BLINDFOLD
Marh / April 2008
Contents
- BVIC News
- BVIC Events
- Vision Loss
- BVIC Announcements
1. BVIC News
Chariots for Charity
Vehicles Available Now!
- 1987 Toyota Camry LE – 4-door – 4 cyl., automatic, 48,000 original miles – runs like new - $1,425 or best offer (obo
).
- 1985 Ford F350 diesel truck w/walk-in utility box & built-in air compressor - $2,500 obo.
- 1986 Lincoln Town Car – 4-door – luxury vehicle –$975 obo.
- 1993 Mercury Sable station wagon – All Power – automatic – well-maintained - $2,750 obo.
- 2000 Mercury Villager – 7-passenger van - good condition. Asking $4,250 obo
Call the BVIC for info at 649-3505.
2. BVIC Events
Next Vision Care & AT Day
Save the date, June 21, 2008, for our next Vision Care & AT Day. The topic will be glaucoma and cataracts. This event is designed especially for caregivers and clients. Patrick Soule, our Social Worker, will be one of the guest speakers. Look for more details about speakers, vendors and about the event in our next Blindfold.
3. Vision Loss
Marjorie R. McNeely Low Vision Clinic Corner
In February we held a training workshop on assistive technology (AT) for the visually impaired. BVIC staff and Monterey County of Education teachers and staff participated. Specialists from Freedom Scientific & Access Ingenuity conducted the workshop introducing the following newest AT:
- JAWS 9.0, computer screen reader
- PacMate, personal data assistant
- Braille displays
- Magic 10.5, computer screen magnifier
- Topaz, a video magnifier
- ONYX video camera
Michael Work, the new Rehabilitation Counselor
with the California Department of Rehabilitation
also participated in the workshop. Michael uses
AT for his work and daily living.
Michael, Rehabilitation Counselor
from DOR, and the teachers of Visually
Impaired from MCOE posed for pictures
at lunch break
VISTA GRANT UPDATES
Justin is a 12 year old student from Salinas whose vision loss was caused by Optical Nerve Hypoplasia. Justin’s tea
cher said his reading and writing abilities were also affected by learning disabilities. Justin was unsure if assistive
devices would help with homework until he used our AT Lab computer equipped with ZoomText Screen Magnifier and Reader. While on the Internet, he searched for mountain biking websites about his favorite sport. He found a lot of information, but at first it was difficult to read the screen. He learned that by pressing a key on a special keyboard, both the texts and images were enlarged. By pressing another key, the computer began to read the information out loud. He exclaimed, “This is so cool!” Justin was awarded a new computer with ZoomText, a 20-inch flat panel monitor and the BookReader which enlarges and reads out loud ink-printed information for him. The AT
made information on the Internet accessible to Justin. We encourage your donations to the VISTA Program so we can help other students like Justin.
Social Work
Coping Tips for Vision Loss
Find sources of strength both within and outside of yourself. Have a realistic and healthy attitude.
- Learn to laugh about miscues, mistakes, or stressful situations.
- Be inspired by other people’s courage, coping style, and achievements in spite of vision loss.
- Rely on your faith. Continue religious affiliations. Keep a list of positive thoughts, and refer to it often.
- Try to use vision loss as a way to learn something, teach someone, or both.
- If you feel you are doing something to help yourself, you will feel better about yourself. Others can mirror your own ease with the situation.
- Be willing to ask for help.
- Don't "go it alone". Use a support system and share your feelings with others.
- Make contact with other visually impaired people and with mental health professionals for emotional support.
- Avoid isolation; join the BVIC support group the first Wednesday of each month; or the Tuesday luncheons. You are not alone.
- Give yourself permission to feel and express any emotion; share your feelings with others.
- Be patient. Tell others about your vision loss when You think it's best. Cope in your own way and at your own pace.
- Realize that coping is an on-going, continuous process. Be open to learning new coping strategies.
- Accept your powerlessness over vision loss, and its cycle of emotions.
- Let people know of your loss; most people want to help.
- Knowledge is power!
(excerpted from Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation Fighting Blindness)
Utilize our resources and services. Please contact Patrick, our counseling and social services coordinator, for any questions, comments or just to talk.
Low Vision Support Group
The Low Vision Support Group is back in full swing and its members would like to invite more people to join them. The meeting time has even been changed to the afternoon to encourage more people to attend. Another plus is the bus stops right in front of the Center now. Meetings are held the First Wednesday of each month
Next meetings: March 5, 2008 and
April 2, 2008 from 3:30 to 4:30
Where: BVIC, 225 Laurel Ave., Pacific Grove Please call 649-3505 to confirm time & date.
Rehab
Grooming - tips for brushing your teeth
- Switch to dark toothpaste against a white toothbrush
- Squeeze toothpaste into palm of your hand and pick up paste with your toothbrush
- Place your finger and thumb along side the bristles to monitor the amount of toothpaste
- Wet the toothbrush and squeeze the toothpaste into your mouth (this only works if you are the only one using the tube of toothpaste)
Some suggestions for finding the soap:
- Switch to a liquid soap dispenser
- Use brightly colored soaps
- Have a container for the soap
Board Member Profile
Florence Cogan’s early years were spent in Washington, D.C., her birthplace. Later, college enrollment was cut short after one year because of the Great Depression. Florence worked the next four years in the typing section of the FBI, then married Joseph Cogan, a Special Agent of the FBI. During their 57½ years of married life they had 7 children, 4 boys, 3 girls, and 9 grandchildren. Over the years, they were stationed in Washington, D.C., New York City, NY, Newark, NJ, Hackensack, NJ and Los Angeles, CA. After her youngest finished high school, Florence went back to college to complete her education. She received her Master’s Degree in Library Science in 1977 from CSU Fullerton, CA. 
Her husband, Joe, retired about that time and instead of using her newly-learned skills in a library, they decided to travel, visiting Hawaii,
Ireland, England, Italy and other European countries. Florence loves to do research, genealogy, and enjoys music and theatre.
When her eye problems started (AMD and Glaucoma), she joined the Braille Institute in Los Angeles. She moved from Mission Viejo, CA two years after her husband died and settled close to her two daughters in Pacific Grove, CA. Having enjoyed her association with the Braille Institute, she joined the BVIC in 2001. Through the help of the very capable and caring staff at BVIC, she has participated in the instruction classes, learned to use ZoomText on the computer and has her CCTV hooked up to the monitor. She uses other assistive technology such as talking books, a white cane, talking watch, talking timer, and handheld magnifiers which are so helpful and always with her. She does volunteer work at the BVIC one morning a week and has become a member of the BVIC Board of Directors.
3. BVIC Announcements
Membership 2008
A Request from Jeannie & Cheri, the BVIC Directors. . .
If you, your loved one or a friend has been affected by vision loss, then you know the importance of services and resources that help them adjust to changes that arise. The BVIC provides these vital services, many are even free. Our Membership Drive is one of the ways that our self-funded non-profit organization is supported financially. It is also a way for people to show others that they believe and support what we do.
We’d like to know that you’re behind us and the people in your own community who have lost sight due to conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, stroke, or retinitis pigmentosa. Please complete the membership envelope and send in your tax-deductible contribution… give what you can, and let us know that you care. The BVIC has served thousands of Monterey County residents since 1971. Join us in helping others. This year let our membership grow and reflect all those who have been helped. We thank each and every one of you for your support.
Help the Blindfold go Green!
As costs for printing and mailing the Blindfold continue to rise, there is a simple way to help the BVIC and the Environment. Get your copy of the Blindfold by email instead of “snail mail”. Just 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.
Country Store & Auction (CSA)
The big day is NOV 1, 2008
We need your help in obtaining an outdoor event tent/room that would fit our parking lot.
Do you have one or would you sponsor one for CSA? Give us a call.
Let's Have Some Fun!
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. He’s happy to contact the venue to request complimentary tickets for you and your driver.
Board Members
We thank our 2007 Board of Directors for their service last year. John McEwen has completed his term and we would like to thank him for lending his expertise. We congratulate Nadia Gouy on completing her studies at Monterey Institute of International Studies and wish her well. We would also like to extend our appreciation to Joanne Scherner for her wonderful contributions as a board member for the past several years.
Welcome new Board Members; Gail Garcia, Tony Dering, and Barbara Van Noord. We look forward to working together with our other Board of Directors which also includes; Florence Cogan, Carolyn Craig, Lee Gardner, Sonja Jackson, Albertine Potter, Victoria Carns, Shirley Doolittle, Sylvia Gardner, Russ Hatch, and David Lloyd.