Monday Mindfulness – social settings

Monday Mindfulness – social settings

How to be courteous in social settings with people who are blind or low vision?

Please talk to them directly, rather than to their companions, and talk like you would with other people.

It’s ok to still use words such as see and look. People who are blind/low vision will talk with you like everyone else, although they may not be able to make direct eye contact.

Losing some or all of your eye sight takes some adjusting to. Find out how we can help by reaching out to our program director, Linda Groszew by calling 973-627-0055 ext. 1312.

Facts about tears

Facts about tears

Eye Facts! 👁️👁️

Did you know eyes can’t start producing tears till they are 4 to 13 weeks old?

💧 Tears are produced in the lacrimal glands (tear ducts) that are in the outer corners of your eyelids. These glands produce tears from your blood plasma, selecting some components but not others.

💧 They play an important role in keeping us healthy. Tears keep the surface of our eyeballs clean and moist and help protect our eyes from damage.

Interesting stuff!

Eyebrows and eyelashes – what to know before your beauty appointment

Eyebrows and eyelashes – what to know before your beauty appointment

Tinting your eyelashes, micro-blading your eyebrows… with all these enhancements available to the general public, what are the actual risks?

Enhancing your eyelashes and eyebrows via tinting or adding extensions could cause problems with the eyes and affect vision, as they all take place so close to the eyes. Repeated exposures to chemicals in dies and glues could cause sensitivities. Accidental slip-ups can cause permanent corneal damage and more.

The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any color additives for permanent dyeing or tinting of eyelashes and eyebrows. The agency says permanent eyelash and eyebrow tints and dyes have been known to cause serious eye injuries, including blindness. Despite issuing warnings, the FDA cannot regulate salons. That job falls to state and local governments, which can have different rules.

Know the risks before booking that beauty appointment!

Tech Tuesday – winter session begins!

Happy Tech Tuesday! The winter session of our Technology Program starts today! 📱

Cellphones and iPads have made life easier with their new features like email, planners, social media, navigation systems, weather, and so forth…

Although most apps and features are not geared toward people who are blind or have low vision, there are many meant for just them – all of which this program teaches to the participants!

Did you know you can use your phone to program household electronics, vacuums, thermostats, and lights, just to name a few useful features? Pretty cool stuff!

If you’d like to find out more about our Technology Program, please email Linda Groszew, the Program Director, at 📧 lgroszew@vlanj.org, or call us at ☎️ 973-627-0055 ext 1312.

Monday Mindfulness – yield the right of way!

Monday Mindfulness – yield the right of way!

In all 50 states, the law requires drivers to yield the right of way when they see an extended white cane or guide dog.

Only people who are blind or have low vision may legally carry white canes. They listen to traffic patterns to know when to cross streets and to keep a straight line when moving around.

So remember to yield the right of way!

Sunglasses in the winter?

😎 ☀️ Gorgeous weather calls for digging out your sunglasses! ☀️😎

You should, however, keep them out for the rest of winter too. Studies show that sun exposure — regardless of season — may increase the risk of developing cataracts, snow blindness and growths on the eye, including cancer. Find out more in the article below!

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/winter-sun-eye-safety?fbclid=IwAR2whWZNJ9vHBYi_T3on4GjWZI-XiUi4n4ON1nZHOcIPIumnnd88Kfr3flc