Blind since birth, Christina Brino spent eight years of her career developing self-help groups for people with vision impairment at St. Clare’s Medical Center. She then served 15 years as the disabilities coordinator for Morris County’s Office for the Disabled. After retiring, Brino volunteered with VLANJ as an apps group facilitator before the nonprofit hired her as a technology instructor. She is one of two instructors of the virtual Tech Talks monthly series. The Pompton Plains resident also volunteers for the Seeing Eye, which has provided her six guide dogs over the years, including her current one, a black Labrador named Shasta.
Jackie Millard had just completed teacher training following a 17-year career as a product manager at AT&T/Lucent Technologies when she lost her sight in 2004. Millard became a community volunteer, a leader of her church choir and a yoga instructor. AT VLANJ, the Long Valley resident learned screen-reader technology for computers and later how to use iPhone features and apps to assist her. Millard shared what she learned as a VLANJ volunteer, before she was hired as an instructor. Millard is part of VLANJ’s Essential Low Vision instructor team.
Susanne Sytsma worked 25 years as a registered nurse caring for patients in intensive care, neurology and oncology departments until vision loss forced her to retire. At VLANJ, Sytsma learned skills to regain her independence. The Jefferson Township resident became adept at technology and volunteered in the technology program. As an instructor, Sytsma conducts iPhone/iPad training for VLANJ in addition to teaching the virtual Tech Talks monthly series. The married mother of two and grandmother of an 8-year-old grandson counts Valdez, her Seeing Eye dog, as part of the family.