A.V.R.E. InSight
Summer 2004, Volume 29, Number 3
Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc.
Our mission: "To assist people who have a vision disability enhance life quality through attaining or maintaining personal and economic independence, and help remove obstacles imposed by vision disabilities."
RACING FOR SIGHT -- ANOTHER SUCCESS!
The 11th Annual B.C. Bicycle Race For Sight was held on Saturday, July 17, 2004, in Windsor, New York. Once again, the picturesque village green came alive with color and activity as racers of all ages gathered from all over New York and Pennsylvania. It was a gorgeous day, as the weather gave us a break from the rain, we raised over $6,000 for Vision Programs, and we had a great and exciting race!
We had a grand total of 101 racers at the starting line (up from 85 last year) and 95 made it across the finish line. Our youngest racers were 14 and our oldest was 74. Of the total registered racers, 56 were brand new to our event. We had two tandem teams participating this year, and were especially pleased to welcome the sighted-blind team of Robert Swizdor and Kathy Urschel. It is our hope to encourage more visually impaired riders, both single racers and tandem teams, to ride in our event.
First place plaques and yellow T-shirts were awarded to: Todd Kapeghian (Men's Division), who finished the 26-mile road course in 1 hour, 5 minutes, 1 second, Amanda Shenstone (Women's Division), with 1 hour, 6 minutes, 12 seconds, and the Tandem Division winners were Robert Swizdor and Kathy Urschel, at 1 hour, 14 minutes, 53 seconds.
Second place plaques went to: Andrew VanKuren (Men's), Karla Eisch (Women's), and Malcolm Blue and Regina Losinger (Tandem). Third place plaques were given to: Joshua Brand (Men's) and Charlsie Donnelly (Women's).
We want to express our deep thanks to all who came to ride in our race and to support the vision programs of A.V.R.E. and the Binghamton and Windsor Lions Clubs. For a complete list of our generous Race sponsors, please see the last article. And we'll see you next year when we gather again to Race For Sight! Photos of Todd Kapeghian, Amanda Shenstone, and Robert Swizdor and Kathy Urschel receiving their awards and T-shirts. End of article.
The President's Corner
Dear Reader of A.V.R.E. InSight:
We have some great news and we also need your help, please! As you know, we changed our name last year from the Blind Work Association, Inc. to A.V.R.E., the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc. There are still many people and organizations who are not aware of the name change. We need your help in three ways:
Please use our new name yourself whenever you can. Whether you are talking with friends, family or writing a letter, it will help us immensely if you could refer to us as A.V.R.E.
If you are asked why we changed the name, you might consider the following reasons. Our old name worked well for 50 plus years. However, it only told part of the story. As most of our readers know, we provide a wide range of services for visually impaired people of all ages, infants through elders. The old name used only the work "blind." We serve people who have a vision disability -- a much larger group. Also, many people in the general public still think that blind means no sight at all. We know that blindness and vision disability cover a wide range of vision loss, from vision that may still be good in special circumstances and not good in others, to total blindness. Many people who have a vision disability encouraged us to find a name that is more modern and reflects current ways of describing consumers. The old name was close to other organizations, so we really did not have our own identity.
Keep an eye and an ear out for our new media campaign. It includes advertisements on TV, radio, and in the newspapers. We would love to know what you think, so give us some feedback on these ads!
We’ve made other changes too!
One thing we have heard loud and clear is that the general public, and even people close to A.V.R.E., do not have a good understanding of the depth and breadth of our services. So we have rearranged our program services so that it will be easier for people to understand just what it is we do.We now have a special department aimed fully at serving infants, children and parents. It is called our Infant and Child Services program. Ms. Diane McMillan, who was previously our Early Intervention Specialist, is now the Manager of Infant and Child Services.
Ms. Alycia Harris, is now our Manager of Employment and Career Services. Previously, she was our Employment Specialist.
Our third program is now called Senior Vision Services. It will concentrate on assisting seniors, who comprise the largest number of visually impaired people, with the tools and training to remain living independently.
You will be hearing more about these three special programs and other changes to better serve people in the Twin Tiers, in the future.
I have one more great news item: Mr. Ken Fernald, our Vice-President of Operations, has been selected to take part in a National Leadership Development Program at the prestigious Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia. Ken was nominated by A.V.R.E. and selected by National Industries for the Blind because of his commitment to excellence. Ken is proof positive of A.V.R.E. living its mission. He began his employment at A.V.R.E. (then Blind Work Association) as a direct labor employee. He then became one of the only legally blind Quality Assurance Managers in the country before assuming his current position with A.V.R.E.
Thank you, as always, for your help. We would love to hear from you about our changes and our news.
Robert K. Hanye, President and CEO. Photo of Mr. Hanye. End of article.
POST 80 BOWLERS "STRIKE" AGAIN!
In the last issue of InSight, we told you that our receptionist, Tom Addley, won a trophy at the Upstate New York Tournament for Blind Bowlers. Tom and two other members of the American Legion Post 80 Blind Bowling team recently traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the National Blind Bowling Tournament.
These bowlers are formidable competition! Tom won 1st place in the Single Male Partially Sighted category; Tom and teammate Addy Butler won 1st place in the Doubles Partially Sighted category; Addy took 1st place in the Single Female Partially Sighted category; Addy bowled on the team that took 1st place in the Masters competition; Tom, Addy, Addy's husband Glen Butler (fully sighted) and a 4th person who was placed on their team took the 1st place Over All trophy -- competing against over 500 bowlers! Way to go, guys! Congratulations! End of article.
OUR PROGRAM SERVICES -- MOVING FORWARD
In order to create a greater public awareness of A.V.R.E. and what we do, we have made some internal changes to our Program Services department. To put it quite simply, one department has become three, that all work together. As Mr. Hanye mentioned in his President's Corner column, program services now consist of our Infant and Child Services Program, our Employment and Career Services Program, and our Senior Vision Services Program. We would like to tell you a little more about them.
For several years now, Diane McMillan has been our Early Intervention and Youth Specialist, working with children and teens from infancy through high school. As Manager of Infants & Children's Services, she will continue to work with infants and pre-schoolers, but will only work with school-age children up to the age of 14. After 14, the teens will "graduate" to our adult and pre-voc services. Diane will continue to provide excellent teaching of independence skills and daily living skills, working with the children and their parents and teachers. To assist her, we will soon be hiring a Vision Rehab Assistant, who will also be assisting Alycia Harris.
Alycia Harris has been our Employment Specialist, working with visually impaired job seekers and with prospective employers. This area has been growing by leaps and bounds since Alycia came on board, and it has become obvious this department must be expanded. To facilitate this, Alycia is now our Manager of Employment and Career Services. She will continue to seek job contacts and additional programming, and will also be looking at funding sources for the program, all to better serve our consumers. She has already begun utilizing a wonderful volunteer, Mrs. Grace Fuller, to assist with paperwork, and will also be working with student interns. As mentioned above, Alycia's department will share a Flex VRA with Diane's department.
We are very excited about these significant changes to our internal program structure. We are certain they will work well in helping us to continue growing and improving our services to people of any age who have a vision disability. Photo of Diane teaching 4 year old William how to open a plastic egg and to peel a hard cooked egg; photo of Alycia discussing career and employment options with Aaron, a full-time college student. End of article.
SAYING FAREWELL
We recently said a fond "Farewell and Good Luck" to our friend and colleague, Laura Henry. Laura began working at our agency in 1986 as a Social Caseworker, visiting consumers in their homes. She eventually obtained her certification with New York State as a Rehabilitation Teacher for the Visually Impaired, and in 2001 was promoted to Senior Rehab Teacher. Shortly after that, Laura was offered and accepted the position of Director of Program Services.
Laura's plans for the future are to sell her home and move to south Florida, where she will be near her two sisters and away from our cold, snowy winters. As for her job plans, she doesn't know what the future holds, but she feels she is ready for a change and says, "I can do whatever I want!"
All of us at A.V.R.E. send our very best wishes with Laura as she moves south. Florida's gain is our loss!
We are also saying goodbye to two of our Program Services Staff. Ann Estabrook has been our Rehabilitation Teacher serving Broome County since 1988. She leaves us to take a position with Dr. Michael Lange, a low vision specialist in Greene, New York. Sara Moyer, who has been one of our Orientation & Mobility Specialists for one year, is leaving to take a position in Richmond, Virginia.
These three friends and co-workers will be greatly missed. End of article.
EQUIPMENT LOAN FUND
The Equipment Loan Fund for the Disabled is a loan program through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for the purpose of assisting disabled residents of New York State in obtaining essential adaptive equipment they might not otherwise be able to afford.
Individuals with a wide range of disabilities who have a certification from a physician may qualify for this program. Some of the kinds of equipment covered are: wheelchairs, van lifts, ramps, communication devices for people with a hearing impairment, prosthetic devices, and devices that allow blind or visually impaired people to read printed material.
The loan amounts range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $4000, and the interest rate is currently 8 percent per year. The repayment period is 2 to 8 years, depending on the loan amount. Loan applications are reviewed by a loan committee that is comprised of representatives of various state agencies that serve people with disabilities.
If you are interested in applying for an equipment loan, you can call the NYS Office of Children & Family Services at 518-474-0197, or write to them at 52 Washington Street, Rensselaer, NY 12144. End of article.
The Randolph-Sheppard Act
Here is a myth you may have heard: "Blind people staff the snack bars at the CIA to maintain secrecy and security." While it is true that there are many visually impaired people who operate snack bars, cafeterias and other vending businesses at Federal and State buildings, the reason is not for secrecy purposes.
In 1936, the U.S. Congress passed the Randolph-Sheppard Act to provide blind people with another means of becoming more self-supporting. As a result of this act, the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program was begun. Under this program, state rehabilitation agencies recruit, train, license and place individuals who are visually impaired as operators of vending facilities located on federal, state, or other properties.
The types of vending businesses operated under this program include cafeterias and snack bars, as well as other kinds of shops. The federal General Services Administration, which is a major participant in this program, operates about 514 Randolph-Sheppard facilities in various Federal buildings throughout the country. The GSA vending program statistics are impressive: over 500,000 Federal customers are served daily; a sales volume of about $100 million is generated annually at vending facilities; over 6,000 vending machines are maintained, grossing $80 million annually. For the entire nationwide vending program in the fiscal year 2000, a total of 2,716 blind vendors operated 3,292 vending facilities, with a total of $469.4 million generated. The average vendor earnings amounted to about $34,000 in that year.
In the Binghamton area, there are currently two vendors who work under the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program. A.V.R.E. was able to provide assistance to one young man who was placed in the main Binghamton Post Office. We helped him locate a place to live near his work, gave him rehab training in his job and at home, and provided him with some orientation and mobility training to enable him to walk around our community or take the city bus safely.
The Vending Program has proven to be a valuable program for assisting people who are visually impaired to attain and maintain independence. End of article.
DID YOU KNOW?
Of all blind and visually impaired Americans, approximately 80% are white, 18% are black, and 2% are from other ethnic groups. Of the total figure, 8% are of Hispanic origin and could be of any ethnicity.
OUR WISH LIST
We want to give a hearty thank you to the Disciple II class at Vestal United Methodist Church for their collective donation of $136 in cash, to be used for something we need for our programs.
If you would like to make a cash donation toward any of the items on our list, or if you have something you think we might be able to use, you may call Joyce Bucci at 607-724-2428 or email jbucci@avreus.org. The dollar amount of your donation would be tax deductible, and you will receive a letter of receipt and thanks from us and a public thank you in our next newsletter.
ClearView Traveller. The Traveller is a lightweight, portable, flat screen video magnifier or CCTV (Closed Circuit Television). It can be taken to the supermarket, the library, or school to be used for reading labels, books, or for writing checks and signing forms. This would be a great item to have for agency use and for demonstration and try-out purposes. The Traveller costs. $1895.
Talking Glucometer. A number of the consumers we serve are diabetic and have vision disabilities typically associated with this condition. We would like to have a talking glucose monitor that could be made available for consumers to try out to see if it is helpful to them. The Accu-Check Voicemate costs $495.
Beginning Braille Series. Our Manager of Infants & Children's Services is currently working with four visually impaired pre-school age children. It is very important to give these children a head start for school by teaching them their ABCs in Braille. We need a specialized courseware program, that will work on our SAL (Speech Assisted Learning) equipment, called the "Beginning Braille for Young Readers Series." The cost of the courseware is $257.
Miniguide. This is a little, but powerful, hand-held, electronic mobility aid that is used along with a white cane or a guide dog. It detects objects in the user's path using ultrasound, and is helpful to people who are blind or deaf and blind. The audio version emits a tone and the tactile version vibrates to alert the user when an object is detected. This device would be used by our Orientation & Mobility Instructors to assist in O & M training. The cost is $359. End of article.
LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE SEEING!
By Ann Estabrook, Rehabilitation Teacher
As we age, our vision sometimes decreases. We often find ourselves relying more and more on touch to compensate for that vision loss. Here are some tips you might find very helpful.
Distinguish between two similarly-shaped containers by placing a rubber band on one and not on the other. For example: place a band on the shampoo, but not the conditioner; on the milk carton, but not the orange juice carton; on the tubes of hair crème, but not the toothpaste; on the heart medication, but not the less essential medication.
Mark and identify dials by placing two raised markings at fixed reference points (the line the dial points to) and one raised mark on the area of the dial for the setting you want. For example: On an oven dial, place one raised mark at 350 degrees and two marks at the 12:00 position reference point on the stove. The dial is rotated until the raised mark lines up with the two reference marks. This approach can be used with: oven dials, burner dials, toaster-oven dials, microwave dials, Honeywell-type furnace thermostats, air conditioning dials, etc.Sort out sets of measuring cups by placing puff-paint dots. For example: no raised puff-paint dots on the 1 cup; 2 raised puff-paint dots on the 1/2 cup; 3 raised puff-paint dots, in a triangular pattern, on the 1/3 cup; 4 raised dots, in a square shape, on the 1/4 cup.
Locate areas on the printed panel of a microwave. For example: Draw a puff-paint frame around "Start"; put a puff-paint X on "Stop" (reminiscent of an X on a stop sign); put raised dots on commonly used number settings.
As you learn to rely on your sense of touch, you'll think of other areas where it will help you "feel" things you used to access by sight. For example: the keys on a tape player-recorder or CD player, the TV remote, the "home" keys on a typewriter or computer keyboard. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination, and the control it will return to you will be very satisfying.
A.V.R.E. can help you, so give us a call! End of article.
QUOTABLE QUOTE
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." Helen Keller.
AIDS FOR LIVING -- COLOR IDENTIFIERS
Have you ever been at a social gathering and had a friend tell you that your blouse and skirt clash, or that you are wearing two different colored socks? No matter how kindly it is said, the discovery can still be embarrassing. A talking color identifier can be of great help.
These handy devices are small (about the size of a TV remote control), battery operated, and are very easy to use. The identifier is simply held against the article of clothing, or other items, and it speaks the color name aloud. Most models can detect a wide range of colors -- from the common ones, such as red, blue, and green -- to many tints and shades, such as pink, blue-green, dark brown, vivid yellow, etc. Most have a volume adjustment button, some have an earphone, and some even speak in French and Spanish, as well as English.
At a cost of about $150 to $200, the color identifier can make life a lot less embarrassing! Photo of a color identifier next to a ball point pen. End of article.
CARING FOR YOUR EYES: REGULAR VISION EXAMS
It is estimated that there are currently about 10 million Americans with a vision impairment. About half of those are older people with age-related vision loss. In a few years, these numbers will begin to increase drastically.
There are about 77 million Americans of the "Baby Boom" generation who will soon begin reaching retirement age, and a substantial number will experience vision loss or become blind in their later years. Many of these cases can be prevented with early intervention and proper treatment.
The most common cause of vision loss in seniors is cataracts, a condition that is easily treated with surgery, medications and vitamins. The incident rate of cataracts in older people is projected to increase to about 30 million Americans by the year 2020. Of the other eye diseases, the three most common are Age-related Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, and Diabetic Retinopathy. All three can often be treated if caught early. Studies have found ethnic differences in eye disease. The leading cause of vision loss among white Americans is Age-Related Macular Degeneration, whereas among Hispanic-Americans and African-Americans, it is Glaucoma.
The medical profession recommends that everyone should have a yearly eye exam by a qualified ophthalmologist or optometrist to make certain they are not developing one of these diseases. Prevention is possible. "Sight is Precious. Take care of your eyes." End of article.
DESCRIPTIVE TV UPDATE
In our Spring 2002 issue of InSight, we told you about Descriptive Video Service. DVS is a free service that helps make television accessible to visually impaired people, by inserting spoken descriptions of action and scenes into quiet moments in a TV program or movie video.
We feel this service is of vital importance to people with low or no vision, much as Closed Captioning of programs is to those with a hearing impairment. For that reason, we were pleased to learn that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had adopted rules mandating that the top commercial television networks and the major cable networks must provide 50 hours per calendar quarter of described programming to the nation's top 25 markets. These rules took effect in April 2002, and we felt this was a very good start. Unfortunately, the Motion Picture Association of America and the TV networks fought the ruling, and as a result they were struck down by a Federal court in November of 2002.
There is now no requirement for broadcasters to include video description. Nevertheless, some do. Currently, the TV networks that broadcast some shows with DVS are: CBS, FOX, PBS, Nickelodeon, Turner Classic Movies, TNT, TBS, Lifetime, and USA. Additionally, there are over 200 described movies on video that are available for purchase from WGBH Public Television Station in Boston. To request a large print catalog, call 1-888-818-1181. For a Braille catalog, call 1-888-818-1999. If you have access to a computer, there is a website where you can listen to about 52 different classic movies with description, free of charge. Go to www.narrative.org.
The 17-member National Television and Video Access Coalition, which includes AARP, the American Council of the Blind, and the Blinded Veterans Association, has expressed its resolve to continue fighting to keep video description alive and to increase the numbers of described programs available. End of article.
TIPS FOR DINING OUT
Dining out with friends and attending family celebrations should be pleasurable activities, but for people experiencing vision loss, they can be sources of great anxiety. Here are some tips that can help increase your comfort level when dining out.
Plan Ahead. Call ahead to ask if the restaurant has a Braille or large print menu. If possible, stop by ahead of time and ask for a take-out menu to read at home, or check the restaurant's website to see if they have a menu available online.
Getting Oriented. When you arrive, ask to be seated in a well lighted area, if possible. You can also carry a small flashlight or a hand-held illuminated magnifier to help you see the menu. If you need to, it is acceptable to ask your dining companions to read the menu out loud. You may also ask them about your surroundings and the table setting. If your vision is very limited, use your hands to lightly scan the area of the table in front of you to familiarize yourself with the place setting.
Mealtime Advice. Most food servers are happy to assist if you let them know your vision is limited. Ask them to pour your beverage and tell you where it is located in relationship to your plate. When your food arrives, ask either your server or your companions to tell you what is on your plate and where it is located, using the "clock" method. Or a gentle probing with your fork can help you find food items. Choosing foods that are easy to eat can make dining less stressful and decrease the chances of food spills.
Paying The Bill. Use an adaptive method for identifying cash. Having the bills sorted ahead of time and folded according to denomination will reduce your dependence upon strangers. If you're paying by credit card, carry a signature guide. Or, ask your companion or the cashier to darken, or place an "X" in front of, the signature line.
Using a combination of pre-planning, common sense, and basic adaptive techniques can make your dining out experiences pleasurable and relaxing again. Bon Appetit!
Information taken from an article written by Susan R. Hart, MS, TVI, RTC, and published in the Sharing Solutions newsletter of the Lighthouse International. Used with permission. End of article.
"You don't have to see it to tee it!"
So says the motto of the International Blind Golf Association. Blind golfers around the world agree! Blind golf began in our country in 1925, when Clint Russell of Duluth, Minnesota began playing after losing his vision when a tire exploded in his face. He worked hard to improve his game and by 1930, Clint could shoot an 84 for 18 holes. Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" did an article on Clint, calling him the world's only blind golfer. Because of the publicity, he began hearing from others who had lost their sight. The world's first blind golfer's championship tournament was held in 1938, with only two players. Clint Russell defeated Dr. Beach Oxenham of London, England, 5 and 4.
In 1941, a second tournament was held, again with only two players. It was staged as three separate matches, with Clint winning the first, and his opponent, Marvin Shannon of Fort Worth, Texas, winning the second. The third match was cancelled due to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Toward the close of World War II, Clint contacted the Veterans Administration and suggested golf as therapy for soldiers and sailors who had lost their sight. The VA thought it was a great idea, and still offers golf as a therapy option. After the war, tournaments began again and the U.S. Blind Golfers Association was formed in 1953.
If a golfer cannot see the tee, the ball, the fairway, or the green, how does he play? As with skiing, a partnership is formed with a sighted coach, who can be anyone who knows the game. First, the coach assists the player with setting up, or "addressing the ball." The coach positions the player toward the tee or ball and places the head of the club in the proper position behind the ball. Secondly, the coach tells the player the correct distance. On the putting green, the coach and player often walk the distance together so the player can "feel" the lay of the ground. Besides allowing the coach to assist the player, there is only one other USGA rule exception when playing blind golf: the club may be grounded in a hazard.
Today, there are several sanctioned regional blind golf tournaments. They are held in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. The competition is tough! The record for the lowest round ever shot in USBGA competition was a 74, shot by Pat Browne. So, dust off those clubs, grab a coach, and go play a few holes! End of article.
OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!
We are very grateful to our returning Race For Sight sponsors, and to several new ones who have come on board. Without the generous support of these community partners, our race would simply not be possible. Our sincere appreciation goes to the following sponsors.
In the H. Richterman Gold category: BSB Bank & Trust, Lander Co., Inc., Lockheed Martin-Owego.
In the P.J. Salmon Silver category: Broome Co. NY Assoc. of Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Contractors, Inc., Empire Federal Credit Union, Imperial Pacific Limited, Parlor City Paper Box, Pyramid Brokerage, Rogers Service Group, Sourcecorp.
In the R.V. Irwin Bronze category: Crowley Foods, Don’s Automotive, Montrose Publishing Co., NYSEG, Raymond Foundation, Warner’s Gas Service, Weyerhaeuser.
In the Corporate and Organizational category: Babcock Bicycles, PRL Associates, Sentry Alarms.
In the Products & Services category: Akel Wholesale, Chenango Point Cycles, Coca Cola Bottling, New Milford Bike Shop, Pepsi Cola Bottling Group, Price Chopper, Wegmans. End of article.
Publishing information:
InSight is published quarterly by the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc. (Formerly Blind Work Association, Inc.), 55 Washington Street, Binghamton, New York 13901. Phone: 607-724-2428; FAX: 607-771-8045; email: avreinfo@avreus.org; website: www.avreus.org. Editor Joyce Bucci.
A.V.R.E. is a local, private, non-profit organization with a volunteer board of directors. We serve 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. or its services, please feel free to contact us.
Our vision is to be the first in choice an 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.
End of newsletter.