WHAT'S NEW AT VISIONAWARE.ORG?

Vol 2, Issue 3, March 16, 2010

New Online Education Center

VisionAWARE always aims to bring you the best learning experience with our Online Education Center, and we're happy to announce the new Environmental Assessment and Modification course.

This advanced course, worth 15 Contact Hours, provides you with information about environmental assessment and environmental modification; the role of vision in exploring and interpreting the environment; lighting definitions and measurement; color and contrast; distance and time factors; signage and lettering; the principles of universal design; and appropriate assessment checklists and materials.

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

New Feature: Joe Lovett and His Passion for Advocacy

Meet advocate and filmmaker Joe Lovett, director of Going Blind, a new documentary film created to increase public awareness of blindness, vision loss, and the vision rehabilitation system. Going Blind is also Joe's personal story of his struggle with glaucoma and his sometimes-difficult journey through the "secret world," as he refers to it, "of vision rehabilitation. Sighted people know nothing about it ... and they should!"

Read more stories like this one.

March is Workplace Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month

Employment with Blindness or Vision Loss

Whether you’re concerned about your own job situation, or are a parent or family member who wants to learn more about career options for young adults who are blind or have low vision, John Zamora, M.S., CDMS, an experienced Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, author, and teacher, can answer these questions – and more – for you. Select this link to learn about Employment with Blindness or Vision Loss with John Zamora.

Employment and Workplace Adaptations for Adults Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

Is vision loss beginning to affect your job performance? Is it becoming difficult to travel to and from your workplace? Do you want to learn more about your legal rights? If these are your concerns, be assured that you don’t have to face these challenges alone.

Select this link to learn more.

Starting a Career: The School to Work Transition

Now that you’re nearing the end of your formal education, are you beginning to worry that your vision loss might prevent you from succeeding in today’s competitive job market?

Select this link to jumpstart your career!

March is also National Blindness Prevention Month & Save Your Vision Month

And we've compiled a great collection of self-help and independent living resources to help get you up to speed:

• A great place to begin is with our story, titled, A Day On the Road with Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Stephanie Stephens Van. Stephanie is employed by a large state rehabilitation agency and provides vision rehabilitation services to adults in their homes.
• 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 about which Eye Examinations & Questions You Should Ask for yourself or a loved one.
• Of course, knowing which questions to ask is no help if you can't find an eye doctor. This is why we provide resources on How to Find an Eye Doctor in Your Area.
• What is an ophthalmologist, an optometrist, an optician, an orthoptist? Select this link to learn more about these terms and what they mean for your personal vision care.
• What is the difference between a vision screening and an eye examination? Visit this link to learn about vision screenings and eye examinations.
• If an individual has one or more eye disorders, such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy, it's important to have a low vision examination. Select this link to learn about low vision examinations and what they mean for you.
• Low vision optical devices, such as magnifying reading glasses, magnifiers, and small telescopes, are different from regular glasses and magnifiers. Learn more about them by selecting this link.
• Low vision non-optical devices can include adaptations such as supplemental lighting, absorptive sunlenses, and colored acetate filters. Select this link to learn about the most common low vision non-optical devices.
• What are Vision Rehabilitation Services? The term applies to a wide range of services that can restore functioning after vision loss. Learn more about them by selecting this link.
• Finally, VisionAWARE's searchable databases can help you Find State and Local Vision Rehabilitation Services in your area.

From Our Visitors

"Thanks for the help and literature. I've shared your 'Safety in the Home' Downloadable Resources and 'My Story' interviews with five local support groups. I showed them how they can use your information to give them different topics to discuss. Now the meetings aren’t BORING. Because of your literature, you’ve helped our support group learn a lot more." — Paul, Frog Town Support Group

What are people saying on Twitter?

• @abby_c: You are an excellent resource! Thanks!
• @SillyEz: Check out www.VisionAWARE.org for excellent resources for those who are blind and visually impaired.
• @blindperspectiv: The thing I like most about VisionAWARE is how comprehensive the site is. You really cover everything that someone needs to know when they're losing their vision. I appreciate that you focus on all levels of vision loss instead of specializing in either low vision or blindness.

Your Gifts Are Doubled!

Everyone remembers the Challenge Grant, through which Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation generously matched your gift, right? Well, they were so encouraged by your efforts to support our online resource center that they’ve extended the Challenge Grant and will now match all gifts to VisionAWARE by 100%!

Now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity. Donate Now to support VisionAWARE's self-help center for vision loss!

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.

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