by Carly Eden Stokes | Apr 20, 2022 | Blog, News, Newsletters
A legally blind reverend offered advice on breaking the cycle of negative thinking. An English musician who lost his sight in his late 30s described how writing poems and lyrics helped him reclaim his purpose. A dietician specializing in diabetes gave tips to maintain well-being through healthy eating and exercise.
That’s a sampling of Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey’s speaker series, Achieve Resilience, Inspiration & Self-Empowerment (ARISE). More than 150 people have registered for the series, which kicked off last September.
“It’s about inspiring people with vision loss to persevere and rise up,” said VLANJ Vice President of Programs Elsa Zavoda. “We want people to feel they have no barriers to what they want to achieve.”
ARISE runs four times a year. It is one of several speaker series made possible by a nearly $16,000 grant from Atlantic Health System/ Morristown Medical Center for programs that support healthy aging.
Living Independently For Tomorrow (LIFT) is the online version of VLANJ’s effective in-person Essential Low Vision course. It provides basic training in daily life activities over three weeks. Strength Through Relationships, Insights, Values, Education (STRIVE) addresses mental health aspects of adjusting to life with vision loss.
VLANJ Voices Education Speaker Series is the newest offering, and has attracted more than 100 people, Zavoda said. For the inaugural webinar, an orientation and mobility specialist discussed tips and strategies for getting around. In February, participants learned about a national pharmacy devoted to patients with vision loss.
In addition to broadening participants’ knowledge, ARISE and the other programs “establish human connection, so people don’t feel alone and isolated,” Zavoda said. The virtual programs are especially beneficial to participants who lack transportation to the in-person classes in Denville and Ridgewood.
ARISE has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from participants. Dora Meler said the program motivated her and made her feel less alone. It helped her “remember that there are others out there experiencing the same life challenges as I am,” she wrote. “It’s important to continue to find ways to lead an independent life versus not venturing out of the comfort of my home.”
Michele Valuzzi said she related to David Steele, The Blind Poet. “As someone who has written poetry but hadn’t in a long time, I was inspired by Dave’s talk, and I started writing poems again,” Valuzzi said. “His life is a great example of resiliency because he doesn’t let his visual impairment hold him back or define him.”
Explore more of what VLANJ’s programs offer here.
by Carly Eden Stokes | Apr 20, 2022 | Blog, News, Newsletters
Five years after attending Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey’s technology program as a high schooler, 23-year-old Aaron Grimes now spends his Tuesdays teaching others without sight all the ways their iPhones can serve them.
“I like sharing my knowledge, and making someone’s life a little bit easier,” he said. Aaron was pre-school age when he became blind. He was born with both congenital glaucoma and aniridia, a genetic disorder that prevented his irises from fully developing, he said. Aaron doesn’t recall much about his sighted years, but has memory of colors. An infection that hospitalized him for weeks claimed all his sight except for a little light perception in his left eye. Aaron attended public primary schools in Jersey City, where he’s always lived. “When I was a kid, I didn’t feel included,” he said. While attending a high school for the blind in 2017, his rehabilitation counselor encouraged him to take classes at VLANJ.
“I learned how to use advanced apps on the iPhone,” he said. One of his favorites is Seeing AI [Artificial Intelligence], which reads documents, handwriting, and barcodes on products, and identifies denominations of money. With Be My Eyes, a sighted volunteer appears on video and provides assistance. Volunteers have helped Aaron adjust his thermostat and pick out clothing. For news, he turns to NFB-NEWSLINE from the National Federation for the Blind, which reads aloud articles from popular sources.
A quote in purple letters reads: “I like sharing my knowledge, and making someone’s life a little bit easier.” – Aaron Grimes
“I still use all of them,” he said. When VLANJ reopened in-person classes in September, Aaron began volunteering with the mobile technology program. He takes two Access Link buses to get to Denville, often spending two or more hours traveling each way.
On a recent Tuesday, Aaron was showing Susan, a student with glaucoma, how to use the VoiceOver app that reads what is on her screen. “Aaron is great! He really helps me,” she said.
Aaron is typically paired with an instructor in the morning, and then works one-on-one with a student in the afternoon. He is eager to teach advanced apps, but understands students need to know the basics first. Aaron also makes sure students’ iPhones have the latest updates. “They call me `Zippy’ because I’m fast,” he said with a laugh.
Aaron hopes more younger adults discover VLANJ, but for now, he enjoys helping the older participants. Volunteering with VLANJ has given him purpose. “I’m happy with what I’m doing,” said Aaron, who lives with an older brother and sister-in law. (His mother died 10 years ago.) “I like spending time here. It’s nice making friends.”
Donations to Vision Loss Alliance can be made online at vlanj.org/donations or by mailing a check to Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey, 155 Morris Ave., Suite 2, Denville, NJ, 07834, ATTN: VP of Development and Communications Jennifer Singer
