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ASB Visions Newsletter |
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June 2005:
ASB's Drop-in-Center gets an extreme makeover
As it approaches its two-year anniversary, ASB's Drop-in-Center has been given a face-lift, expanding activities while enhancing existing programs. ASB created the Drop-in Center as a place for clients to enjoy recreational and educational programs and to socialize. An exciting part of the Center's expansion are special events held each month including a Diversity Luncheon, escorted trip for a shopping extravaganza at the Franklin Mills Mall, and June's indoor picnic at ASB's headquarters. "The group enjoys each other's company as well as the activities and the chance to do new things. I love seeing bonds of friendship being made as a result of our activities," said Larry Kinnie, Drop-in Center Supervisor. Kinnie has even added some new elements to the Center's two mainstay programs, BINGO and descriptive movies, to keep them interesting. For example, Grocery BINGO will be the main attraction at the center's indoor picnic where players will have the opportunity to win food supplies. Future activities include arts and crafts projects as well as plans to form an ASB choir that will go into the community to provide entertainment for local senior centers and schools. If you know someone who would like to join the Drop-in Center, call ASB Specialized Services at 215-627-0600, ext. 3245.
Special funding available for people who are deaf-blind Each year, the week of June 27-Helen Keller's birthday-is designated for Helen Keller Deaf Blind Awareness. Now, through a generous bequest, ASB has the opportunity to provide a better quality of life yearlong for individuals who are deaf-blind throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. Through a gift to ASB from the estate of Rosalie Gilles, the Gilles Estate Fund was established to help provide the latest adaptive devices to individuals who are deaf-blind or hearing impaired/visually impaired. These devices include mobility canes, amplifiers, hearing aids, specialized smoke detectors, braille note takers, writing guides, and talking and vibrating watches. For more information on The Gilles Estate Fund, call 215-627-0600, ext. 3297, or visit www.asb.org/services/gilles.htm. ASB Volunteers thanked for taking the time to care Collectively they dedicate more than 30,000 hours a year to helping people who are blind or visually impaired achieve greater independence. For taking the time to give of themselves, ASB's 200 volunteers were honored at the 22nd Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on April 20th at the DoubleTree Hotel in Center City.Patricia C. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer & President of ASB, welcomed everyone and thanked volunteers for helping ASB's clients have a better tomorrow, today. ASB volunteers serve as trip escorts, home visitors, radio and magazine narrators, copyholders, braille transcribers, and Drop-in Center assistants. ASB Rehabilitation Program graduate, John Curran, who was featured in the December 2004 Visions, spoke first hand about his positive experience at ASB and the importance of its volunteers. "ASB didn't give me my eyesight back," he said, "but I got my freedom back, and I owe all of that to the staff and volunteers at ASB." The keynote address was given by Bill McCann, Founder and President of Dancing Dots, a company specializing in braille music technology. McCann spoke about the importance of people helping people and how when we give help, we often receive something very special in return. "The good work you do gives something back to you. It teaches us how much we need each other," he said. Dr. Roy Fitzgerald, Chairman of ASB's Board of Directors, concluded the luncheon by thanking everyone for coming and for their dedicated service throughout the year. Deciphering myth from fact about your vision Myth: Wearing my glasses too much will make my eyes lazy.Fact: Although eye glasses and contact lenses can have a dramatic effect on helping you to see clearly, they cannot change the optical system inside the eye and so will not make your eyes either lazy or stronger.
Myth: Reading in poor light will damage my sight.
Myth: If you don't wear glasses, you don't need to have regular eye examinations.
Leonard Wolberg to its Board of Directors. Mr. Wolberg is recently retired from North American Subsidiary, a European-based Machinery Company, where he was the President & Chief Executive Officer. He has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cooper Union. He is a Big Brother for the Big Brother/Big Sister organization and has also served on the board of his local library. He and his wife reside in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Donate your CCTV to Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired If you or someone you know has a working closed-circuit television (CCTV) system that is no longer being used, please contact Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired. These devices-which use a stand-mounted or hand-held video camera to project a magnified image onto a video monitor or a TV screen-are a very effective way for people who are visually impaired to access regular sized printed text. Call ASB today at 215-627-0600, ext. 3278 to donate your CCTV! ASB changes client's outlook on life To look at Joseph Smith today you would never imagine that three years ago, a brain tumor had all but taken his life. But thanks to family intervention, a miraculous surgery, and rehabilitation and training from Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired, he has been given a new lease on life and a new positive outlook. In early 2002, Joe was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and was given only a few months to live. A successful accountant, Joe stopped working, donated his belongings to charity, and mentally prepared himself to die. Thankfully, Joe's family refused to give up on him, even after he slipped into a coma. A top neurosurgeon agreed to perform the dangerous operation to remove the brain tumor-and was successful. Rehabilitation for Joe has been a long journey. He had to relearn motor skills and how to do everyday tasks. Although his progress has been very good, he continues to have problems with short term memory and his vision, which became impaired as a result of the tumor. A friend referred Joe to ASB to deal with his diminished vision and he enrolled in Personal Adjustment to Blindness Training (PABT) in March of this year. "I wanted to once again be a productive member of society," Joe said. Joe successfully completed the PABT course and credits his training there with giving him the confidence to move forward and live a full life, which includes resuming his career. "Just being in an atmosphere with other people without vision doing stuff, inspired me to go further," he said. | ||
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| Copyright 1995-2003. All rights reserved. Associated Services for the Blind, 919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: (215) 627-0600 | Fax: (215) 922-0692 |
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