A.V.R.E. InSight Newsletter
Fall 2010; Vol. 35 No. 4
Published by the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc.

A Young Artist Makes His Mark
Gaetono (Guy) Williams is in many ways a typical 6 year-old; he likes gym class, listening to music and recess.  He also enjoys swimming, books on tape and playing outside with his little brother, Demitrius.  He is looking forward to starting first grade this fall and is learning to read.  What makes Guy’s story unusual is that despite his young age, he is already an award-winning artist.  Guy, a student at Watkins Glen Elementary, won third place in the Preschool/Kindergarten division of the 19th Annual Juried Competition and Exhibition for Blind and Visually Impaired Artists, sponsored by the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky.
Art teacher Susan Compton… said that initially she was overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to teach art to someone who had never seen, but she did some research and came across a YouTube video of a Turkish artist named Esref Armagan who was born without eyes.  She contacted Armagan, who replied through his English-speaking assistant, and she developed strategies for adapting lessons in a meaningful way.
“Now that he’s actually in the classroom, I find that he’s been teaching me how to teach him.  I will get an idea that makes me say, ‘Oh, I bet this will work,’ and he will get his hands on it and do something completely different,” Compton said, adding, “Gaetono is such a character and so advanced in his verbal skills that you can converse with him on topics you could not discuss with most children his age.  That ability makes it much easier to work with him on these projects.”
The class was studying lines and patterns when Gaetono produced the award-winning piece, which depicts diagonal lines and a repeating pattern in clay.  “It’s a project that I do every year with kindergarteners.  Typically, they each get a piece of paper and are asked to draw diagonal lines all the way across.  They also learn about the cool colors (blue, green, and purple). Then, I give them paints, and they make an ‘A,B,C’ pattern.  They can start with whatever color they want, followed by the second and third colors, and then repeat it across the page, showing they know what a pattern is,” explained Compton.
“For Gaetono, I cut a flat piece of clay and gave him a pencil for pressing into it.  With his aide, he felt around the edges and had to figure out how to make diagonal lines across it, which he did beautifully.  Then, for demonstrating his understanding of pattern, we had him press some objects with designs on them into the clay.”
Guy’s untitled artwork was chosen out of a pool of nearly 400 entries. He and his family [traveled] to Louisville to accept the award at the annual meeting of the APH on October 15.
Written by Anya Harris, reprinted with permission from “Life in the Finger Lakes,” August 2010

More About Gaetono…
A.V.R.E. Vision Rehabilitation Assistant Laure Griffis has been working with Gaetono since he was four years old.  When Laure first met with Guy and his parents in their home, he was not feeding himself or brushing his own teeth.  He made such great progress with Laure that his Headstart teacher and occupational therapist reached out to her to determine how they could all work together to further his learning and independence.  Laure continued to work with Guy’s teachers when he entered kindergarten.  Now, he eats with a fork and knife, cleans his room, picks out his own clothes, and creates award-winning art!  Gaetono’s story is an inspiring example of how caring collaboration makes a real difference in real lives.
Photos:  Guy standing next to a table, holding his award-winning art piece.  Guy practicing buttoning his jacket during a session with Laure.

The President’s Corner
“Help Us Spread The Word”
By Robert K. Hanye, President and CEO
A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from a woman who told me that her elderly father had recently passed away.  She was calling to find out if A.V.R.E. could accept her father’s Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) as a donation.  Her Dad had lived for a number of years with severe vision loss due to macular degeneration.  He moved to one of our smaller, more rural communities after having lived for a long time in or near New York City.  It was easy to tell from our conversation that a warm and loving bond had existed between this man and his daughter.  She said that he absolutely loved his CCTV, as it reopened a wonderful world of independence and connectedness for him, including the ability to see pictures of relatives and friends.  After having had vision loss for many years without services, they contacted a large vision rehabilitation agency in New York City that connected the family with a CCTV supplier.  Her only regret was that he enjoyed the freedom brought by the CCTV for less than a year.
A few months ago, a small business owner in one of our more urban communities connected with A.V.R.E. through a friend who worked in an Optometrist’s office.  This gentleman also suffered from severe vision loss for quite some time before receiving any services.  The visual demands of running and owning a business were becoming more and more challenging, and for a long time, he was unaware that help was available through A.V.R.E vision rehabilitation.  He has now received services and discovered tools and solutions that help him maintain his business and the jobs of his employees.
These two stories are very different in many respects.  Yet, they have one critical thing in common:  both went a long period of time between the onset of significant vision loss and connecting to vision rehabilitation services.  We know that time could have been more productive and less frustrating had either been able to obtain the tools, training and support that vision rehabilitation brings.
At A.V.R.E. we are constantly working to better educate the public and the health care community about vision rehabilitation.  We regularly schedule speaking engagements at service organizations, community groups, senior centers and other places.  We partner with government and private organizations whose constituents might also have vision loss.  We advertise in local newspapers, magazines, and on radio and television.  We have been on many talk shows and joined three Chambers of Commerce.  Yet many people still do not know.
Here is how you can help us spread the word:  1. Let us know about speaking opportunities with service and community groups.  2. Tell your friends, relatives and neighbors about A.V.R.E and vision rehabilitation.  3. Ask your Doctor (any health care provider) if he or she is aware of A.V.R.E. and vision rehabilitation.  4. If you or someone you know is seeing a Doctor for vision loss, ask if low vision or vision rehabilitation is right for you or them.  5. Consider A.V.R.E. in your annual giving plans so that we can continue to connect  people to services in the quickest and easiest way.
Thank you and Happy New Year!

Learning The Route
It has been much-needed and it was a long time coming, but the brand new Binghamton Intermodal Transit Terminal is now open in downtown Binghamton.  The terminal brings the Broome County Transit (local inner-city) buses and the Greyhound, Coach USA, and Short Line buses all together at one location. 
The terminal, located at the corner of Chenango and Henry Streets, is a beautifully-designed, two-story transportation hub that provides riders and travelers with safe and efficient transfers between different types of transport as well as warm shelter from the weather.  It also houses a diner and retail space.
A.V.R.E. Orientation & Mobility Specialist George Williams recently took to the streets to teach a group of A.V.R.E. employees how to get from the workplace to the new terminal and how to negotiate through and around the terminal area to find the appropriate bus bays for their destinations.  The employees were pleased to find out how easy the new terminal is to negotiate.  Knowing that each bus always stops in its own assigned bay is a great help to blind travelers.
Photo:  A.V.R.E. O&M Specialist George Williams, Bill Decker, Eugene Curtis, Kay Rhinebeck, Terry Kozak, and Loni Cordilione standing near the new Broome County Transit bus bays.

Annual Appeal Kicks Off With Artistic Flair!
A.V.R.E.’s new Annual Appeal got an artistic kick-off on November 5th with our Touchable Art Show.  This was the second touchable art show we have presented, but the 2010 Annual Appeal is our first fundraiser of this type. 
After many years of mailing semi-annual appeals to donors, one in the spring and one just before the holidays, we have decided it is time for a change.  We are rolling the two appeals into one annual appeal in the fall.  We are still mailing a solicitation letter to our loyal donors, but we are adding a more personalized approach that includes phone calls and invitations to special events, tours and luncheons.
The Touchable Art show was the brainchild of Michele LaComb, a local artist who is visually impaired.  Michele is both a consumer and an employee of A.V.R.E.  Every piece of art that is created must have one thing in common – it must be touchable!  Our first show last fall was also a competition, and it was a great success.  In fact, it was such a success that we have decided to make it the kick-off event for our Annual Appeal each year. 
This year’s show was not a competition, and we were able to open it up for more students and young people to have the chance to participate.  Prominently featured were a number of pieces from The Magic Paintbrush Project that were created by several of A.V.R.E.’s visually impaired kids.  Conceived and operated by Jennifer O’Brien, The Magic Paintbrush Project provides an environment where kids with special needs and their families can go to “get down and dirty” and create beautiful, colorful, and tactile works of art.  (You can find out more at www.magicpaintbrushproject.org.)
Other local groups who participated were the BOCES PALS Program, the Riverside Art Center of Broome Developmental Services, ACHIEVE’s Day Habilitation Program, Identity Youth and The Cube’s Community Art Class, and The Children’s Home, as well as students from West Middle School’s 6th grade and from Mrs. Gell’s 12-1-1 Program in Greene, NY.  We hope to encourage high school students from local art classes to participate in the future, as well. 
The art show is open to artists of all ages, amateur or professional, and we also encourage artists who are visually impaired to show their work.  If you are interested in participating in Touchable Art next fall, please call Jenn Cubic at 607-724-2428.

Recurring Donations – An Easy Way To Give
For some donors, making smaller monthly or quarterly contributions is preferable to making one larger annual gift.  Most of us budget our income and expenses on a monthly basis, making a recurring gift more practical.  And, recurring gifts are simple and convenient.  You can set up a recurring credit or debit transaction, or use electronic funds transfer (EFT) directly from your account.  If you prefer to handle the transaction personally, you can donate online via our website, just click on "Donate Now."
Recurring giving is a win-win for A.V.R.E. and our donors.  A pre-arranged recurring gift eliminates the need to write checks, buy stamps and remember to make a contribution.  We will send you one annual receipt to keep paperwork to a minimum.  Most importantly, it reduces our fundraising costs, which means that more of every dollar goes directly to programming.  You can have the peace of mind that A.V.R.E. has a reliable, regular source of support to carry out our mission.
If you are interested in arranging for recurring gifts, please contact Jenn Cubic at 607-724-2428 or email jcubic@avreus.org.  Visit our website at www.avreus.org for more information on charitable giving and how your contributions work to enhance life quality and empower independence for people who are blind or visually impaired.

New Business Project Begins
A.V.R.E.’s Business (manufacturing) Division is beginning a new kit assembly project.  Through Industries for the Blind of New York State, we have contracted with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in New York City to put together 5,500 Educational Toy Kits that are being distributed to UFT childcare providers in the city.
Each kit contains 20 different educational toys, all neatly packed into a special tote bag.  All of the components are received in bulk from the manufacturers, and our employees gather and pack the toys into the bags.  The bags are then packed into boxes for shipping to the city.  The first 500 kits will be shipped out in December, with the remaining 5,000 due by the end of March.
Photo:  A.V.R.E. Employee Margaret Rivenburgh inserting toys into a bag for childcare kits.

From Our Bulletin Board:  The Latest Agency News
“A New Appointment”
We are pleased to announce that A.V.R.E. Vice President of Operations Kenny Fernald has been appointed to a three-year term on the Executive Board of the New York State Commission for the blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH).  The appointment was made by Governor David Paterson.
The CBVH Executive Board was created to bring strategic direction and operational improvement to CBVH as it works to integrate New Yorkers who are blind into the full fabric of living, learning, and working in society.  As a person who is legally blind and a senior manager who is responsible for 40 other employees who are blind, Kenny brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to the position.  We know he will be a wonderful asset to the Executive Board of CBVH.
Photo of Kenny.
“Disability Mentoring Day”
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time when businesses of all sizes and in all industries recognize the talents that people with disabilities add to their organizations and communities.  The theme for 2010 was “Talent Has No Boundaries: Workforce Diversity Includes People With Disabilities.”
As part of the recognition, several A.V.R.E. consumers participated in Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) on October 20th.  DMD gives students and adults with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a job shadowing experience.  Job shadowing is a career exploration activity that offers an opportunity to spend time with a professional currently working in a person’s career field of interest.  Job shadowing offers a chance to see what it’s actually like working in a specific job, and to have questions answered.
A.V.R.E. had 5 consumers from Broome County participating, as well as 1 in Chemung County and 2 in Tompkins County, our highest level of participation yet.
Photo:  A.V.R.E. Employment and Careers Specialist Colleen Ciarletta, Luigi Dirusso, Michele LaComb, Scott Brothers, Brian Ciotoli, and Morgan Stratton, our participants from Broome County.
“Veterans Community Stand Down”
On November 18th, the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier held a grass roots community Stand Down to assist veterans in connecting with community services.  A.V.R.E. was pleased to provide the location for the gathering.  All veterans, many of whom are homeless, and their families were invited and encouraged to attend.
Representatives from a variety of local organizations set up informational tables in our large conference room.  The veterans were given the opportunity to enjoy a free meal from the Mobil Food Pantry, and to talk with people regarding housing assistance, Social Services, mental health screenings, and education, employment, and counseling services.  Free haircuts and live musical entertainment were also provided. 
The original Stand Down for Homeless Veterans was modeled after the Stand Down concept used during the Vietnam War to provide a safe retreat for units returning from combat operations.  More information about this grass roots movement and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans can be found at www.nchv.org. 
A.V.R.E. joins with all of the community organizations that were present to say a very big “Thank You” to all of our veterans.
Photo:  gathering of participants in the large conference room, enjoying good food, reflexology hand and foot massages, conversation, and camaraderie.

Celebrating A Milestone
By Jenn Cubic, A.V.R.E. Development Director
It may seem like just yesterday that A.V.R.E. took over running the switchboard operations at two mid-Hudson Valley VA Hospitals, but October 1, 2010, was the 10th anniversary!  October 1, 2000, was the day we began an extremely successful relationship with the Montrose and Castle Point Campuses of the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System.  That date also marked A.V.R.E.’s move into a brand new business operation – service provision.
In celebration, members of A.V.R.E.’s senior management team, Bob Hanye, Kenny Fernald and Jenn Cubic, and Board Member Linda Griffin hosted a small reception for hospital administrators and switchboard operators at the Castle Point Campus.  A.V.R.E. President & CEO Bob Hanye presented a plaque to Gerald Culliton, Director of the VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System, in recognition of their outstanding partnership with A.V.R.E. in running the switchboards over the past decade.  The reception provided Culliton his first opportunity to learn more about A.V.R.E. and its mission to empower people who are visually impaired to gain or maintain their independence through quality employment.  He has certainly been impressed with our employees’ performances in Montrose and Castle Point!  In 2003, A.V.R.E. switchboard operators were awarded the VA’s Shining Star for delivering exemplary customer service to our veterans.  Later in the day, a plaque was also presented to the switchboard operators at the Montrose Campus. 
Telecommunications Manager Jim Jankun was also recognized for his commitment to, and support of, A.V.R.E. switchboard operators.  A.V.R.E. Vice President of Operations Kenny Fernald has worked very closely with Jim over the last 10 years to ensure the high quality customer service the VA expects and our veterans deserve.
For Board member Linda Griffin, the visit was a chance to witness first-hand just how well our switchboard operators do their jobs, and that it’s not very easy.  Linda noted that she “expected to see the old switchboards!  Not at all… the modern computer technology is enough to boggle anyone’s mind!  Our visually impaired employees who work in both facilities are amazing!”  Switchboard operators employ a variety of assistive technologies including ZoomText, Jaws, scan-and-read devices, and refreshable Braille displays.  Linda looks forward to sharing her experience with the rest of the Board and will encourage them to take advantage of future visits.
A.V.R.E.’s success at the Montrose and Castle Point Campuses helped to pave the way to the most recent switchboard contract with the Bronx VA Hospital.  October 1, 2010, also marked that operation’s 1st successful year!  The great customer service, the recognitions and awards, the new business – what it all comes down to is creating good jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired.  A.V.R.E. is prepared for new challenges and looks forward to new opportunities in 2011.
Photo:  A.V.R.E. switchboard employees Deborah Holmes, Penelope Simon, and Tom Price celebrating the anniversary.

2011 Calendars Are In!
Our popular large format calendars are now in and can be purchased in our ViewPoint retail store.  The calendars are a generous 17-1/2 inches wide by 23 inches tall when open.  Each month occupies the full page height, with 2-1/2 by 3-1/4 inch squares for writing notes.
We have changed providers for the calendars, and we are now able to offer them at a much reduced price.  The cost is $6.48 each, which includes the sales tax.  After receiving your payment, we can mail them to you at no extra cost.
To order a calendar, call us at 607-724-2428 and ask for Kim, or stop by our store, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

New Artificial Cornea Shows Promise
It is estimated that 10 million people world-wide are blind due to a damaged cornea.  Until very recently, the only way to gain or regain sight was through a corneal transplant, using a human cornea from a donor.  In the U.S. each year, about 42,000 people receive transplanted corneas, but there are many more for whom donors cannot be found.
Several years ago, an artificial cornea made of plastic was developed and has been used successfully in certain patients.  Now a new type of artificial cornea is in development that allows a patient to “grow their own.”  Dr. May Griffith from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Canada began developing biosynthetic corneas a decade ago, and she is now collaborating with scientists at Sweden’s Linkoping University.
The cornea is begun by growing human collagen in yeast.  At a certain point, it is molded into the shape of a cornea, much like a contact lens.  The damaged corneal tissue is removed from the patient’s eye and the new biosynthetic cornea is implanted.  The artificial cornea coaxes the eye’s own natural cornea cells and nerves to grow back.  If this happens successfully, sight can be restored.
In 10 test patients who received the new cornea, 6 had significantly improved vision with glasses after 2 years.  Some who were legally blind prior to the operation can now drive a car.  None of the patients in the trial had any rejection and none needed immune-suppressing medication.
The procedure is still in the developmental stages, but it is showing great promise.  Dr. Griffith is planning larger studies and will try to extend the therapy to a wider range of vision loss.  It is hoped that within the next decade biosynthetic corneas will be available to the general public.

“From our house to yours:  Happy Holidays!”

   InSight is published quarterly by the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc., 174 Court Street, Binghamton, NY 13901.  Phone:  607-724-2428, Email:  avreinfo@avreus.org, Website:  www.avreus.org.  Editor:  Joyce Bucci
A.V.R.E. serves visually impaired individuals of all ages who live in the New York counties of Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, and Schuyler, as well as the Pennsylvania counties of Bradford, Susquehanna, and Tioga.
A.V.R.E. is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.  If you would like more information about A.V.R.E. and its services, please feel free to contact us.
Our Vision is to be the first in choice and quality with respect to vision rehabilitation and employment services in the Twin Tiers, and to be a model for the broader community in understanding vision disability.

“Seeing Things Differently.”