Vision WeblettersWebletter - October 2002…a potpourri of items of interest to everyone. Feel free to share it with your colleagues or forward it to a friend who can subscribe easily. See the Distribution Note below for details.
****************************************** 1. Dr. MacDonald Becomes First Optometrist To Achieve Diabetes Educator Certification Dr. Tina MacDonald, who staffs the Diabetes and Vision Loss Program at The Center for the Partially Sighted in Los Angeles, California, has become the first optometrist to be certified as a Diabetes Educator by the National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators (NCBDE). The certification was granted following an appeals process Dr. MacDonald pursued when the NCBDE attempted to disallow the certification she had earned. The Board's action was based upon their premise that optometry was not among the qualifying health professions. By winning her appeal and having the NCBDE reverse its decision, she has opened the door for other optometrists to be eligible to pursue certification in this field. Dr. MacDonald believes this nationally recognized certification of specialty practice and knowledge in diabetes education at a mastery level will help her work more productively with patients to slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults. "Recent national studies indicate that maintaining glycemic control can significantly slow the progression of complications from diabetes," said Dr. MacDonald. "By training as a diabetes educator, I can provide education to patients to help them maintain what vision they still have. The low vision devices I prescribe maximize the person's remaining sight. That will help them manage their diet, exercise and glucose monitoring without depending on others." "It can be difficult," she continued, "to design a vision rehabilitation program for someone with diabetes because their vision can fluctuate from day to day, depending upon their blood sugar levels. A low vision device that works one day may not be as useful if they are having a bad day. My training in low vision and in diabetes really compliment each other in this area. Our clients receive the best chance of being able to function independently using their precious remaining sight. It's very rewarding for me to be able to help them achieve this independence and to know that they can maintain it." In addition to the low vision services, the Center's Diabetes program also provides counseling by licensed therapists to address any emotional issues that can accompany vision loss, independent living skills instruction, training with low vision devices, and orientation and mobility training. The Vision Maximizer Program, a twelve-week behavior modification group, was designed for visually impaired people with diabetes and includes demonstrations of new technology for administering insulin and monitoring blood glucose. Contact: Dr. Tina
MacDonald at Editor's Note: The Center for the Partially Sighted is a nonprofit comprehensive vision rehabilitation agency whose mission is to provide the tools and the training to help people of all ages with impaired sight function independently.
2. AlphaCor: First True Artificial Cornea! Research from the Lions Eye Institute of Western Australia and Argus Biomedical Pty Ltd has resulted in an artificial cornea that is now ready for commercial release throughout the world. "Four years of trials in humans have shown that the AlphaCor artificial cornea has the ability to substantially improve sight in patients who are unlikely to have success from a traditional human donor transplant," says Professor Ian Constable from the Lions Eye Institute of Western Australia. People have attempted to make an artificial cornea for more than 200 years with early attempts using glass, ceramics and even rubies and quartz. AlphaCor has succeeded by using a one piece polymer device comprising a clear core that enables vision and a sponge rim that encourages the ingrowth of host cells to anchor it in place in the eye. AlphaCor is the first true artificial cornea. This device potentially will replace the need for donor human corneas which are in drastically short supply. This artificial cornea can also be used when human grafts fail or, because the risk of rejection is not as great as with human tissue, when a patient is unable to take immunosuppressant drugs. AlphaCor is the result of twelve years of research at the Lions Eye Institute of Western Australia, supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Many patients in the clinical trials experienced a visual improvement that enabled them to be classed from legal blindness to functionally sighted. Although many of the patients studied had poor visual potential due to other diseases in the eye, most patients saw an improvement in vision and no patient lost structural integrity to their affected eye. Some patients actually got up to 20/20 vision. The AlphaCor technology was licensed to Argus Biomedical in December 2000. Argus established a commercial production facility in Perth awaiting approval from the U. S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA). That approval has just been given by the FDA so AlphaCor will soon be commercially available to nearly 100 of the world's leading corneal surgeons in the United States, Europe and Australia already accredited to implant the device. Editor's Note: This truly is a major achievement as there is an estimated 10 million people around the world who suffer corneal blindness, mainly as the result of accident or disease. 3. APHont:™ A Font for Low Vision APHont™ (pronounced Ay'-font), was developed by APH (American Printing House for the Blind) specifically for low vision readers. APHont embodies characteristics that have been shown to enhance reading speed, comprehension, and comfort for large print users. The APHont Regular typeface is the first part of a font suite that will also include APHont Bold, Italic, and Italic Bold. APH offers APHont Regular through free distribution. Features include:
Cost: Download Free. You may copy APHont Regular to distribute to your friends at no charge. However, when the APhont Suite is available, it will be sold as an APH Product. Note: APH makes no claim that APHont is an appropriate font for children who are just learning to read. Contact: APH, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085. Tel: 800.223.1839. Fax: 502.899.2274. Web: http://www.aph.org/products/aphont.html.
4. Ask Your Doctor Today patients take an active role in their health care. You and your doctor will work in partnership to achieve your best possible level of health. An important part of this relationship is good communication. Here are some questions you can ask your doctor to get the discussion started. About my Disease or Disorder...
About my Treatment...
About my Tests...
More Tips for you... Usually patients get nervous when then talk to the doctor and after the appointment, they have forgotten most of what they were told. Don't be shy about getting the information you need. IT IS YOUR HEALTH, AFTER ALL. Understanding your doctor's responses is essential to good communication. Here are a few more tips:
5. Brailled Chocolates & More Brailled Chocolates are great for fund raising, promoting braille, thanking staff and volunteers, and for general gift giving. The National Braille Factory (NBF) has 2 inch x 4 inch x 0.25 inch rectangular chocolate bars, chocolate dogs, chocolate hearts, and a chocolate Santa Claus - just to name a few. These items come with a brailled word or phrase printed on the chocolate along with the print equivalent. NBF can also make a custom mold with a company or product name in braille and the print equivalent. Chocolates are available in milk, dark, white and sugar-free. NBF also sells:
Contact: NBF, 5040 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5P 3T8. Tel: 877.827.2455 (877.8.BRAILL) / 604.522.7187. Web: http://www.nationalbraillefactory.com.
6. Literary Braille Code Manual on CD-ROM Opus Technologies has published English Braille American Edition 1994 on CD-ROM for Windows. Authorized by BANA (Braille Authority of North America), the CD-ROM edition contains the complete text of this literary braille code manual, including all the print and braille examples, and all the latest officially published updates. With the CD-ROM, both sighted and blind users can now access the manual interactively on a PC, without having to carry, handle, or leaf through the pages of the hardcopy print or braille manual. Extensive hyperlinks make it easy to jump to any referenced topic or example. An index allows quick lookup of the braille equivalent for any word or contraction shown in the manual. A search feature allows the entire manual to be searched for all occurrences of specific words or phrases. The CD-ROM requires Windows 98 or later. It will run on Windows 95 if Internet Explorer 5.0 or later is also installed on the PC (Internet Explorer 5.0 is included on the CD-ROM). The CD-ROM can be used together with Windows-based braille transcription programs like Duxbury or ED-IT PC, or with DOS-based programs like MegaDots, MicroBraille or Pokadot when run under Windows. Cost: $49. Contact: Opus Technologies, 13333 Thunderhead Street, San Diego, CA 92129-2329. Toll-free Tel: 866.OPUSTEC or 866.678.7832 Tel: 858.538.9401. Fax: 858.538.9401. E-Mail: opus@opustec.com. Web: http://www.opustec.com.
7. Watch Those Burning Candles! Do you use candles in your home to decorate? According to the National Candle Association (NCA), candles are used in seven out of ten households in the United States. Most people don't view candles as a fire hazard, but the number of home candle fires is steadily increasing. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports from 1983 through 1997 candles in the home caused an annual average of:
Nearly half of home candle fires started in the bedroom, with 19 percent starting in living rooms, family rooms or dens. Thirty-six percent occurred because candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled. A candle is an open flame that can easily ignite nearby combustible materials. The NFPA offers the following safety tips:
During power outages...
8. Vision Loss Conference Planned for February 2003 The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the Foundation for the Junior Blind (FJB) will host their second co-sponsored international symposium, Vision Loss in the 21st Century-Everybody's Business, February 19-22, 2003, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California. The symposium seeks to improve public understanding of blindness and vision loss in society, serve as a catalyst for new partnerships, strengthen existing alliances, and provide a stimulating forum for learning through the exchange of information, experiences, and ideas. The conference is being planned by top national and international leaders in their fields. Program tracks to be developed during the conference include: Healthcare/Medicine & Science, Transportation & Environmental Access, Education, Leadership Development, Low Vision, Employment & Business, Rehabilitation & Independent Living, Literacy, Technology, and Aging. Each session is designed to educate, challenge, and inspire attendees. Many interesting companies, organizations, products, and people will be at the Symposium Exposition Hall. Attendees will have plenty of time to visit the exhibits and be exposed to new technology. The Exposition Hall will be open to Symposium participants and the general public. Plan to visit for several hours. Exhibitors will showcase innovative products and services from around the world which will include: Textbooks, curriculums, and videos, New technologies, and Aides for independent living. For more information, visit http://www.visionloss2003.org.
9. Disability Awareness Facts & Terminology: Part 1 People with disabilities have goals, dreams, wants, and desires just like people without disabilities. Approximately 20 percent of the United States population has a disability that affects mobility, speech, vision, hearing, or learning. People who have disabilities are an integral part of society and participate in everyday life as teachers, inventors, athletes, doctors, lawyers, students, family members, and neighbors. People with disabilities do not want to be treated differently based solely on their disability. People with disabilities prefer to be called just that, people with disabilities. Mention a person's disability only if it is relevant to the issue. If it is not relevant, don't mention it.
Person-First Terminology When it is necessary to refer to a person's disability, focus on the person first and secondly on the disability. Use phrases such as "the architect who has a mobility impairment," "the teacher who is hard-of-hearing" or "the child with epilepsy" instead of using "mobility-impaired architect," hard-of-hearing teacher," or the "epileptic child." These phrases focus on "person-first" terminology which conveys respect for the individual and does not place the emphasis on the disability. While it is important to be aware of sensitive terminology, don't let terminology intimidate your interactions with people who have disabilities. Quite often the following terms are used interchangeably: Impairment, Disability, Handicap. Each word, however, has a distinctly different meaning and are defined as follows: Impairment: An identifiable organic or functional condition that may be permanent or temporary. Examples of impairments include visual, hearing, neurological, cognitive, or mobility. Disability: A condition resulting from an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Handicap: A situational disadvantage. Examples:
Always remember: A disability is not a handicap - Handicaps are created by ATTITUDES. (Part 2 will be included in the November 2002 Vision Webletter.)
10. Knitting Patterns: Print-Braille Edition Knitting Patterns Plain & Fancy is a collection for any knitting enthusiast. It includes a range of patterns suitable for everyday wear, yet special enough to give as gifts. Black and white photos of the patterns have been collated into the centerfold for readers to share with others. A brief description of each pattern is also included. Patterns include:
Cost: $10. Order from: National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen St, Boston, MA 02115-4302. You can call and charge it toll-free at 800.548.7323 or 617.266.6160 Ext 20; or e-mail your order to orders@nbp.org. More information about the book is available at http://www.nbp.org/knit.html.
11. Recordings for Recovery Recordings for Recovery (R4R), a non-profit organization that lends musical recordings to persons who are institutionalized, homebound, or otherwise limited by disabling conditions, offers a diverse selection of audio tapes including classical music, "sittercize music," ethnic music, Country and Western music, children's stories and music, holiday music, and relaxation and rhythm tapes. Catalogs are available in large print, audio cassette or online. Membership costs $10 a year for individual home use, $20 for therapists mobile use, and $25 for facilities and organizations. Benefits of membership include the use of the lending library of tapes and educational materials, as well as current catalogs, newsletters, brochures, and updates as published. Membership applications and ordering forms are available online. Contact: Michael Hoy - Executive Director, Recordings for Recovery, 5103 Eastman Place, Suite 101, Midland, MI 48640-6723. Tel: 800.798.1192 / 517.832.0784. Fax: 517.832.0261. E-Mail: staff@r4r.org. Web: http://www.r4r.org.
12. Rehabilitation Performance Report Released Online The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, U.S. Department of Education, has released data on the performance of vocational rehabilitation agencies by state. Collection of the data contained in the document, Evaluation Standards and Performance Indicators for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program, was mandated by the amended Section 106 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires RSA to establish evaluation standards and performance indicators for vocational rehabilitation measures, including outcome and related measures of program performance. Each year state vocational agencies report program performance data to RSA. States that do not meet established minimum performance levels are required to develop a program improvement plan with the RSA's help. The document detailing the performance of general/combined agencies and state agencies for the blind, as well as an explanation of standards and indicators, is available free online at http://www.ed.gov.offices/OSERS/RSA/Research/Standards/index.html. Data tables are in a downloadable Excel format for Fiscal Year 1999 and Fiscal Year 2000. The data for Fiscal Year 2001 will soon be available. Contact: Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Room 3329-MES, Washington, DC 20202-2551. Tel: 202.205.5465. Web: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/RSA.
13. Simple Adaptations for Independence Making Life More Livable: Simple Adaptations for Living At Home After Vision Loss, edited by Maureen A. Duffy,M.S., is the essential guide for adults experiencing vision loss and is an invaluable resource for their family and friends. Full of practical tips and illustrated by numerous photographs, this easy-to-use resource shows how people who are visually impaired can continue living independent, productive lives at home on their own. Useful general guidelines and room-by-room specifics provide simple and effective solutions for making homes accessible and everyday activities doable for individuals with visual impairments. This completely revised and updated 132-page paperback, ISBN: 0-89128-387-0, 2002 costs $24.95. Contact: AFB Press. PO Box 1020, Seickley, PA 15143-1020. Tel: 800.232.3044 or 412.741.1398. Fax: 412.741.0609. E-Mail: afborder@abdintl.com. Web: http://www.afb.org/. 14. Travel Tips for Those With Disabilities (Courtesy of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia, PA) Things to Consider as You Plan Your Trip 1. Talk to your physician about:
2. Talk to your travel agent about:
3. If you are in a wheelchair:
4. In addition:
15. Victor Reader Pro Wins Again! On September 21, 2002, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) named VisuAide, Inc. of Longview, Quebec, Canada, the winner of its prestigious 2002 Winston Gordon Award for developing a digital talking book player called Victor Reader Pro. For more than a decade, this award has recognized significant advances in, or applications of, technology in the field of blindness and visual impairment. This innovative device has improved access to education, employment, and leisure pursuits for people who are blind and visually impaired. Equipped with a CD-ROM drive and a four-arrowed keypad, the Victor Reader Pro easily navigates within a page or from section to section. Unlike the current analog cassette playback machines that must be rewound or fast-forwarded to a desired spot, this capability allows for greater efficiency when searching for information and navigating highly structured books, such as reference or textbooks. Victor Reader Pro operates in compliance with DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Consortium standards, internationally recognized guidelines for digital audiobook technology (http://www.daisy.org). Traditional talking books use cassette playback devices or analog technology that was developed some 30 years ago. That technology, however, will soon be obsolete as it does not meet the needs of today's talking book users. According to Jim Sanders, CNIB President and CEO, "Digital technology, such as the Victor Reader Pro, allows us to produce audiobooks that enable blind and visually impaired Canadians to access the same information as quickly and efficiently as their sighted peers." Note: Since the Canadian Talking Book Library has gone digital, its evaluation and use of the Victor Reader Pro speaks well for the device. It also is the device of choice for users of bookshare.org. For more information, contact VisuAide Inc. Tel: 888,723.7273 / 450.463.1717. Fax: 450.463.0120. E-Mail: nicolasl@visuaide.com. Web: http://www.visuaide.com/index.en.html.
16. New Website Launched by Media Access Group at WGBH On October 3, 2002 The Media Access Group at WGBH announced the launch of a newly designed, integrated website which combines the considerable resources of the world's premiere provider of media access solutions for people with disabilities. Developed in conjunction with the WGBH Interactive Department, the new website combines and expands upon the online resources of The Caption Center and the Descriptive Video Service and provides direct links to the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media and the Group's Motion Picture Access, or MoPix initiative. The site, located at http://access.wgbh.org, features an easy-to-navigate design and is screen-reader accessible enabling users with vision loss to access all content using assistive technology. The site also includes information about the Media Access Group's access services and products and a listing of MoPix-equipped theaters and films in the US and Canada (MoPix is Rear Window Captioning and DVS Theatrical). Also featured are links to samples of captioned and described Web clips; a library of MAG Guides (information on various accessibility topics for consumers and industry); user questionnaires, surveys; background on the Group's research and development projects; and more. Lori Kay, Director of Services for the Media Access Group at WGBH, said in an interview, "The all-inclusive site underscores the fact that the Media Access Group is the singular resource for information about access services for audiences with hearing and visual disabilities. This new website demonstrates our continuing efforts to be the organization consumers, corporations, educators, parents and technology developers depend on for reliable, non-biased information and cutting-edge access solutions." Contact: Media Access Group at its website at http://access.wgbh.org or by phone at 617.300.3600 (voice and TTY). Editor's Note: The Media Access Group at WGBH is a non-profit service with offices in Boston, Los Angeles and New York. The Group includes Descriptive Video Service (DVS), which has made television, film and video more enjoyable to audiences who are blind or visually impaired since 1990, and The Caption Center, the worlds first captioning agency which has made audiovisual media accessible to audiences who are deaf or hard-of-hearing since 1972. The third branch of the Media Access Group, the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM), is a research, development and advocacy entity that works to make existing and emerging technologies accessible to all audiences. It is believed that the Media Access Group's staff contains the leading experts in their fields. 17.
Tech Tips: Time To Upgrade? Buying a computer can be a frustrating experience. The moment you lay down money for that nice new system it is out of date and overpriced. After a year, the same amount of cash paid out for a computer system will often buy something significantly faster that has more features. But, hey, that's the way the computer world goes around-if we were to wait for the perfect price point, we'd never buy a computer because there is always going to be a less expensive system or one with more features. For upgrade tips, read the expanded story in the next issue of Vision Enhancement - Vol. 7 No. 3, 2002.
18. Health Information for Women With Disabilities Being a woman in a still male-dominated society is a challenge. Being a woman with a disability can be doubly so. The following two sites discuss some of the issues that are unique to women with disabilities. 1. The website of the National Women's Health Information Center at http://www.4woman.gov/wwd is packed with useful information and links. Topics include abuse, access to health care, breast health access, financial assistance, legal rights, minorities, older women, parenting, reproductive health, particular disabilities, and much more. 2. The Health Promotion for Women with Disabilities website, developed by the Villanova University College of Nursing, is designed to address health-related information for women with disabilities so they can be informed consumers of health care, can ask relevant questions of their health care providers, and can take measures to achieve a healthier life style and a better quality of life. Check it out at: http://www.nursing.villanova.edu/WomenWithDisabilities/.
19. Never Reset Your Clock Again! The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) has developed a neat, new clock called the "Moon Phase Atomic Clock." The clock picks up an exact time signal from the NIST radio station, WWVB, in Ft. Collins, Colorado, transmitting continuously throughout the US at 60khz. The signal can be received up to 2,000 miles away! The WWVB station picks up its signal from the NIST Atomic Clock in Boulder, Colorado, where a team of atomic physicists continuously measure every second per day to an accuracy of ten billionths of a second. The official measurement of seconds is incorporated in the clock's timer, making it so that once you've set the Moon Phase Clock you won't have to set it again. The clock features a 12- and 24-hour time display with minutes and seconds, and alarm setting with snooze functions, calendar display, weekday display (in Spanish, English or French), time zone setting, moon phase display and temperature display. It is wall mountable or table standing at 11.4" x 7.5" with a width just under an inch. The clock is currently available for $31 from SightConnection, 9709 Third Ave., NE - #100, Seattle, WA 98115-2027. Tel: 800.458.4888 / 206.525.5556. Fax: 206.525.0422. E-Mail: csbps@csbps.com. Web: http://www.sightconnection.com. The SightConnection has many other unique products so be sure to request a catalog. It is available in large print, braille, audiotape, and on PC disk.
20. Software To Relieve Eye Strain Responding to the alarm doctors have been sounding about the negative influence of computers on the users' health, the Opti-Ergo Group has developed software to address the problem. Because computer use is such a highly visual task, vision problems and symptoms have become very common in today's workplace. Most studies indicate that computer operators report more eye-related problems than non-computer office workers. These symptoms include blurred vision, double vision, focusing problems, irritated eyes etc. The software solution designed by the Opti-Ergo Group aims to remove eyestrain and thus avoid health-related problems. It will help users maintain proper working schedule, reminds them to take breaks before they get tired, and suggests simple, but effective exercises for the eyes. For shortsighted users, it also improves eyesight and prevents myopia from progressing. The program includes a large number of eye-saving exercises approved by the Russian Ministry of Public Health (Moscow, Russia) and the World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland). When you purchase a registered version of the program, a qualified ophthalmologist will choose the best exercises especially for you, according to your vision difficulties and the condition suitable for your workplace. The Group believes that studies have shown that this program usually increases concentration and working productivity by 20-40% within several weeks. Key features of the Anti-EyeStrain Version 2.72 include:
You can download a free evaluation version that is very limited and intended for demonstration purposes only. Cost: $30 USD. Contact: Opti-Ergo Group. E-Mail: info@optiergo.com. Web: http://www.optiergo.com. 21. Great Savings From Amazon.com Just in time for the holidays, for the next 3 to 6 months Amazon.com will pay all shipping charges on orders over $25. This means that with Amazon.com's 30% off books over $15 and Free Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25, there may be reasons to shop in the physical world but price is not one of them. You will save a significant amount of money when you buy at Amazon.com. Daily and weekly specials are awesome! So, check those holiday gift lists and order books, CDs, videos, DVDs and more. And, since Vision World Wide is one of its affiliates, we will receive a small referral fee if you use our gateway to Amazon.com. Just go to http://www.visionww.org/fundraising.htm#BOOKS, select "3. Amazon Book Store," and press Enter on "link to Amazon" We appreciate your support.
22. Your Online Shopping Can Help! Thanks to wellspent.org you can support Vision World Wide, Inc. simply by shopping online. wellspent.org is an online store where every purchase generates a donation for the non-profit cause of the buyer's choice. Next time you feel the urge to go shopping, act on it! You'll be helping Vision World Wide, Inc. in the process.
23. Distribution Note You are encouraged to share this Webletter with anyone on your mailing list that you think would find it useful. It is free. Readers wishing to receive future Webletters in their own mailboxes should just send an e-mail message to: visionworldwide@yahoo.com, or subscribe directly at http://www.visionww.org/journal.htm. Vision World Wide does not lend or sell its mailing lists. As this is just a mini sampling of the information contained in our comprehensive 72-78 page quarterly journal, Vision Enhancement, you are invited to become a subscriber. More information and sample issues are available at www.visionww.org/journal.htm. Vision World Wide, Inc. * 5707 Brockton Drive - #302 * Indianapolis, IN 46220-5481 * Tel: 317.254.1332 / 800.431.1739 * Fax: 317.251.6588. E-Mail: info@visionww.org. Web: http://www.visionww.org.
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Indianapolis, IN 46220-5481
Phone: 317-254-1332
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E-Mail: info@visionww.org
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by Vision World Wide Inc. All rights reserved.
Updated October 19 2002
