ASB Visions Newsletter

• March 2004
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• June 2003
• February 2003
• October 2002
• June 2002
• March 2002
• November 2001
• July 2001
• November 2000
• June 2000
• July 1999

June 2000:

• ASB Volunteers "Lead the Way"
• ASB Client & Staff Visit the Opera
• ASB Plans 41st Annual Louis Braille Awards Ceremony
• Did You Know That ... Diabetic Retinopathy
• ASB Guide Dogs Honored by City of Philadelphia

ASB Volunteers "Lead the Way"
On April 13th, Associated Services for the Blind held its 17th Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel in Philadelphia. This annual event, honoring the Agency's dedicated volunteers, has become the highlight of National Volunteer Recognition Week.

This year's theme was "Leading the Way" which describes the commitment made by ASB's 200+ volunteers. ASB's CEO, Patricia C. Johnson, recognized the volunteer leadership role that ASB's Board of Director's plays through their volunteer activities.

This year's keynote speaker was Fox-TV 29's Good Day Philadelphia Anchor, Donya Archer, who herself was a volunteer reader for the blind in her home state of California. Archer praised the ASB volunteers for their achievements and applauded them for the dedicated years of service and hard work that she saw first-hand when she toured in March of this year.

Another highlight of the luncheon was an inspiring speech made by former ASB client Dwayne adams who described the encouragement and motivation he received as an ASB client. "The treatment I received really turned around my life," Adams said. "It was this positive experience that has led me to now serve as an ASB volunteer."

ASB Client & Staff Visit the Opera
ASB clients and staff recently had the opportunity to serve as opera critics for the Academy of Music and the Opera Company of Philadelphia's recent run of the opera "Tosca" which debuted in Philadelphia in late March.

Twenty-five blind and visually-impaired people attended a dress rehearsal of the acclaimed opera on March 23rd. Participants critiqued the performance in an effort to improve the quality of the opera experience for blind and visually impaired opera goers.

In addition to the dress rehearsal, lunch was garnished along with a detailed description of the opera set, costumes and a historical tour of the Academy of Music.

Following the show, a discussion was held to obtain feedback from those in attendance. Suggestions ranged from providing the program information in braille and large print, to offering live audio descriptions of performances.

ASB Plans 41st Annual Louis Braille Awards Ceremony
ASB is pleased to announce that the 41st Annual Louis Braille Awards Ceremony will be held on October 11th from 6-9 PM at The West Philadelphia Hotel located at 16th and Chestnut Streets in Center City, Philadelphia.

The honorary chairperson for this year's event will be Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) General Manager, John (Jack) K. Leary, Jr.

This year's honorees will be: Individual Award - Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner John M. Quain, who lost his sight due to macular degeneration at age 8; Special Recognition Award - ASB Board Member and Volunteer Constance Moore who has been a volunteer for the Radio Information Center for the Blind since 1980; and, Corporate Award - Glaxo Wellcome, an international pharmaceutical company that produces labels for their medicine bottles in both braille and large print. All of this year's award recipients have made remarkable contributions assisting blind and visually impaired people.

The Louis Braille AWards were established over 40 years ago to celebrate the accomplishments of blind and visually impaired people and the efforts of organizations promoting independence for those with visual disabilities.

To purchase tickets or for information on sponsorship packages for this event, please call 215-627-0600 ext. 3242. The deadline to place an ad in the event ad book is September 1, 2000.

Did You Know That ...
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that affects the blood vessels in the retina of people who have diabetes. It is a disorder in which small blood vessels in the back of the eye weaken and break or become blocked.

More than 40% of those suffering from long-term diabetes have some degree of this eye disease. Early treatment often saves eyesight, making it very important for diabetics to have regular eye exams.

Complications such as pregnancy, smoking and high blood pressure can worsen the condition. Treatment options include: photocoagulation, a laser treatment that targets problem areas; laser therapy to prevent abnormal blood vessel growth; and, vitrectomy, which uses a delicate surgical instrument to remove blood deposits and scars.

Early diagnosis and close observation are keys to the successful treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Visits to a qualified eye care professional play an important role in prevention.

ASB Guide Dogs Honored by City of Philadelphia
Drummer, Furrie and Sydney were the stars of the day on March 30th, as the City of Philadelphia joined ASB in celebrating the agency's 6th Annual Guide Do Appreciation Day.

The event was developed to recognize the gifts of independence, dignity and self-confidence that these talented canines give to their owners.

Approximately, one-third of ASB's workforce is blind or visually impaired. Of this number, five percent depend on the direction of guide dogs to assist them with their commutes.

Guide dogs are specially-trained to meet the needs of their owners. "Dogs are just like people," says ASB employee, Sue Waters. "My dog Sydney is pretty mellow and very friendly. She makes a good workplace companion," Waters said.

If it were not for the hard work performed by guide dogs, some employees like May Davis would not be able to make the long commute alone. Davis, a 25-year employee of ASB, travels an hour each way to work by train with the assistance of her companion, Furrie.

The highlight of the day came when City Representative, Dr. Nancy Morgan, assisted ASB's CEO, Patricia C. Johnson, in awarding the special recognitions before the local media.

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