Shared Visions Spring 2009 Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired LOW VISION STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS SEMINAR – MAY 2, 2009 Join us for a free and informative low vision seminar with leading low vision specialist, Selma Chin, O. D., and your local service organizations. When: May 2, 2009 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Where: Foothill College Appreciation Hall – Room 1500 12345 El Monte Road Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 Please RSVP by calling 1-866-782-7330 Selma Chin, O. D. will present “How a Low Vision Exam can be Helpful to You.” Dr. Chin has been the Senior Low Vision Specialist with Vista Center for the past 18 years. She is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at UC Berkeley School of Optometry, working with optometry students as a clinical instructor in the Low Vision Clinic. She will discuss the various aspects of a low vision evaluation and its importance in measuring and improving functional vision. Aimee Gilmore, from A&E Low Vision Products will present " Why Assistive Technology Works and Types of Products Available". We will also hear a testimonial from an end-user of assistive technology. A Panel Discussion will provide helpful insights from agencies and services specializing in serving individuals with low vision. Panelists will include: · Lisa Lloyd, Foundation Fighting Blindness · Alice McGrath, Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired · Aimee Gilmore, A&E Low Vision Products · Mark Gibbons, Sterling Adaptive · Silvana Rainey, Adaptive Technology Services The event will include many exhibitors specializing in serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired and refreshments and door prizes will be included. The seminar is sponsored by the Silicon Valley Chapter of Foundation Fighting Blindness, Vista Center, A & E Products, and Enhanced Vision. Don't miss this informative and interactive seminar! For more information or to RSVP please call 1-866-782-7330. A DOGGIE FUN DAY AND ASSISTANCE DOG EXPO Our 5th Annual Woof-to-Woof fundraiser with free admission, ample parking and no registration fee will be on: When: Saturday, June 6, 2009 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Where: Skypark Soccer Complex 361 Kings Village Road Scotts Valley, CA 95066 New this year - An Assistance Dog Expo featuring training demonstrations by Guide Dogs for the Blind, San Rafael; Santa Cruz Guide Dog Puppy Raisers, and the partnership between guide dog and blind user. Also scheduled for live and video presentations: Canine Companions for Independence, Hearing Dogs, Dogs For Diabetics, and Search & Rescue dogs. There will be a special appearance by Jon Provost, who played Timmy on the Lassie TV series. Jon will help with some of the Master of Ceremonies duties and will judge a Lassie Look-alike Contest. There will be contests and parades with great prizes and vendors featuring services and products for dogs. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the event. For more information call Vista Center 831-458-9766 or e-mail wnwestman@aol.com or visit www.wooftowoof.com. PARATRANSIT SEMINAR AT VISTA CENTER Vista Center will host a meeting conducted by representatives from Outreach, the Santa Clara County Paratransit provider, and Redi-Wheels, the San Mateo County provider. The purpose of the meeting is to provide clients with updates and answer questions. When: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Where: Vista Center, Palo Alto Large Conference Room Please RSVP by calling Steve Nakagawa at Vista Center, 650 858-0202, ext. 123 or email snakagawa@vistacenter.org. SAMTRANS PARATRANSIT EVALUATION CENTER OPEN HOUSE The San Mateo County Transit District and CARE Evaluators invite you to an open house at the new SamTrans Paratransit Evaluation Center. When: Monday, April 6, 2009, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Where: 1166 Triton Drive, Suite 600 Foster City The facility will provide hands-on eligibility evaluation for Redi-Wheels and RediCoast applicants to assist their ability to access transit. The facility will simulate transit access, including a sidewalk, curb, crosswalk, traffic signal and full-size transit bus. Please RSVP by Tuesday, March 31 to Elly Colwell at 650-508-6241 or rediwheels@samtrans.com UPDATE FROM CALTRAIN On March 2nd, Caltrain introduced a new 8-ride Ticket to replace the current 10-ride Ticket. The new ticket is designed to be date stamped in the right corner by the validator rather than cut. The new ticket is in two parts, each good for four rides. The right corner of the ticket is validated, first on one side then the other, then the ticket is rotated and the process repeated until all four corners have been validated. Caltrain riders who are visually impaired may want to fold the right corner of the ticket after they have stamped it to know which side and which end has been validated. The fold should be small enough to permit the ticket to be inserted into the validator. The wallet-size, 8-ride Ticket retains many of the features of the 10-ride Ticket, including the discount of approximately 15 percent. Customers will still be able to purchase a monthly parking permit when they buy two 8-ride Tickets. Ten-ride Tickets purchased before March 2 will be honored for the full 60 days from the purchase date until April 29, 2009. Initially, the ticket will be both cut and stamped by the validator. After April 29, tickets will be stamped only. A short video showing how to use the new tickets, as well as the new timetable, is posted on the Caltrain Web site: www.caltrain.com. New timetables and information about the 8-ride Ticket is available on trains now. For additional questions please call San Mateo County Transit District’s customer service number: 1-800-660-4287. THE HEALTH LIBRARY Our set of ‘Pacs’ is being updated for 2009 with Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy leading the way. Other pacs in the set include RP, Cornea, Cataract and Glaucoma. The volunteer professional staff offers FREE health searches for all clients and their families. You can call or send a request any time to thl@vistacenter.org. or use the Vista Center phone numbers [see “how to contact us”] leaving your message in mailbox 132. We are on site Wednesdays 9:30a.m. to noon each week. All individual searches, pacs, and pieces such as “Braving the Low Vision Exam” are available in large print, text CD, audio cassette, braille or e-mail. The BIRD-Blind Interest Research Directory is in large print, braille, text CD and e-mail. Our Spanish pacs are in large print, text CD or e-mail. For those with individual or family/friend access to e-mail, our monthly research lists: AMD- Retina, Glaucoma and Diabetes (twice a month) are a way to keep up with the active research on these conditions. The Health Library at Vista Center is a branch of The Health Library at Stanford. SOCIAL SERVICES INFORMATION and REFERRAL SERVICES around vision loss issues: For Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Benito Counties call 650-858-0202 and the following extension: Santa Clara ext. 180 San Benito ext. 128 San Mateo ext. 115 For Santa Cruz call 831-458-9766. CHOICES and CHANGES - Low vision education class: Choices and Changes is a four-week intensive education/ orientation program that is available to adults with visual impairments and their family members. The sessions, which are led by social services staff, address different aspects of rehabilitation and focus on the following goals: 1. Increase exposure to and awareness of services and equipment which will assist the participant in attaining the highest level of independence and quality of life 2. Increase safe and appropriate use of community facilities and services 3. Reduce social isolation and potential depressive or anxiety symptoms Each two-hour session features an intensive exposure to one aspect of rehabilitation, with opportunity for discussion, sharing of collective experience, and hands-on work with the equipment and techniques provided. Topics include understanding of vision disorders and legal blindness, daily living skills techniques and equipment, safe travel and use of canes, community education and recreation programs, understanding and managing emotional responses to vision loss, and use of technology to enhance communication. If you would like to register for a class, please call Palo Alto 650-858-0202 ext. 115, Santa Cruz 831-458-9766. SUPPORT GROUPS facilitated by Counseling staff: Seniors - Santa Clara County call Carolyn Dingman, 650-858-0202, ext. 131 San Mateo County call Jo Jaros, 650-858-0202, ext. 115 Under 65- call Lynda Johnson 650-858-0202, ext. 122. THE STORE AT VISTA CENTER The Store in Palo Alto is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For information call 650-858-0202, ext. 135. The Store in Santa Cruz is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For information call 831-458-9766. SAVE THE DATE – LOW VISION EXPO IN SANTA CRUZ When: Saturday, October 10, 2009 Where: Louden Nelson Community Center 301 Center Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 How to Contact Us Vista Center, Palo Alto 2470 El Camino Real, Suite 107 Palo Alto, CA 94306 650-858-0202 Vista Center, Santa Cruz 413 Laurel Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-458-9766 From the 408 area call 800-660-2009 From the 831 area call 800-705-2970 Web site: www.vistacenter.org