Vista Center

Welcome

Vista Center for the Blind
and Visually Impaired

Vista Center empowers individuals who are blind and visually impaired to embrace life to the fullest. Founded in 1936 by interested and inspired citizens of Palo Alto as the Palo Alto Society for the Blind, the Society was incorporated in 1945; in the 1970s the name was changed to Peninsula Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Today we are Vista Center, the premier resource for individuals with vision loss in San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Serving more than 1,900 clients and families each year, Vista Center helps clients reach their highest potential through programs that promote independence and improve quality of life.



News & Events

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The 2008 Northern California Regional Braille Challenge Event! 

This year's Braille Challenge was held on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco. 

 As many of you know, Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, formerly Peninsula Center, in Palo Alto, has hosted the Regional Braille Challenge contest for school-age youth who read braille.  This fun and rewarding event is a contest sponsored by The Braille Institute of America.

In 2008, Northern California Braille Challenge was an event that was planned through a partnership between Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired; and Society for the Blind.  Each year, the Northern California Regional contest will be hosted by one of  these three agencies.  The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco was the location for the February 9, 2008 event.

 

Vintage Affaire

Saturday, July 19th, in the gardens of a private estate in Los Altos Hills.

For Vintage Affaire 2008 information please visit  http://www.vintageaffaire.org.

Vintage Affaire, one of the largest wine auctions in California, and an event that has raised more than $5 million for Vista Center over the past 25 years.  Held on Saturday July 21st 2007, the afternoon included an elegant wine tasting with hors d’oeuvre pairings, a silent auction, and a live auction followed by a sunset gourmet supper in the garden. The wine and hors d’oeuvre pairings were prepared by local chefs and featured several of California’s top vintners. The auction items included wine lots from hard-to-find California vintages, first-growth French Bordeaux, and emerging vineyards from “Down Under.” In addition, there were tours and tasting events at Napa and Sonoma vineyards, and wine country dinners in Napa and on the Peninsula. The event is organized by the nonprofit Vista Center Foundation Board of Directors and is staffed completely by community volunteers. 

The Menlo Charity Horse Show

August 5 - 10, 2008

Menlo Circus Club in Atherton

The Menlo Charity Horse Show, one of the nation’s top horse shows, took place in August, 2007.   Horses and exhibitors came from all over the Western states, Canada, and Mexico to compete in the beautiful setting of the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton. Over the past 20 years, the Horse Show has raised more than $3M benefiting Vista Center.

 

For more information  please visit The Menlo Charity Horse Show website.

Low Vision Expo, Santa Cruz, CA

"Living and Coping with Vision Loss”

Date:            Fall 2008 To be announced

Time:             10:00 am – 2:00 pm          

Place:            Louden Nelson Center

                        301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA  95060

The Store at Vista Center


Our  store is stocked with a variety of products that can help  blind and visually impaired persons lead more independent lives. Among the items available are talking watches and clocks, large print calendars and address books, and magnifiers for reading small print. The store is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

New classes beginning soon

Vista Center runs a series of interesting and valuable classes and support groups for all ages throughout the calendar year. New classes are starting soon, including computer training, and Braille. Find out more about these and others in the services section of our website.



Programs

Vista Center empowers individuals who are blind and visually impaired to embrace life to the fullest. Our wide variety of programs and services promote independence and improve quality of life for clients and their families.

Low Vision Clinic

A person with low vision has difficulty accomplishing visual tasks, even with prescribed corrective lenses. Usually it is possible to enhance remaining vision by utilizing low vision devices and by making environmental modifications.

 In our Low Vision Clinic, specially trained low vision optometrists will carefully measure the client’s functional vision by using equipment, lighting, and techniques designed specifically for those with low vision.

 Appropriate magnifying devices and electronic equipment will then be demonstrated and recommended to allow the client to maximize the remaining use of his or her vision.

Clients will have the opportunity to try several low vision aids and equipment including:

 Our optometrist may also recommend other helpful services that are offered by Vista Center.

Braving the Low Vision Exam  (MS Word  42K)  

Why Glasses May Not Help  (MS Word  43K)                 

Enhancing Contrast  (MS Word 43K)

Instruction and Training Programs Vista Center offers a variety of training programs to help individuals develop independent living skills. Classes are offered on a regular basis throughout the year and all services are provided by well-qualified, highly trained staff. These include:

Choices and Changes

Choices and Changes is an educational class designed to help those with vision loss understand the life changes they are experiencing and recognize the choices they have that help to keep their lives fulfilling and productive. It includes information about:

The sessions increase participants’ exposure to and awareness of services and equipment that can help them embrace life to the fullest. Contact Jo Jaros at 650-858-0202, Extension 115 or email: jjaros@vistacenter.org for information about upcoming sessions.

Orientation and Mobility

Orientation and mobility training teaches clients how to travel safely and independently and include working with a client on crossing streets, using public transportation, walking with a guide dog, or other mobility needs. In addition, our instructors work with clients on school or workplace orientation.

Daily Living Skills

Daily living skills instruction helps clients with everyday tasks made difficult by the loss of sight. Clients become more independent by learning cooking techniques, medical management, diabetic management, housekeeping, and money management. Clients also benefit from having appliances 'marked' with raised dots to help them find the correct setting (e.g. 350° on the oven). These skills are typically taught in the client's own home.

Braille Classes

Vista Center offers introductory and advanced classes in Braille reading and writing. Both visually impaired and sighted students are welcome. Contact Paul Raskin at 650-858-0202, Extension 112 to enroll in an upcoming class.

Computer Training

Computer classes using access technology, allows students to learn something new and enjoy the company of others. Vista Center currently offers these computer courses in our on-site computer training facility:

A New World of Vision
An introduction to high-and-low-tech products for people who are visually impaired.

Basic Keyboarding
Learn the fundamentals of keyboarding skills.

Introduction to Windows
Learn how to control and navigate the PC.

Word Processing
Learn how to produce letters, resumes, shopping lists and more.

Introduction to the Internet
Surf the Web and send/receive e-mail.

Personal Financial Management
Manage personal and household finances using the computer.

Scanning
Scan, edit and read printed documents such as mail, books, and other publications.

Jaws
Learn to use the Jaws screen reading program.

Computer classes meet in the mornings or afternoons for 4 to 6 hours each week; each class runs 6 to 10 weeks. The fee is $100 per course. There are typically only 3 to 4 students in each class, so each student receives plenty of individualized instruction. Contact Carol Cyr at 650-858-0202, Extension 178 to enroll in upcoming classes.

Vista Center Youth Group

Our Youth Group engages in monthly events that are recreational or educational, and of special interest to blind and visually impaired youth.  Membership in the Youth Group is available at no cost to school children in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The Youth Group presents a tremendous opportunity for students and parents to meet with each other and with blind rehabilitation professionals. It also enables us to alert our students to other recreational, educational, vocational, and scholarship opportunities. A partial list of past events includes:

Kidpower

Kidpower International, based in Santa Cruz County, provided with an annual day of safety and self-defense instruction as a part of their international training program.

Music For All

Stanford University music students performed a special concert for our youth group and discussed their interest in music, offering suggestions to those interested in pursuing music as a hobby or career.

Surfing

Always popular, Ride-A-Wave, a non-profit organization composed of firefighters and police officers who enjoy surfing, spent a day with our Youth Group in Santa Cruz, teaching them to surf. After surfing, we enjoyed several hours at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Kayaking

Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC), a non-profit agency that teaches people with disabilities to engage in outdoor recreational activities, took our youth group kayaking around the San Francisco Bay with time to eat lunch at an isolated beach.

Holiday Ice Skating Party

Following two hours of ice-skating, our youth group and their families enjoyed food, music, games, contests, crafts, karaoke, and Santa.

This is a partial list. We provide Youth Group opportunities for children of all ages. For a complete list of events or for more information, please contact Paul Raskin at 650-858-0202 ext. 112





Services

Vista Center empowers individuals who are blind and visually impaired to embrace life to the fullest. Our wide variety of programs and services promote independence and improve quality of life for clients and their families.

Counseling and Social Services

Counseling and social services help clients and their families cope with the special problems that accompany loss of sight. Our experienced social workers visit clients in their homes, assess their need for services from the Center, and can put them in touch with other community resources.

Support Groups
Vista Center offers several monthly support groups facilitated by our professional counseling staff. Clients discuss strategies for managing sight loss, exchange information about resources, and discuss the feelings that often accompany loss of sight. Clients in support groups build a community, become more positive about their loss of vision, and are more likely to resume activities and accept other rehabilitation services. Current support groups include:

Sharing InSight
This group welcomes participants 60 years of age or younger.
Meeting date and time: Second Wednesday of each month, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Meeting place: Vista Center, Palo Alto
Contact person: Lynda Johnson at 650-858-0202, Extension 122   email:  ljohnson@vistacenter.org

Sharing InSight2
Meeting date and time: Fourth Wednesday of each month, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Meeting place: Vista Center, Palo Alto
Contact person: Lynda Johnson at 650-858-0202, Extension 122

Senior Support Group, Belmont
Meeting date and time: First Tuesday of each month, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Meeting place: Center for Independence of the Disabled, Belmont
Contact person: Jo Jaros at 650-858-0202, Extension 115

Senior Support Group, San Jose
Meeting date and time: Third Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Meeting place: Cypress Senior Center – Room 1, San Jose
Contact person: Carolyn Dingman at 650-858-0202, Extension 131

Information and Referral
Vista Center offers comprehensive information and referral services about local community, state or national resources available for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Contact Jo Jaros at 650-858-0202, Extension 115 with your questions.

The Store at Vista Center

Vista Center’s consumer store is stocked with a variety of products that provide practical solutions for adapting to life with vision loss. Products that we offer include:

If we don’t have what you’re looking for, our experienced and knowledgeable staff can help you find an Internet source and place an online order. The store is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. If you have questions about the products we carry, please call The Store at 650-858-0202, Extension 135.

The Health Library

Vista Center’s Health Library is an affiliated branch of Stanford Health Library, established in honor of Frances C. Arrillaga for people with vision loss and those who want to know more about it. The Health Library is designed to help address the needs of individuals with vision loss, with comprehensive information about:

The library is staffed by visually impaired volunteers trained in researching health-related questions. Our volunteers are equipped to provide information, not medical advice. Although they are happy to help clients research questions, we recommend that users contact their doctor or other health care professional when medical advice is needed.

The Health Library produces a weekly Diabetic Research e-mail newsletter compiled of research reports and excerpts from professional sources including Medline, Medscape, and Nature. Please e-mail The Health Library if you wish to receive the newsletter.

Health and medical information requests from anyone who cannot visit Vista Center for may be made by e-mailing The Health Library or by calling them with your questions at 650-858-0202, Extension 132.



Press

Press Inquiries

Vista Center welcomes press inquiries from reporters covering health and aging issues, services for the blind and visually impaired, adaptive technology for the disabled, and related issues. Please contact Executive Director Pam Brandin at 650-858-0202, Ext. 119 or Alice McGrath at 650-858-0202, Ext. 130 for story inquiries.

Recent Press Releases

Shared Visions client newsletter
Shared Visions focuses on programs and services for the blind and visually impaired. It is published three times a year and distributed to over 1500 Vista Center clients.

February 2008 (Word)

Insight community newsletter
Insight, published twice each year, offers Vista Center donors, volunteers and friends an overview of the agency activities and services, and profiles lives that are being changed because of them.

Fall 2006 Issue (PDF) | Winter 2006 issue (PDF)

Vista on Video

Our new video provides an overview of the Center’s many programs and services. To request a copy of the video on DVD, please call Vista Center at 650-858-0202 x110.

Useful Websites

There are hundreds of web sites with information for the visually impaired. Here are a few of our favorite online references:

Agencies and Organizations
Health Information Products and Services Technical Resources



Volunteer

When you volunteer at Vista Center, you can make a meaningful difference in the life of someone who is blind or visually impaired.

In our office

Vista Center’s office staff always needs help with administrative and clerical tasks such as front desk staffing, mailings, filing, data input, and fundraising support.  Our blind and visually impaired staff members would be especially grateful for volunteer assistance.

Outreach assistance

Help spread the word about Vista Center’s services at community events including health fairs or by presenting our services to senior centers. As a trained spokesperson for Vista Center, you give brief presentations about our programs and services, answer questions, and distribute information about the agency.

Direct support for our clients

There are many opportunities to work one-on-one with Vista Center clients throughout San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. These activities can be done at the mutual conveniences of the client and the volunteer and include:

Reading
Read a client's mail or other materials such as books, newspapers, and magazines to client; sorting papers, writing letters.

Home Visits
Listen and lend support to a client; attend to small requests such as shopping or running errands as needed.

Computer Skills
Help clients set up and use home computers.

Physical Activities
Accompany clients on walks or assist with other light exercise.

Hobbies and Crafts
Assist clients in hobbies and crafts if you have a specific interest or experience. This volunteer service can be in small groups or one-on-one.

Transportation
Drive clients to and from appointments, shopping or errands.

Daily Living Support
Help clients with things like making appointments, telephone calls; help them prepare tools like large-print address books and recipe cards.

Equipment Rental and Pick-up
Deliver equipment such as canes and cane tips to clients; pick up equipment no longer needed.

Holiday Help
Provide assistance to clients with gift-wrapping, holiday baking, dyeing Easter eggs, or other activities to prepare for the holidays.

Translators
Many different languages are spoken in the Bay Area. Vista Center instructors sometimes experience difficulty in communicating with a client who does not understand English. If you are fluent in English and another language, you can serve as a translator for our staff.

At our fundraisers

Both of Vista Center’s big summer fundraising events -- Vintage Affaire and the Menlo Charity Horse Show -- are planned and staffed by community volunteers. We would love to have your help with these important events

For more information about volunteering at Vista Center, please contact Volunteer Coordinator RoJeanne Sawey, rsawey@vistacenter.org  or at 650-858-0202, Ext. 104.



Contribute

Vista Center offers several ways to support our programs and, in turn, assist our clients. In fact, you can click the button below to make a donation online, through Paypal:

Annual Giving

When you make an annual gift to Vista Center, your gift has a direct and positive impact on our clients and their families. Vista Center relies on the generosity of our annual donors to consistently provide quality programs and services to our clients.

Employee Giving Programs

Your employer may enable you to make gifts to non-profit organizations such as Vista Center through regular payroll deductions – or may match your contribution through a matching gift program. Check with your Human Resources or Public Relations manager for information about your employer’s programs.

Endowment Gifts

Vista Center’s Endowment Fund provides a perpetual source of funds to support the Center’s programs and services. When you make a gift to the Endowment Fund, you are helping to build Vista Center’s financial stability and ensure our ongoing work in the community.

Legacy Gifts

You may name Vista Center as a beneficiary of your will or estate.

Vista Center is a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All gifts to Vista Center are tax-deductible under current IRS regulations. Gifts may be made in cash or appreciated securities. Gifts may be made directly to Vista Center, or through a family foundation or donor-advised fund.

For more information about giving opportunities, please contact Susan Kokores, Development Director, at 650-858-0202, Ext. 124.



Contact Us

Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

2470 El Camino Real  Suite 107

Palo Alto, CA  94306                                           

To contact us, please call our reception desk at 650-858-0202 or send e-mail to info@vistacenter.org. If you are calling from the 408 area code, please call us toll-free at 800-660-2009. If you are calling from the 831 area code, please call us toll-free at 800-639-6081.   Fax:  650-858-0214.

Business hours:  Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Directions to Vista Center Palo Alto

Vista Center is located at 2470 El Camino Real in Palo Alto, between California Avenue and Oregon Expwy/Page Mill Road. It is on the west side of the street about 200 feet south of California Ave in the same complex as Wells Fargo Bank.  It is accessible via public transit from the California Ave. CalTrain stop located at Park Blvd. and California Ave. connecting to Route 88 of the Santa Clara VTA bus system. Additional routes with nearby stops include:   Route 22   Route 300
From the East Bay:
Route DB/DB1 Union City - Menlo Park - Palo Alto

To contact a specific staff member by telephone, please see the staff directory below:

Contact Person

Ext.
 
Executive Director
Pam Brandin 119
 
Administrative Services Assistant
Meg Faville 110
 
Low Vision Clinic
Debra Goslin, Co-Director of Clinic Services 137
Garlyn Serame, Co-Director of Clinic Services 121
Selma Chin, OD 138
Marge Geronimo, OD 126
Sandra Cheng, OD

176
Rehabilitation Services
Sharon Hudson, Director 111
The Health Library 132
The Store 135
Steve Nakagawa, Store Manager 123
 
Accounting
   
Catherine Vu, Accounting Specialist 127
 
Community
John Faustino, Community Outreach 128
Alice McGrath, Community Relations 130
   
Computer Training
Carol Cyr, Instructor 178
Jan McKinley, Instructor 185
 
IT Support
Alice Sakamoto 134
 
Social Services/Counselors Information & Referral
Jo Jaros,Supervisor 115
Carolyn Dingman 131
Lynda Johnson 122
Patty Quinonez 182
 
Development
Susan Kokores, Director 124
Dave Hanson, Assistant 125
 
Living Skills/Orientation and Mobility Instruction
Paul Raskin, Supervisor 112
Carla Frazier 136
Laura Haney 142
Alec Karp 114
Laura Michels 113
David Scott 133
Nancy Mitchner 102
Colleen Doermann

175
   
Volunteers
RoJeanne Sawey, Coordinator 104
   
Youth Group 183