by admin | Jan 4, 2019 | Blog, News
January 4 marks a special day in the world of blindness. It is the birthday of Louis Braille, educator and inventor of a system of reading and writing for use by people who are blind or low vision, known worldwide as Braille.
Thus, today is celebrated as #WorldBrailleDay, to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people.
Interested in learning Braille or know someone who could benefit from learning it? Get in touch with us by calling 973-627-0055 ext. 1312.
by admin | Sep 19, 2018 | Events
Join us on October 25 as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary with our second Dining in the Dark gala event. Sponsorships and tickets are still available. For more information contact Jayson Daniels, Director of Development, at (973) 627-0055 ext. 1323 or jdaniels@vlanj.org
We will be honoring President and CEO of MyLimo and Gogel Auto
Howard Gogel
and
Bruce Van Buskirk
for their support of Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey.
Our emcee for the evening will be
Joyce Estey
News Director of WRNJ Radio
Cocktails and silent auction 6:00pm
Dinner and program 7:00pm
Cocktail Attire
For information on event sponsorships or to reserve your spot in our ad journal, download the brochure here.
by admin | Jul 11, 2018 | News, Press
Vision loss is a serious problem that will continue to grow as the population ages and cases of age-related eye diseases increase. Blindness and vision loss currently affect more than 160,000 New Jersey residents, and nationwide, the number of people affected is expected to double to more than 8 million by 2050, according to the National Eye Institute.
Throughout our 75-year history, Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey has been a thought leader in the programs and services offered to those with profound vision loss. What began as a summer residential camp for blind women has grown into an organization that offers unique state-of-the-art programs. Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey has been ahead of its time every step of the way.
Through our programs and services, in 2018 we:
- Provided vision rehabilitation, technology and peer support programs to 225 individuals
- Educated and trained 1,000 individuals in our outreach program
- Launched a Low Vision Continuing Education course for occupational therapists
- Launched Low Vision Occupational Therapy Services to help individuals maximize their functional vision, and which is approved by Medicare, Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and United Healthcare, with Cigna pending
If you need help call us at (973) 627-0055, ext 1312, email us at info@vlanj.org, or visit us at 155 Morris Ave, Denville NJ.
by admin | May 30, 2018 | News
Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey recently added low vision occupational therapy to its services, offering one-on-one sessions at its Denville location to help adults losing their sight learn adaptive skills and optimize their remaining vision.
“Vision loss doesn’t mean life has to stop. People dealing with it have to adjust and adapt, learning to do things differently,” Vision Loss Alliance Program Director Elsa Zavoda said. “Through occupational therapy, adults can learn tools and strategies to engage in the activities they enjoy.”
Adding low vision occupational therapy is a natural extension of Vision Loss Alliance’s offerings, Zavoda said. For 75 years, the nonprofit has been empowering adults with vision loss through group classes that teach skills for independence and help participants improve their physical and emotional health.
“This service will help fill an unmet need for an underserved and growing population in New Jersey,” said Zavoda, one of only two occupational therapists in New Jersey certified in low vision by the American Occupational Therapy Association. More than 160,000 New Jersey residents are either blind or have severe vision loss, and that number is expected to increase as the population ages. Adults age 60 and over make up 20 percent of the state’s residents, but that percentage is projected to grow to 26 percent by 2030.
One of the program’s major goals is to teach people how to maximize the vision they still have, she said. Zavoda will assess participants’ current vision and life circumstances to help prioritize their goals for therapy. “It’s a very self-directed course, individualized to each person, she said.
Occupational therapy participants will attend hour-long sessions weekly or biweekly, Zavoda said. The program covers “anything in a person’s life that is affected by their vision loss,” Zavoda said. That includes home safety, cooking, grooming, medication management, paying bills, reading, appropriate lighting, watching television, and using the computer. Most participants will complete the therapy in four to six sessions, she said.
Low vision rehabilitation services are covered by Medicare and private insurances. Vision Loss Alliance helps those interested determine if their policy covers the service.
by admin | May 28, 2018 | Program
My name is Kath and I lost my sight in 2009 to Diabetic Retinopathy. I got my first glimpse of the value of Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey’s tech program a few years ago while enrolled in the organization’s Better Health and Wellness program in Montclair.
I was using a flip phone at the time and couldn’t imagine any reason for switching to an iPhone. My phone allowed me to dial numbers vocally, and really, what more did I need?
In the Better Health and Wellness program, I was surrounded by classmates whose knowledge and wisdom I admired and trusted. I heard them using amazing applications. The first app that really grabbed my attention was one called “BlindSquare.” It worked in a manner similar to that of a GPS in a car, but this one enabled a blind or visually impaired person to know exactly where she was standing on a block or in a mall! What freedom!! Another app that drew my interest was called “TapTapSee.” This one identified items photographed with the phone. Ah! The joy of finding peas in the can when you opened it, as hoped for.
I decided to sign up, buying an iPhone just before classes started at the Denville location.
The experience wasn’t easy at first. There I was in an unfamiliar space that offered a frustrating set of classes that had me wanting to throw the phone out the window — or at the least across the room. But I was surrounded by classmates who understood where I was coming from, and who both commiserated with me and taught me to laugh at the experience. I found teachers with enormous knowledge of these highly technical topics and even greater patience with people like me who were groaning students convinced they’d never learn.
Over time I did learn, and I went on to use the iPad and a Bluetooth keyboard. These days, I volunteer as an assistant teacher, where I get the great blessing of sharing in and cheering on my students’ successes!