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Healthy Vision 2010
VisionAWARE is a member of the Healthy Vision Consortium: organizations committed to the eye health of all Americans
Are You AWARE? Nov. 2007
Vol 1, Issue 6, November 2007
Nancy's Special Holiday Newsletter with Gifts for Everyone
Maureen A. Duffy, Editor
maureen.duffy@visionaware.org
IN THIS ISSUE...
A Message From Our President, Anne Yeadon
Greetings VisionAWARE readers and welcome to the holiday season! This is a time when many of you will be preparing for celebrations — whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Eid-al-Adha — and recalling special holiday memories. VisionAWARE is pleased to join the celebrations with our Special Holiday Issue, featuring gift ideas for your family, friends, and relatives who are blind or have low vision.
Nancy Paskin, M.Ed., CVRT, the guest author of this Special Issue, will be familiar to those who read "Nancy's Corner" in each issue of our newsletter. Nancy is Past Chair of the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Division of The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) and is the current editor of the Division's newsletter, RT NEWS. Nancy is well recognized for over 30 years of her contributions to the fields of vision rehabilitation therapy and vision impairment. She truly "glows" (with eyebrows raised!) when she shares her experiences as consultant to Al Pacino in the Oscar-winning film Scent of a Woman. Her other claims to fame include numerous lifetime achievement and national vision rehabilitation awards. Thank you, Nancy, for sharing such a wealth of ideas for this holiday season.
Several weeks ago, we launched another interview in our "My Story …" series and invited you to meet Vivian: Diagnosed with Diabetes. Twenty years ago, Vivian was shocked to realize she "was falling prey to diabetes." Ten years later, she was
"…diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. I was not prepared for vision problems. The doctor who first treated me for diabetes didn't mention that I needed to take care of my eyes. He didn't suggest that I should go and see an ophthalmologist every year for a checkup. I don't think too many people know that you can lose your vision to diabetes. I've heard of people who have had legs or other limbs amputated, but I didn't know it could affect your eyes."
You can read more about Vivian's tenacious and inspirational journey at My Story: Vivian.
On another upbeat note, VisionAWARE has just celebrated its first anniversary! On a personal level, I'd like to give special thanks to you, our readers, for supporting AWARE's new web site-VisionAWARE.org. As a non-profit charitable organization, we also give thanks to the major commitments made by Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation and our team of dedicated professionals: Maureen Duffy, Editorial Director; Betsy January, Technical Director; Sandra Combs, Web Technologist; plus Nancy Paskin and the other loyal members of the VisionAWARE team. As hectic, challenging, and rewarding as our first year has been, we're eager to enter 2008 with an exciting range of new information and services. Join us — and tell your friends and colleagues too-and from all of us here at VisionAWARE, we wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!
All good wishes, Anne Yeadon, President, AWARE anne.yeadon@visionaware.org
News From VisionAWARE.org
Newsletter News
In 2008, the Are You AWARE? Newsletter will be published in March, June, September, and December, and "special issue" topics will include glaucoma, cataracts, and the use of the white cane for mobility. If you have suggestions for resources, medical updates, or personal stories, write to Maureen Duffy, AWARE's Editorial Director, at maureen.duffy@visionaware.org.
A New Interview in "My Story …", the VisionAWARE Interview Series
Our second interview features Vivian, age 78, who was diagnosed with diabetes 20 years ago, and with diabetic retinopathy 10 years later. You can read more about Vivian's journey at My Story: Vivian.
The VisionAWARE Craft Book
A reminder! If you're interested in a print (hard copy) version of our craft publication, please send an e-mail to anne.yeadon@visionaware.org.
Reader Feedback
"The September special diabetes issue of Are You Aware? is wonderfully crafted, full of useful information, and up-to-date. Thanks to Debbie Sokol-McKay for her fine writing." ~ Stephanie S. Van, MA, RT
"I am writing from Vision Loss Resources, Minneapolis, Minnesota regarding your on-line newsletters. We highly recommend your web site to people in the community that we serve concerning their vision loss and diabetes as a resource to aid and manage their vision loss and diabetes. The September special issue about diabetes is wonderful! I notice you can download your newsletters in PDF form as well as a large print form." ~ Nancy Yodsing, Vision Loss Resources
"I happened upon the VisionAWARE web site and found it to be an excellent resource. Easy to read, great usable information, and the more I read, the more I wanted to read to see what was next (and how I could apply these tips and information). I have subscribed to the Are You Aware newsletter." ~ Deborah Ellis, Southside Virginia Training Center
At First Sight: Fine and Fashion Braille Jewelry |
At First Sight promotes braille literacy within the blind and sighted communities by offering unique, handcrafted fashion jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants, and one-of-a-kind items: |
Silver drop braille and stone earrings |
Bleeding Heart Initial Earrings in sterling silver are adorned with semi-precious stones and braille initials — "for everyone who has ever had her heart broken." $40.00. |
Silver and beaded braille bracelet |
The handmade beaded Blind Faith Bracelet in sterling silver is available in reds, pinks, purples, blues, greens, ambers, oranges, bronzes, blacks, grays, and creams. $175 |
Silver braille ring |
The Follow Your Dreams Spin Ring in sterling silver has a moving braille band that fits over a stationary inner ring. $60.00. |
Christiansen Designs
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The Braille Collection for men and women includes sterling silver and gold pendants, earring, pins, rings and cuff bracelets, and men's key chains, cufflinks, and tie tacks: |
Silver brailled cuff bracelet |
The Live Laugh Love Cuff Bracelet is available in heavy gauge sterling silver for $55.00 (3/8" wide) or $70.00 (5/8" wide). Personalization is $20.00 extra. |
Silver brailled triangular dangle earrings |
The Harmony/Serenity Earrings are available in sterling silver for $55.00 or 18-karat gold electroplate over sterling for $70.00. |
Square brass brailled key chain |
The Solid Brass Key Chain can be personalized with up to seven braille characters. $40.00. |
Future Aids — The Braille Superstore |
Braille novelties include key chains, pins, bracelets, letter openers, bookmarks, magnets, and holiday ornaments. |
Front and back of metal pocket token with rose |
Braille Pocket Tokens feature an engraved tactile design on one side, backed with a single word in raised braille dots. The "Love" token, engraved with a rose, would be perfect to slip inside a card for that special someone. Additional designs include "Friend," "Faith," and "Lord." $1.95 each.
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Children's Silicone Wristbands and Adult Silicone Wristbands are available in a variety of colors and print/braille words and phrases, including "Cool," "Best Friends," "God Loves You," "I Feel Lucky," "No Doubt," "Social Butterfly," "Braille Is Cool," "Make A Difference," and "One World." $1.49 each. |
National Braille Press |
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Silver beaded and brailled stretch bracelet |
Braille Alphabet Bracelets are available in either silver or gold tone metal. Each bracelet is composed of individual tiles, separated by plain spacers on a stretch band. Each tile represents a letter, with braille on the front surface and engraved Roman type on the back. $35.00. |
Figural Jewelry |
Figural jewelry (especially animal and nature designs) with distinctive tactile features can be interesting alternatives to braille jewelry for the gold and silver connoisseurs on your holiday list. |
Aquamarine stone with diamond bird |
The Jean Schlumberger Bird on a Rock Brooch is an emerald-cut aquamarine, carat total weight 106.94; set with round brilliant diamonds, carat total weight 2.73, color grade G, clarity grade VS, 18-karat gold and platinum. Go ahead — splurge. She's worth it! $79,000. If the Bird on a Rock Brooch is a bit beyond your budget, Tiffany & Co. also offers a wide range of decorative (and tactile!) brooches in sterling silver, gold, and platinum, beginning at $275. |
Silver penguin brooch |
Original designs, "crafted one at a time, by hand." Offers a wide selection of 14-karat gold and sterling silver figural and tactile animal jewelry , bracelets , brooches , necklaces , and seasonal jewelry . The Penguin Brooch is available in sterling silver for $55.00 or 14-karat gold for $265. It's perfect for the penguin lover on your holiday gift list! |
Gold maple seed drop earrings |
Offers an extensive selection of 14-karat gold and sterling figural and tactile pieces, including penguins, lovebirds, snowflakes, shoes, seahorses, fish, shells, cats, dogs, pumpkins, raspberries, and strawberries. Surprise your favorite nature lover with these Maple Seed Earrings , in sterling silver for $55.00 or 14-karat gold for $258. |
Braille-T-Shirts |
And returning to braille-themed gifts, consider a unique, custom-designed braille T-shirt for a friend or family member. Every purchase helps to promote braille awareness and the use of braille for children and adults. |
Bronwen Tagoe wearing a Braille-A-Wear T-shirt |
Wearable, fun embroidered clothing, including T-shirts, tote bags, hats, and bibs, created by Deb Kersey-Tagoe and her daughter Bronwen Tagoe. Phrases include "Blind People Do It In the Dark," "Braille Is Beautiful," "Dots Talk," "Cane or Canine: That Is the Question," and "Oy Vey." Prices range from $8.50 to $29.00. |
Purple brailled long sleeve T-shirt |
Hand-crafted men's, women's, and children's braille T-shirts use genuine Swarovski? crystals or metallic studs as braille dots. Standard grade two contracted braille phrases include "Brailliant," "Braille is cool," "Can you see me now?" "Can't touch this," and "Feel the love." Also available in grade one braille. Prices range from $12.95 to $29.95.
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Create your own custom-designed braille T-shirt or hoodie. Choose your word or phrase (a maximum of 10 characters) and then select your T-shirt or hoodie style and color. Prices range from ?16.50 to ?34.50. |
Everyone likes to eat, especially during the holidays. |
These delicious sugar-free treats make thoughtful gifts for friends, family members, teachers, and business associates. Please note: Sugar-free items are not necessarily low calorie; in addition, individuals who have diabetes should always check with their physician or other health care provider before consuming sugar-free candy, cookies, or other food items. |
James' and Bayard's chocolate and cookie gift basket |
James' Candy and Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy Sugar-free selections include Salt Water Taffy , Boardwalk Fudge , Bayard's Assorted Chocolates , and James' and Bayard's Gift Baskets . Prices range from $9.99 to $59.99. |
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Sugar-free selections include Fruit Slices, Fudge, Chocolate Cherries, Hand Rolled Truffles, and Almond Chocolates. Prices range from $11.00 to $40.00. |
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Sugar-free selections include Peppermint Patties, Pecan-Almond Crunch, Old-Fashioned Cookies, Fruit Delights, and Peanut Butter Cups. Prices range from $12.99 to $29.99. |
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Sugar-free cookie and brownie gift baskets include the Tartan Plaid Gift Tower ($42.95), Bakery Sampler ($59.95), and Winter Gift Tin ($44.95). |
And who doesn't love chocolate?
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These hand-crafted chocolate braille treats are perfect for anyone on your holiday gift list. |
Happy Holidays braille chocolate bar |
Chocolate braille plaques embossed with "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." $10.95 each. |
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Embossed with one of 13 assorted braille greetings, including "Merry Christmas," "Happy Chanukah," and "Happy Holidays." $5.00 each. |
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Make your own chocolate braille greetings cards. Phrases include "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." $4.95 each. |
It's cold outside (and inside, too)! |
These useful — and thoughtful — gifts can take the chill out of cold winter days and keep your friends and family members safe in icy weather conditions. |
Glittens all-in-one gloves and mittens; credit |
"Glittens " are all-in-one gloves and mittens that keep your hands warm while allowing you to use your fingertips for handling keys, papers, debit cards, and other small items. Flip the top back for access to the task at hand, and flip it closed again to warm your hands. Black only. One size fits most. $15.00. |
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The Stow-N-Go Wristband Wallet has a built-in zippered pocket to keep cash, credit cards, and keys handy. The soft fleece wristband will also keep you warm during outdoor activities. |
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Pocket Traction Pro treads worn over boots |
Pocket Traction Pro provides safer walking in snowy or icy conditions. Heavy-duty natural rubber and 1.4 mm coils of high strength steel are like tire chains for your feet that fit over the soles of your boots or shoes. Sizes S, M, L. $29.95. |
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And don't forget Spot (or Lucky or Rocky or Buddy or Sparky)The LED Dog Collar has flashing lights and bright reflective trim to make your dog more visible during evening walks. Has a 50-hour battery life. Sizes S-XL. $15.95. |
Let there be light!
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Consider a functional, stylish lighting gift for a friend or family member who has low vision: |
Dual beam flashlight |
First Street — For Boomers and Beyond The Nightlighter Flashlight contains two distinct light sources (bright white 5mm LEDs) that work together to provide wide-area illumination and coverage. One light source shines on the area ahead, and the other illuminates the ground near your feet. $29.95. |
Avid Reader Natural Light Desk Lamp with white shade |
Gold Violin — Helpful Products for Independent Living The Avid Reader Natural Light Desk Lamp is a natural daylight lamp that can help make reading easier and more comfortable and reduce eyestrain caused by glare. An articulating arm directs the light where you need it, and the white linen shade helps focus light for reading. $70.00. Also available as a floor lamp for $120. |
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OTT Lite Vision Saver Floor Lamps Their high contrast, low heat, low glare illumination can reduce eyestrain and are helpful for reading and close work. Ott combines advanced lighting technology with sophisticated styling that is appropriate for any room in the home. Prices start at $129.95. |
Timepieces |
An attractive, well-designed talking, large print, or tactile timepiece is always a welcome gift. |
Fashionista Talking Watch with beaded stretch band |
Gold Violin — Helpful Products for Independent Living The Fashionista One-Button Talking Watch announces the time in a clear female voice. The beaded stretch band is available in abalone and black, crystal and gold tone, and crystal and silver tone. Has bold hands and numbers on a white or silver face. $60.00. |
Women's Braille Talk Gold Wristwatch |
"Braille Talk" Talking Watches provide the time in tactile raised dots and voice, and are available in women's and men's styles. Options include a gold tone or silver tone face, an expansion or buckle band, and one-button (time only) or four-button (time and alarm) controls. $69.95. |
Silver Atomic Watch with expansion band |
Offers a selection of Atomic Talking Watches, which automatically adjust for either Daylight Saving or Standard time. Available with an expansion or buckle band, black numbers on a white face, or white gemstones on a black face. All watches have a male voice. Prices range from $49.95 to $59.95. |
Talking Atomic Alarm Clock |
The Talking Atomic Alarm Clock automatically adjusts for either Daylight Saving or Standard time. Features include a female voice, high/low volume switch, an extra-long five-minute alarm, and large print numerals. $37.00 |
Audio and Electronic Gifts |
Audio and electronic gifts are always appropriate for a "techie" friend or family member |
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AudioVision Canada's online video store offers an extensive catalog of movies in DVD, VHS, CD, and cassette formats, all with audio description. Prices range from $29.95 to $199.95 for a boxed set. All cases are labeled in braille. |
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The VictorReader Stream Player |
The VictorReader Stream is portable, lightweight, and plays DAISY, MP3, and NISO formats. It has advanced DAISY book features, can play National Library Service downloadable books and book cartridges, and has a USB port to transfer books and music from a PC. $329. |
Olympus Digital Voice Recorder and accessories |
The Maxi-Aids Olympus Digital Voice Recorder with 512MB of memory provides approximately 136 hours of recording time. Features include optional voice guidance for easy navigation, high-quality audio book and MP3/WMA playback, a large LCD screen with white backlight for easy navigation, and storage for 200 messages per folder. $199.95. |
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A resource for electronic and talking gifts of all kinds, including the Talking Solar Powered Bible ($99.95), the TapMemo Voice Activated Personal Digital Assistant ($159.00), the Voice Recognition Talking Universal Remote ($74.95), and a large selection of singing and talking plush cats ($4.95 to $31.95). |
Educational — and fun — toys |
These educational — and fun — toys can provide hours of family entertainment for children (and adults!) of all ages: |
The Discovery Voice Changer VX-3 |
The Discovery Voice Changer VX-3 can change the pitch and sound of the user's voice at the touch of a button. Three voice options (amplify, echo, and robot) can disguise the voice to sound like a robot, an alien, or a monster. $17.95.
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The Electronic Hot Potato Game |
Toss and pass the Electronic Hot Potato Game from player to player until the music stops. The player left holding the potato collects a "potato chip" card, and the first player to collect three chips is out. Age 5 and older. $14.98. |
The Mindware Eyeclops |
Mindware: Brainy Toys for Kids of All Ages The Eyeclops uses a giant bionic eye to view everyday objects enlarged 200 times their regular size on any TV screen. A hand-held microscope plugs into the A/V jack of a standard TV. $59.95. |
Spilsbury Light-up Soccer Ball |
The Light-Up Soccer Ball, Light-Up Volleyball, and Light-Up Basketball are illuminated from the inside by powerful LED lights. All are regulation size, weight, and feel, and offer excellent grip and performance. Batteries are included. $14.88 each. |
The GeoSafari Talking Globe and Talking Globe Junior |
Young Explorers Creative Educational Products The GeoSafari Talking Globe teaches children about geography the painless way. Asks and answers 10,000 questions about world countries, capitals, cities, rivers, and oceans. Skill levels and answer times for each player can be customized. Also available as a GeoSafari Talking Globe Junior, with five world categories, two skill levels, and an explorer mode for guided world tours. Both models are $89.95. |
Especially for Cooks |
The cooks on your gift list will appreciate these well-designed kitchen items: |
First Street Oven Rack Guards installed on oven racks |
First Street — For Boomers and Beyond Cool Touch Oven Rack Guards protect against accidental burns from touching or brushing against hot oven racks. Made from a special NOMEX? fabric first developed for firefighters, they are safe for temperatures up to 500 degrees. Note: They are not intended for use under the broiler, during cleaning cycles, or to pull out a hot oven rack. $19.95 for a set of two. IMG: First Street Oven Rack Guard.jpg; right, caption: |
Maxi-Aids Talking Microwave Oven in white |
The Talking Microwave Oven II has 1000-watt output power and a 1.0 cubic foot capacity. All functions speak, and it also announces the current time, has nine one-touch cooking categories, and has adjustable speech volume. $369.95. |
The Sharper Image Auto Can Opener |
The No-Hands Auto Can Opener opens round cans of almost any size. It automatically travels around the edge of the can and cuts a smooth edge just below the rim. When it stops, the lid lifts off safely, without any sharp edges. Opens approximately 100 cans on 2 AA batteries (not included). $24.95. |
Books |
These unique gift books emphasize the limitless potential within all of us: |
Art Beyond Sight Book Cover |
American Foundation for the Blind Bookstore Art Beyond Sight: A Resource Guide to Art, Creativity, and Visual Impairment explores all aspects of art and creativity by people who are blind or visually impaired. Developed by Art Education for the Blind, this fully illustrated manual is the result of a decade-long international collaboration among researchers, art educators, teachers, psychologists, museum professionals, and blind and sighted art enthusiasts. Paperback, ASCII on CD-ROM, ASCII on floppy disk, $79.95. |
Seeing Beyond Sight Book Cover |
Seeing Beyond Sight is a book of photographs taken by teenagers who are blind or have low vision, and documents how educator Tony Deifell taught his blind students to take pictures as an innovative, multi-sensory means of self-expression. Hardcover, $24.95. |
All Children Have Different Eyes Book Cover |
All Children Have Different Eyes is an illustrated story book that empowers children with low vision to take on the social challenges of daily life, such as how to deal with bullies, explain their condition confidently, enter play groups, and handle mistakes responsibly. Each character has one of more of the following conditions: strabismus, nystagmus, albinism, cataract, myopia, ROP, and color deficiency. Activities in the back of the book help parents and teachers reinforce and support social skill development. Hardcover, 48 pages, $16.95. |
A Cruise or Vacation |
A cruise or vacation package is always a welcome gift at this time of year: |
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Outta Sight Travel specializes in vacations, cruises, and tours for people who are blind or have low vision. Outta Sight helps with planning destinations that accept service animals, procuring documentation, and providing travelers with itineraries and information in accessible formats. E-mail: drtravel@bellsouth.net. |
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Holiday Customs and Gifts |
And finally, here are some additional links that explain a range of holiday customs and provide appropriate gift ideas: |
| Hanukkah Gifts | How To Buy Hanukkah Gifts |
| Kwanzaa Gifts | How To Buy Kwanzaa Gifts |
| Facts About Eid-al-Adha | Islamic Gifts |
Nancy’s Hints
Are you looking for simple, low-cost (or even no-cost) solutions to everyday problems related to your vision loss? Have you discovered your own hint or tip that you’d like to share? If so, Nancy Paskin, VisionAWARE’s resident “hints” expert, wants to hear from you at info@visionaware.org. In this issue, we’ve assembled some of Nancy’s favorite hints on lighting.
In this issue, reader Mary Clark shares some favorite hints for organizing and identifying her earrings:
Dear Nancy,
I bought some clear 30-day pill organizers from the Independent Living Aids catalog and I put one set of earrings in each day. I had some black stick-on letters that I used to let me know what color is inside, such as R for red and P for pink. Hope this helps someone. This method has helped me and I shared it with my mother who also has age-related macular degeneration.
~Thank you, Mary, for that practical, low-cost (and terrific!) hint.
Tips for knife safety, care, and storage
Since many holiday celebrations (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Eid-al-Adha) involve food preparation, Nancy has assembled her favorite tips for knife safety, care, and storage:
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Never put sharp knives into the sink with other dishes, pots or pans; you could accidentally cut yourself with the uncovered knife blades when reaching into the dishwater. Instead, place your sharp knives in a memorable location near the sink. Wash knives separately, dry them, and put them away immediately.
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Keep a single-width utensil tray on the counter near the sink. Use it as a designated location to store your used knives until you wash them.
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Store your sharp knives in a knife block or a knife rack, or with a protective cover, such as a plastic or cardboard sleeve, over the cutting edge.
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Locate the serrated edge of a sharp knife by pulling the blade over the edge of a cutting board. The uneven, serrated edge will cause the handle of the knife to vibrate, whereas the dull side of the blade will glide smoothly.
You can read more about specialty catalogs at VisionAWARE. Also, be sure to look in our Question & Answer links for more information on Home Management, Home Modifications, and Personal Self-Care,.
Remember: E-mail your questions, hints or solutions to Nancy at info@visionaware.org.
Thought For The Day
"I call people rich when they're able to meet the requirements of their imagination."
~ Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady
Maureen Duffy, AWARE’s Editorial Director, can be reached at maureen.duffy@visionaware.org.
You can view and download previous newsletters at Are You AWARE? Newsletter Archive.
AWARE is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit social service organization. Your donation can help us continue to provide self-help vision rehabilitation hints and disseminate information on services and independent living resources to individuals with vision loss, their family members, and those who work with them.
VisionAWARE | About Us | Contact Us
Maureen Duffy, Editor, can be reached at maureen.duffy@visionaware.org.
?2007 Associates for World Action in Rehabilitation & Education (AWARE)
P.O. Box 96, Mohegan Lake, NY 10547, 914.528.5120
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