The Blindfold is available in Braille and in large print upon request. To go green, and receive yours by email please send an email to vision@blindandlowvision.org and put Blindfold in the subject line.
For info or if you have a vehicle in good running order that you would like to donate, call Russ at 659-5360 or the BVIC at 649-3505.
Country Store & Auction
November 6, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
225 Laurel Ave, PG
Mark your calendars for our annual FUNdraiser, Country Store & Auction. It promises to be a fun filled day with refreshments and entertainment. The doors open at 10:00 a.m., with Ed Dickinson of Oldies 630 KIDD broadcasting live at the BVIC. Our members have made some beautiful ceramics for the Craft & Bake Sale. We will also have a silent & live auction featuring wonderful items and gift certificates for goods & services from our local business community. We also are selling raffle tickets at $1.00 each. Call the BVIC to find out what exciting grand prize the lucky winner will receive.
We welcome donations of baked goods; cakes, cookies, breads, & jams or handcrafted items for the craft sale. Share your talents and help raise money for the Blind & Visually Impaired Center. As a 501 c 3 non-profit organization, this important fundraiser helps support our services to blind and visually impaired residents of Monterey County. We’ve enclosed an envelope so you can purchase raffle tickets or make a donation. Just complete the envelope and we will be happy to fill out your tickets and put them in the raffle. You don’t have to be present at the event to win. We look forward to seeing you all on November 6th.
Carolyn Craig on the air with Ed Dickinson
Happy 97th Birthday Clara Ciucci (center),
A Very Special Lady
Clara Ciucci joyfully celebrated her 97th birthday with other BVIC members last July. Clara has been an active member of the weekly Fellowship Program for a number of years. The program is held each Tuesday and is a wonderful time for BVIC members to enjoy a luncheon and ceramics. The group was delighted to share in the festivities for their dear friend.
When Is it Time to Stop Wearing Bi-focal Glasses?
Benjamin Franklin developed bi-focal glasses in 1784 (some say in 1760). He created the new design because he did not want to switch between distant glasses and reading glasses. As we age we find that most of us are using them. Tri- or multiple focus glasses are products of a newer technology, more convenient for seeing all distances. I want to convey an important message. “For many of our members, the old-fashioned way of switching between distance glasses and
reading glasses is actually a safer alternative to bi-focals”.
Let’s consider the experience of one of our clients who wears bi-focals. One morning Ms. Smith came to our low vision clinic to have her magnifier repaired. She had a scar on her forehead as a result of a fall during her walk with friends. She said she rarely goes out for a walk now because she is afraid of tripping over small rocks again. I told her it is time for her to stop wearing bi-focal glasses. The reason she missed seeing rocks on her path was because she was looking through the reading part (bottom area) of her bi-focal glasses. This view made everything beyond arm length become out of focus. It was impossible for her to detect small rocks or surface changes on the path.
Researchers have found that bi- and multiple focus glasses contributed to unsafe situations for seniors, especially those with low vision.
A simple hands-on experience gave Ms. Smith a better understanding of using her bi-focals. While in a sitting position and wearing her bi-focals, Ms. Smith was instructed to look at her own feet. She stated that she could see them clearly. Then she was prompted to stand up and look down at her feet again. Naturally, she tilted her chin and looked through the bottom part of her bi-focal glasses. She discovered that everything she looked at was blurry. Ms. Smith decided that it was time to stop wearing her bi-focal glasses.
Are Digital Reading Devices Right for You?
We have been receiving inquiries from members who are curious about the Kindle or the Ipad wondering if the devices are right for people who are visually impaired.
The Kindle is an electronic reading device that displays e-books and other digital media. It costs about $139. When using the Kindle readers can usually select options like print size, background color, and the use of a speech feature. The Ipad is an Apple product which functions like a computer, offers emails, web access, and many other features in addition to being an electronic reading device. The cost of an Ipad starts at $499. The BVIC has been working with the Apple Store at Del Monte Shopping Center, trying to arrange a workshop for our members on the Ipad’s accessibility features for people who are visually impaired. If there is also enough interest, we may consider a Kindle workshop for our members. Please contact the BVIC if you have an interest in either the Kindle or Ipad. Leave your contact information, email address is preferred, and let us know in which device you have an interest. We will notify you when a workshop is available. We are also very happy to welcome Alice, a new volunteer. Alice is very skilled when it comes to technology and has graciously agreed to help us with digital book readers. Thank you for sharing your talents, Alice.
Alliance on Aging is offering two great new opportunities for education and skill building. The first is a Caregiver Training Workshop based on the National Caregiver Training Program. Classes run once a week for four consecutive weeks, and are kept small to allow ample time for discussion and hands-on practice. Each class is 5 hours in length, and although attendance to all classes is recommended, any module can be taken independently. Subjects such as stress management, lifting and transfer, nutrition, elder abuse, medications and fall prevention are taught. Modules are taught in English or
Spanish and are offered at various locations throughout Monterey County.
Eligibility:
The caregiver must be currently performing caregiver duties and must not be receiving financial compensation for their services.
Either the caregiver or the recipient of services must be at least 60 years of age or older.
Enrollment:
Call Chris Singer at 646-1458 for upcoming classes and more information.
Classes are free of charge.
The second new program is called “Generations on Line – Internet Made Simple for Seniors.” Instead of attending a large class that may not offer enough 1:1 assistance, this program will provide peer coaches and individualized training. The two hour sessions are offered in English and Spanish. They will be held at the following locations:
Salinas:
Sherwood Village, 808 N. Main Street
Shoreline Center, 152 N. Main
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
1:15 and 3:15
Monday through Friday
Tuesday through Thursday
9:15 and 11:15
Marina:
Shoreline Center, 249 3rd Street
Monday through Friday
9:15 and 11:15
Monterey:
2200 Garden Road
Monday through Friday
1:15 and 3:15
Gonzales:
126 5th Street
Monday through Wednesday
1:15 and 3:15
Tuesday through Thursday and Friday
9:15 and 11:15
For more information call:
Rose Riso, Project Coordinator
831-236-6222
Sessions are free of charge.
Last year I attended the Western Region Blind Center located at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto. I stayed for two weeks doing only the computer part of the training. I would recommend it highly. I was pleasantly surprised when I left with a laptop computer, special zoomed text software for the blind, 2007 Microsoft Office, a printer, scanner and a case. My training on the software that was included in the computer was excellent. One can enlarge the print, but the biggest advantage is that it will verbally read back most script located on the computer. As my eyes get worse I intend to take other classes including cooking, getting around in the city, and working an extensive workshop to build things.
I must say it was a very enjoyable experience exchanging stories with old veterans both men and women. At night we played bingo, music, or believe it or not, golf! The volunteers were terrific. I slept in a comfortable small room and shared a bathroom with the adjoining room. The food was very good. I went home on the weekend, but many other veterans did not. While there, I learned that hearing aids may be obtained by veterans regardless of whether or not the loss of hearing was a result of their service.
The number for the VA in Palo Alto is (800) 455-1857. Ask for the Western Region Blind Center.
Sincerely, Fred MacDonald
The BVIC extends best wishes to Sonja Jackson while she attends Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael. Follow Sonja’s journey on her blog at http://guidedoganticipation.blogspot.com. We all look forward to meeting the newest working member of the Jackson family, Sonja’s new dog guide.
