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InSight Newsletter -- Winter 2007
A.V.R.E.
InSight Newsletter 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.”
We Have
Moved! We Are In Our New Home! As of January 30, 2007, the entire A.V.R.E. staff reported to work in our new home at 174 Court Street in downtown Binghamton. By 9:00 AM, the first product – a pressboard file folder – was hot off the production line and was presented to our President and CEO Bob Hanye. While many were sentimental about leaving the old building, we were all excited about getting to work in our new surroundings. The sounds of construction can still be heard within the building, as the renovations continue around us. Our Industries Manufacturing Division is up and running in its proper place, but the administrative and Program Services staff inhabit temporary offices on the second floor while renovations are completed on the first floor. When completed, our Center of Excellence will all be on the first floor, housing staff and many new programs and services. We are gearing up for a summer opening for the new Low Vision Clinic and the Access Tech Center. In the meantime, we are eager to show off our new home. We have already hosted numerous tours for both long-term and new friends. The manufacturing facility is state-of-the-art, especially for visually impaired and blind staff and consumers. Color contrasting, low-glare lighting, and tactile variations in flooring, as well as a system of handrails throughout special walking/travel areas, facilitate an extremely safe work and mobility environment for everyone. In addition to providing a superior work environment, the new facility and design enables A.V.R.E. to significantly grow production, revenue, and employment. Our move is good for everyone associated with A.V.R.E., including the surrounding community. Community education remains a high priority for A.V.R.E. We welcome any and all opportunities to advocate for our mission and demonstrate for others how A.V.R.E. services and employment improve the quality of life for thousands of visually impaired residents throughout our region. If you or anyone you know is interested in touring our facility and learning more about our Center of Excellence and Invest in the Vision Campaign, please contact me at 607-724-2428. (Photo of our new brightly-lit manila file folder and pin-fed computer paper departments shows ample room for moving around large rolls of paper stock conveniently and safely. Photo of a safety walkway and handrail system, combined with bright lighting, ensuring that our blind and visually impaired employees can move between areas safely and independently.)
The
President’s Corner -- Community Support Vital to our Success Dear Reader; As you will see by the pictures and information in this issue, we have made great progress in creating our Center of Excellence in Vision Rehabilitation and Employment. In August 2006, we bought the old Sears Department Store and Automotive Center from Doron Precision Systems. Doron had operated out of this site at 174 Court Street in downtown Binghamton for more than 20 years. In January 2007, almost all of the renovations to the Automotive Center were completed and we moved our manufacturing operation into this section. About a week later and still in January, we moved the offices for our administrative and service staff to the new facility. These offices are temporarily located on the 2nd floor of what was once the Sears Department store. If you need to visit us, please enter through the brown door on the right side of the small parking lot located at the front of the building on Court Street. You will need to go up the stairs to the 2nd floor where our receptionist will greet you. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and we will work hard to make this temporary situation as short as possible. We expect to finish the work on our first floor offices in the next few months. Oh yes! On January 31, 2007, we also finalized the sale of our old building on Washington Street to Binghamton University. By springtime, this site should be a parking and green area for the University’s downtown project. Now to the subject at hand: Community Support. In short, we depend on you, our friends, donors and supporters. Without you, we would not have been able to make all the progress we have made to date in improving our services for people with a severe vision disability and creating a much improved working and training environment in our Center of Excellence. On page 3 of this issue is an updated list of the businesses, foundations, organizations and individuals who have generously given to our Invest in the Vision campaign. Many more have made smaller and equally appreciated gifts. This generous support has brought us to 58 percent of our $3.1 million goal. In other words, we have raised just about $1.8 million. We still have a way to go, but are very encouraged by the growing awareness of A.V.R.E. and the support from across our 12 county, 9,000 square mile service area. A number of the Lions Clubs in our area deserve a special thank you. As I write this letter, 12 individual clubs have contributed or pledged almost $13,000, and individual Lions have made gifts totaling $24,500. These are the Binghamton, Windsor, Apalachin, Kirkwood, Oxford, Norwich, Sherburne, Greene, Mt. Upton, Bainbridge, Waverly and Rainbow (Nichols) Lioness & Lions Clubs. As you will note, these clubs already represent three of our twelve counties. By the time you read this, we expect many more to have joined our campaign. We have been able to talk with each of these clubs about individuals we have or are serving in each of their respective communities. The Lions District has also given its support to a grant application we have submitted to the New York and Bermuda Lions Foundation, and we hope to garner enough local support to make an application for a grant to Lions International. If you know Lions from any of these clubs, please thank them for their support. If you know other Lions, please encourage them to consider supporting our campaign. Many decades ago, Helen Keller challenged Lions to become “Knights of the Blind.” They have taken up this challenge. Lions and A.V.R.E. in many ways have a shared mission and vision. Lions perform many valuable services in their communities. You may want to consider becoming one yourself. If you reside outside Broome County, your gift to Invest in the Vision can have an additional benefit. The Decker Foundation has given us an outright grant of $200,000 as well as a $200,000 challenge grant. That challenge means that for every five dollars contributed from any place outside Broome County, we can receive one additional dollar from this challenge. Thank you for your time, your support and encouragement, your gifts and your belief in the value of our services. (A graphic of a specially created Eye Chart, with the lower rows of letters filled in, shows that our Capital Campaign has earned $1.8 million.) Our Investors. Visionaries - $25,000 and higher Dr. G. Clifford & Florence B. Decker Foundation, Stewart W. & Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Miller S. & Adelaide S. Gaffney Foundation, Harold (Ric) and Anita Richterman In memory of Norman Richterman , Partner’s Trust Bank, George A. & Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation, Binghamton Giant Markets Luminaries - $10,000 - $24,999 George & Sally Akel, Keith D. & Gail E. Chadwick, Dan & Fay Gorman, Beverly A. Majka, Anthony Mincolla, Lydia Stickley In memory of Richard E. Hoover, Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP, NBT Bank, Binghamton Lions Club Beacons - $2,500 - $9,999 Ferris G. Akel, III, Robert & Sheila Dalke, Stephanie Franck, Dave & Debbie Gouldin, Robert & Susan Hanye, Paul Komar & Teri Goodall-Komar, Samuel K. & Leslie A. Levene, Harvey Shriber & Elizabeth Prior Shriber, Charitable Foundation, Mel & Kay Rhinebeck, Lawrence & Jennifer Schorr, Barbara & Kent Turner, Security Mutual Life, Maureen Wilson Rays of Light - $1,000 - $2,499 Anonymous, Stephen Brown, Beverly W. Costello In memory of Charles V. Costello, Jennifer Cubic, Beverly & Gerald Docteur, Chris Dorunda & Chris Phillips, Kenny & Amy Fernald, Dr. Frank Gilroy, William & Marena Gonz, Linda R. Griffin, Addison & Nancy Keeler, Peter & Elizabeth Keyes, John & Mary Ann Martin, Jacob & Rose Olum Foundation, The Victor & Esther Rozen Foundation, Dr. Charles Rubin, Thomas K. Sbarra, Dino & Muriel Spagnolli Shining Stars - $100 - $999 Edgar A. & Ida M. Alekna Foundation, Apalachin Lions Club, Robert Best, Linda Biemer, Sister Mary Ann Brawley, Pat & Don Brown, Helen Claire Burkhardt, Eugene W. Burns, Dr. Charles & Susan Carpenter, Chris & Callie Demtrak, Mr. Jack Docster, Wilbur Dodge, Rose Marie Donahue, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Finch, Marie Foster, Kathleen Gallagher, Charles & Kathleen Gardner, Richard & Patricia Healey, Huff Ice Cream, Imperial Pacific Ltd., Susan & Leo Jones, Brian & Judith Kessler, Kirkwood Lions Club, Richard & Patricia Kober, Ronald & Diane Lesch, James & Linda Lewis, Margaret Macmillen, Toby Jean Manker, Thomas McAvoy, Rick & Kirsten McCarthy & Family, Robert & Sandra Mead, Edward O’Connor In memory of Warren E. Odell, William Olmstead, Dr. Lawrence Pecora, A gift on Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Melvin L. Rosendale, Ron Sall, Michael & Andrea Schaughency, Sam & Julia Selkowitz Foundation, Penelope Simon, Kristine Valashinas, Keith & Jean Wahl, Warren F. Wetzelberg, Windsor Lions Club, J. K. Weinman, Gail & John Wilson In-Kind Donations Dr. Richard G. & Mrs. Margy Hobart, Rogers Service Group, Carr Printing We extend our most sincere thanks to you all! If you would like to join these people and make a pledge or contribution to our campaign, please call Jenn Cubic at 607-724-2428. A New JWOD Champion! A.V.R.E. had the pleasure of presenting Congressman Maurice Hinchey with a JWOD Champions Award on March 7, 2007. The Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (JWOD) is the Federal law that gives A.V.R.E. access to the Federal marketplace for our product manufacturing and service employment programs. The award was presented at a congressional reception on Capital Hill in front of a gathering of over 100 people representing agencies like A.V.R.E. from all across the country. Congressman Hinchey was honored for numerous efforts he has made on behalf of A.V.R.E., our consumers and our employees over the past eight years. Congressman Hinchey has been a strong supporter and advocate for A.V.R.E. and the JWOD program for many years. He and his staff advocated for us in our efforts to have the House and Senate stationary stores abide by the law and carry products made through the JWOD program, including the A.V.R.E. file folders. The Congressman also worked on our behalf in having a government agency recognize that the jobs we create are good jobs and should be fully counted under another piece of federal legislation. He supported our efforts to gain Medicare coverage for vision rehabilitation services so that more people would be able to gain independent living and working skills. Most importantly, Congressman Hinchey understands the value A.V.R.E. brings to our community and the constituents in his district by serving people of all ages who have a vision disability. We were extremely pleased to present this award to Mr. Hinchey and have him join a small but growing number of elected officials who have been honored with a JWOD Champions Award. The JWOD Act was first passed in 1938 through the efforts of Senator Robert Wagner and Congresswoman Caroline O’Day and signed by President Roosevelt, all New Yorkers. The legislation was the result of years of work by Peter J. Salmon and Robert Irwin, both blind and national leaders in service to blind persons. They were assisted by M.C. Migel, a wealthy gentleman from Manhattan who had worked to help blinded veterans from World War I. Migel, Salmon and Irwin were also New Yorkers. The purpose of the law was to help create good paying jobs by allowing agencies like A.V.R.E. to employ blind people in the production of goods for the government. In 1971, Senator Jacob Javits, also a New Yorker, was able to amend the original Wagner O’Day act to include people with disabilities other than blindness and to also allow agencies to provide services to the government, just like the A.V.R.E. switchboard operation at the Mid-Hudson VA Regional Health Center. Hence, the JWOD program can be called “New York’s Gift to the Nation.” (Photo of JWOD Champions Award Presentation: John Kelly (NISH), Jim Gibbons (National Industries for the Blind CEO), Congressman Maurice Hinchey, Laura Gale (A.V.R.E. Industries Employee), Robert Hanye (A.V.R.E. President-CEO) and Richard McCarthy (A.V.R.E. Director of Program Services) First Accessible Signal Installed! By Erin L.W.K. Duguay, A.V.R.E. Orientation & Mobility Specialist We have a new arrival to the streets of downtown Binghamton: our very own Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS)! If you’ve been following the updates of this process over the past year and a half in our newsletter, you’ll know that education has been the key to this entire process: educating our professional staff, educating our city, educating and collaborating with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and our regional transportation planners (BMTS), and, of course, educating our consumers, our members, and the public at large. So what is an APS? An Accessible Pedestrian Signal is simply a more advanced pedestrian signal. Traffic engineers and planners put pedestrian signals at traffic lights to make our ever more complicated intersections as pedestrian friendly as possible. These signals are for pedestrians only, not vehicle traffic, and are familiar to most people. The many pedestrian signals installed throughout the Southern Tier differ slightly, but most have 3 phases: the “don’t walk” phase which is usually seen as a solid orange hand, the “begin crossing now” phase which is seen as a white stick figure, and the “don’t begin crossing” phase which is seen as either a flashing orange hand or a numerical countdown. An APS simply means that the pedestrian information described above that you can see, is communicated through a speaker so that you can also hear it. This feature is extremely important to someone who is blind or visually impaired. The latest version of the pedestrian button has a speaker attached to the button so that the pedestrian signal only has to be loud enough for the person standing beside the push-button. This first installation of an APS in Binghamton is at the downtown intersection of Court, Hawley, and Water Streets, though some may know it simply as the Boscov’s intersection. What is wonderful about this intersection is that not only does it have eight little speaker boxes at the pedestrian buttons for each crossing, announcing when to cross and when to wait, but it also has a number of other features which make it even easier for all of us to use the intersection. The first thing that most pedestrians notice after hearing the quiet tone summoning them to the pedestrian button, is that there are two separate wheelchair ramps at each corner, one ramp for each crossing. A separate ramp for each crossing means that the ramps can direct pedestrians into the correct crosswalk; there is no confusion about which way to go. To further alleviate confusion, there are two pedestrian buttons on each corner as well, each associated with a ramp, and mounted on a separate pole. These separate poles with their pedestrian buttons are placed right at the top of the wheelchair ramp that is directing pedestrians across the street to the other corner, again helping to reduce the amount of confusion about what button to press and what direction to face. Another complicating factor at modern intersections, especially for people with low vision or no vision, is determining exactly where the sidewalk ends and the street begins. To help with this, each wheelchair ramp has a bumpy mat or Detectable Warning Surface (DWS) at the base of the ramp which can be felt underfoot. Just to make sure a pedestrian doesn’t miss the end of the sidewalk, these bumpy mats help to alert each individual to the very well blended line between the sidewalk and the street. A last crucial consideration for all pedestrians is a clearly defined crosswalk. Not only does this intersection have big bold white lines to define the crosswalk, but between the lines is a contrasting color to further highlight the walking area and stamped concrete for cane users to feel with their white mobility canes. All of these great design characteristics, in addition to the audible pedestrian signals at each corner, make this intersection more accessible for all of us, but especially for our visually impaired neighbors. Work continues to ensure that all new intersection design projects within Binghamton include all of these helpful, pedestrian-friendly features. In addition, I have consulted with the Department of Transportation for improved pedestrian facilities in Owego (Tioga County) at the intersection of Routes 434 and 96. We will be sure to keep you informed about new APS installations and accessible designs in future newsletters, so stay tuned! Editor’s Note: Erin has been instrumental in the success of this first installation. She has worked as an advocate for these signals and as a consultant with the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study and City Traffic Engineers. We are very proud of Erin and all of her hard work, and congratulate her on this success. Technology News
Talking Signs It seems as though just about everything talks these days! From clocks and watches, to scales, to book readers, to pill bottles, these talking items are great for helping someone with little or no vision in the home or work environment. But what about outdoors or in public places? We’ve already been telling you about the new accessible, or audible, pedestrian signals (APS) that are being installed in Binghamton and other cities. Talking bank ATMs are cropping up in cities around the country. But there’s a new talking technology that is beginning to make its way into our world: Talking Signs. “Talking Signs” is an orientation and way-finding accessibility system that allows visually impaired travelers to locate and identify landmarks and signs using only a handheld receiver. Utilizing infrared light technology, the receiver picks up short signals that are sent from permanently installed transmitters. Each transmitter is programmed with a brief message that is decoded by the receiver into a voice message that is heard by the user. These transmitters can be placed nearly anywhere, both indoors and outdoors: bus terminals, airports, retail stores, banks, parks. Talking Signs, Inc. has successfully installed the system on public transit buses in Lansing, Michigan and Colorado Springs, Colorado. In Seattle, Washington, a Model Accessibility Project will be implemented that will provide a seamless talking signage path that will allow travel between buses, trams, and trains throughout the transit system. It is anticipated that the visually impaired population will be increasing as baby boomers age. They will rely more and more on public transportation and transit authorities across the country will be looking at Talking Signs technology to provide a means for them to remain travel independent. This system has wonderful potential for other applications, as well. You might walk into a building lobby and by pointing the receiver in different directions, you might hear “reception and information desk” or “stairs to second floor” or “elevators and public telephones.” Or imagine walking down a busy downtown street and hearing the identification of each store or business as you approach. The possibilities are endless!
Summer Work
Program Last summer, six young blind people were placed at various worksites in their communities. Some were placed at worksites that were career related and others were placed at worksites that provided them with career awareness and/or direction. A.V.R.E. is contracted with the NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped to provide summer work training to teens and young adults ages 14 and up. This work experience is important because it provides them with a level of self-sufficiency, increased cooperation and social responsibility, and contributes to career decision making. A 15-year old resident of Norwich in Chenango County, received work experience and prevocational training at the Christian Neighborhood Center (The Place Agency). She was a member of the Production Crew that made gift baskets at the Center, which were sold at the Farmers Market. In Broome County, a 19-year old spent the summer working for A.V.R.E.’s Industries Manufacturing division. He was responsible for various tasks, including folding and boxing file folders. A 15-year old in Cortland County worked as a Recreational Aide at the Brewster Adult Home in Homer, New York, where he was responsible for planning and setting up daily activities. His great travel skills enabled him to push wheelchairs, transporting the residents around the facility. In Chemung County, a 17-year old worked at Barton’s Adult Home where she washed dishes, set-up for breakfast and lunch, assisted in the laundry room, and aided the residents with their requested needs. A 21-year old Business Management student who resides in Chemung County worked at the Diary Barn, a family owned restaurant in Big Flats, New York. He was responsible for taking orders, maintaining the dining room, and washing dishes. A 23-year old Tompkins County Accounting major worked at the Challenge Community Center in Ithaca, New York. There, he was an Internal Auditor for the Challenge Center assisting with the development of the Medicaid and Medicare Billing System. The supervisors of each of these young folks reported that they were very pleased with their work ethics and wished they could continue working until the Fall. All gained valuable work experience and were delighted with their worksite placements. If you are a young visually impaired person who may be interested in gaining valuable work experience during the summer months, contact Debra Carson at 607-724-2428.
The World
Wide Web Occasionally we like to tell you about a website that we feel would be helpful and informative to people with a vision disability. This time, we are featuring a website and service titled “Blindline.” Blindline is a new information resource for New York State residents with vision loss and their families and friends. The website is fully-accessible with options available for changing the display colors and text size. It is well organized and easy to navigate. The Blindline database is a searchable resource that includes listings for more than 300 organizations and businesses providing programs and services for visually impaired people and their families. These include such things as: accessibility, audio-described movies, distance education, financial assistance, legal services, reading services, talking ATMs, and of course, vision rehabilitation services similar to those provided by A.V.R.E. There are listings for organizations such as: alternative media producers, cultural centers, museums, colleges, libraries, tourism, and many more. The database is a work in progress, and Blindline encourages users to let them know about any local services that should be added to it. Even if you don’t have a computer, you can still have access to this service. Calling a toll-free number will connect you with a trained, visually impaired Information Specialist who will assist you with your search. If a particular request cannot be found in the internal database, the Specialist will continue to research the subject and will inform the caller of any findings. To access the online database, go to www.blindline.org. The Blindline Call Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM. The number is 1-888-625-1616. Jobs Available at A.V.R.E.! The manufacturing division of A.V.R.E. has immediate job openings for people who are visually impaired. A.V.R.E. Industries offers: On-The-Job Adaptive Training; Competitive Wages; Flexible Hours (full or part-time); Excellent Benefits Package. If you are legally blind and want to be a part of the community workforce, call A.V.R.E. Manager of Employment and Career Services Debra Carson at 607-724-2428. Employee News A.V.R.E. Orientation and Mobility Specialist Erin Duguay recently received her O & M Certification from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP). In order to become certified, candidates must have specialized education, demonstrate a strong knowledge and skill base, and must pass the appropriate exam. Congratulations, Erin! Welcome Aboard! We would like to extend a warm welcome to some new employees who have recently come on board. Donnita Pearse has joined us in our switchboard call center at the Castle Point Campus of the Veterans Administration Hospital in the Hudson Valley. Al Karluk recently joined the staff as a Driver-Assistant to A.V.R.E. Rehabilitation Therapist Ralph Gedeon. Rolly Swan is our new product delivery driver for our Industries Manufacturing department.
Deb Performs
At The Mall On Thursday, October 5, 2006, A.V.R.E. employee Debra Foreman performed at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City,during the Assistive Technology and Health Awareness Expo. This event supported Disability Awareness Month, which takes place in October. Debra, who is totally blind, played the piano and serenaded the crowd with country music songs and religious hymns. She has been playing the piano for about 35 years and has been singing since the age of 15. As she played and sang, shoppers, by-standers, and mall walkers stopped to enjoy Debra’s pleasant piano playing. (Photo of Deb Foreman seated at the piano in the center court of the Oakdale Mall.) Additional photos of A.V.R.E. employees at their jobs in our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Photo 1: Debra Foreman, Nancy McGovern, Lewis Lysak, and Bill Decker are happy to be working in our bright, new Product Assembly room, where they are assembling Travel Kits for a New York City agency. Photo 2: The first Pressboard File Folders come off the assembly line on our first production day in our new building. John Reil prepares to insert two pieces of pressboard material into the Brackett machine, where they will be taped together in the first step of producing the folder. How Does A Blind Person Identify Money? The simplest way to identify the denomination of paper money is to fold each denomination in a distinct way, as it is received. For example, a one-dollar bill might be left straight; a five-dollar bill might be folded in half left to right; a ten-dollar bill might be folded in half top to bottom; a twenty-dollar bill might be folded in quarters. The disadvantage of this system is that the blind person may need to rely on family members or complete strangers to identify the bills’ denominations prior to folding. One solution is to utilize a Talking Money Identifier. This is a small hand-held device that verbally announces the denominations of all bills, from a one-dollar to a one-hundred dollar bill. The user simply inserts the bill into the device, then listens to the voice announcement. The cost of these money identifiers runs around $270 - $300. Identifying coins is much easier, as they can be distinguished by their size and the texture of their edges. A dime is smaller than a penny and has a rough edge, while a penny’s edge is smooth. A nickel is smaller than a quarter and has a smooth edge, while a quarter’s edge is rough. InSight is published quarterly by the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc. (Formerly Blind Work Association) 174 Court St., Binghamton, NY 13901. 607-724-2428 FAX: 607-771-8045 Email: avreinfo@avreus.org 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 ndividuals 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 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.” End of newsletter. |
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