was time to “take a look” at my future. I had been relying more and more on magnifiers, CCTV’s and computer magnification systems. They continue to be of use to me in my daily life while I still have some vision. However, I had to think of the time when my vision finally left me. That’s when I enrolled at BVIC’s braille class and met Robin Whiteley, my braille instructor. She introduced me to a new language which I found fascinating and challenging. Robin’s one-on-one training, coupled with her enthusiasm and encouragement let me know it would always be an important part of my life. I had always been an avid reader, but the struggle to read was getting tiresome. I now had a new “low-tech” tool to “see” me through. Try to imagine how 6 raised dots can be woven into every word in the English language (or just about any other language you can think of). Not only can I read material in braille, but become a part of the story as my finger feels its way over the raised dots, one letter or word at a time.
Most people today don’t have the time or patience to read this way, but my mind feels sharper and more alive than when I’m just listening to a recorded voice read to me. I totally embrace the present and future with all its promises, but incorporating the old with the new feels like a healthy way to carry on.
Sonja Jackson
BVIC Client and Board of Directors Secretary