Dear Friends,

Have you noticed the exciting changes on our website recently? Well, it's about to get even better.

We're making this your "self-help resource center for vision loss," and we think you deserve the best.

I want you to join us in this endeavor. From now through June, we're asking you to visit FirstGiving.com and enter "Associates for World Action in Rehabilitation & Education" in the "Find a Nonprofit" field. Then follow the prompts to set up your own personal fundraising page. With FirstGiving, you set the goals, call the shots, and become a leader in the VisionAWARE community!

Or you can take immediate action and donate now. Either way, your gift will be doubled between now and June 30, thanks to our Challenge Grant from the Readers Digest Partners for Sight Foundation. And if you have any questions about how to set up your FirstGiving page, you can contact our technical support by selecting this link.

Friends, let's do this together. This is our opportunity. Thank you!

Anne Yeadon

Executive Director

New Feature: Meet Kathy Zubrycki, Director of Training and Admissions at Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Meet Kathy Zubrycki, Director of Training and Admissions at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, New York. Learn how Kathy’s love of animals and a chance meeting with Morris Frank, the first person in the United States to work with a guide dog, led to her lifelong career as a guide dog trainer, teacher, administrator, and world traveler. As Kathy says, "That was 34 years ago, and I’ve never looked back!"

Read more stories like this one.

New Content: Home Repair, Home Mechanics, Car Repair, and Carpentry

We all view home repair and home mechanics differently: It can be a hobby, a means of relaxation, or a necessary but unwelcome chore! Learn about adaptations and organizational tips for basic home repairs, simple carpentry, and basic auto maintenance.

Use our extensive resources to learn more about recreational activities, sports groups, and cultural events for people who are blind or have low vision.

There are many associations that serve the recreation interests of people who are blind or have low vision. Select this link and check out our lists of Recreational Activities, Sports Groups, and Cultural Events for People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision.

VisionAWARE also offers resources for Sports and Exercise Activities and Adaptations for People with Vision Loss.

Just as with annual physical examinations, it's equally important to have regular eye examinations. An annual eye examination is appropriate for most people. Learn more about Eye Examinations & Questions You Should Ask

And are you having trouble finding an eye doctor in your area? Please visit our section on How to Find an Eye Doctor in Your Area. But before doing that, you may need to research the kind of professional you need, which is where our Different Types of Eye Care Professionals page comes in handy. Finally, once you know where you're going, it will help to know what kind of eye examinations are out there. Visit The Difference Between a Vision Screening and a Full Eye Examination, to learn more.

April is National Minority Health Awareness Month

Did you know that African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes? Learn the facts about diabetes and diabetic retinopathy from Debbie Sokol-McKay, OTR/L, CVRT, CDE, CLVT, a vision rehabilitation therapist, diabetes educator, low vision therapist, and licensed occupational therapist.

• A great place to begin is with What is diabetes?.
• Next, visit one of our more popular pages, What is the difference between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia?
• Diabetic retinopathy usually has no early warning symptoms, but there are ways to detect it which you can learn about at How can I detect diabetic eye disease?.
• Research has shown that maintaining blood glucose levels within an acceptable range can lower and delay your risk for complications. Learn more at How you can manage your diabetes.
• Visit and explore VisionAWARE's comprehensive list of Publications, Organizations, and Support Services for Adults with Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy.

Our AWARE Online Education Center is still going strong, and registration is still open! Learn more about vision loss, low vision and vision rehabilitation.

Courses are designed for health care and social service professionals, including social workers; occupational therapists; community advocates; recreational specialists; and personnel in independent living centers, senior centers, long-term care, assisted living communities, veterans’ centers and hospitals.

Select this link to learn more: http://www.awareusa.org/education.html

From Our Visitors

“Thank you for your newest VisionAWARE newsletter. It was spectacular! I have been trying to find a way to put on eyebrows, ever since I was diagnosed with AMD. The whole list of ordinary things to use was one of the most gratifying articles I've read in a long time. Thanks so much – you deserve a BIG round of applause as well as a BIG HUG!!” — Ruthe Stricker, St. Peters, Missouri

“I really enjoy the AWARE Online Education Center. It is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the eye itself, how it functions, and the different types of vision loss. I have recommended this site to our instructors and other staff members as well.” — Kathy Zubrycki, Director of Training and Admissions, Guiding Eyes for the Blind

“I direct a ton of family members of my clients to VisionAWARE. They really appreciate all the information on there and the way it is in a format and words that they can understand. Thanks for that!” — Jennifer Throop, M.S. CVRT, Director of Services, Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind

What are people saying on Twitter?

@abby_c: I was talking about your site with a co-worker today, and we both think your site is the best when it comes to vision info!

About Us

Associates for World Action in Rehabilitation & Education (AWARE) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit social service organization. VisionAWARE is a "Self-Help for Vision Loss" web site that includes Questions & Answers on a wide range of topics, including eye diseases and disorders, home management, home modification, reading and writing, personal care and grooming, recreational activities, crafts, braille, computers and technology, and helpful services and resources.

For more information, e-mail Maureen A. Duffy, Editorial Director, or Anne Yeadon, Executive Director.

VisionAWARE is made possible through the generous support of
    

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