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Director's Report

Happy 4th of July!

It’s hard to believe we are closing out June, my favorite month. It seems by the time we reach the 4th of July, summer is virtually gone. We made the most of June 21st, the longest day of the year, by enjoying a membership indoor/outdoor picnic at the Meadowthorpe Community Center. Bridget and John Schlausky provided music, poetry and standup comedy for the group. We have more festivities and activities planned. Check it out in the newsletter and mark your calendars!

Often, something good comes our way due to the networking and footwork of my Executive Director predecessors. Jim and I laugh at the mail coming in for past directors. We call to update the info and the next month it’s back again with the same addressee! We could do a segment in the newsletter on BGCB mail. One of those “hard to get rid of” Directors (this is a good natured reference) is Jean Grow. She must be watching over BGCB. Recently, we received a newsletter from KCDD addressed to Jean Grow. I thought, “Jean’s back and tapping me on the shoulder.“ Sure enough, there was contact information for funding individuals with disabilities to attend conventions. Ten of our members were funded to attend the ACB Convention. There are strings attached to the funding but good strings. Attendees are expected to provide a report to the Council (KCDD and BGCB) describing what you’ve learned and shared during the program and how the information applies to meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities in KY. Second, the recipient will be a resource person to whom KCDD can refer other citizens who contact the Council seeking information about the topic of the attended convention. Keep this fund in mind should any of you want to attend a conference/workshop/convention in or out of the state. You can receive up to $750/year.

Last, but not least, the Blue Grass Council of the Blind will be 30 years old on Sept.7, 2008. We’ll be back in touch with a special edition, information on a celebration for us and a recap on the history of the organization.

I’m off to the ACB Convention!

Paula

From The Board

Vice-President’s Message

A Thank You.
Thanks to members of the BGCB that allow me to serve as a leader in our organization. I was awarded the United Way Individual Volunteer of the Year award in April. My volunteering choices, besides BGCB, include the Kentucky Blood Center, Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church, and Hospice of the Bluegrass. The award was a china horse. I look forward to more years of service to you through BGCB.

This is your last chance to come on over to Louisville with us for the ACB convention on July 4-12. If you can get away, come join us. It is a wonderful time of friendship and knowledge. BGCB is paying the $20 registration fee for you. Food, motel, and tours and fees charged for seminars will be your own responsibility.

You’ve Got It
BGCB needs you. Your ideas, strengths, and your creativity are needed. Let your Board designee hear from you. We need fund raising ideas. We need service projects. The number of visually impaired adults in our community is increasing, and our membership is not. Help us all work together to attract possible members, and to provide activities to meet their needs. Thanks.

I’m reading (listening to) a book of writings by Helen Keller. She was so knowledgeable about things that she could never see or hear. In one letter, she tells of people who are mentally blind. Don’t we all know some of the ?!?! people who are sighted, but just can’t see. What a wonderful phrase.

Carol Porter

Secretary/Treasurer’s Message

I would like to thank all of you that donated items to the yard sale, came and bought items, and those who helped the day of the sale. Patsy Rose, as always was there to help with the money collection. Margie Robbins, Ruth and Susan Ament helped with the selling, and all helped with the packing up. Someone donated a hospital bed which we didn't sell, but donated to a nursing home in Nicholasville. They have sent a thank you card expressing their appreciation. Thanks to Paula for bringing over tables and picking up and dropping off donations. We made over $500 at the sale! Again, thanks to everyone.

Judy Potter

Upcoming Events

VIP Support Group

You are cordially invited to the monthly luncheon meeting of the Visually Impaired Persons Support Group. VIP meetings are always held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the BGCB office. Meetings are convened at Noon with lunch and socializing. At 1 PM the speaker is introduced followed by Q & A’s.

At the July 23rd VIP meeting we will have some staff from Lextran come and give us an update of the new services they are looking to start. There will also be a team of researchers from UK to conduct a survey on behalf of Lextran, to give them a better picture of how they can improve transportation for the citizens of the Bluegrass region. So come and be a part of a great opportunity to share your views.

Wheels passes are provided. For more information, contact the BGCB office.

BGCB Board Meeting

The next BGCB Board Meeting will be held:

• Tuesday, August 12, 2008
• 9 AM - 12 PM
• BGCB Office
  1093 South Broadway
  Suite 1220
  Lexington, KY

ACB Convention

ACB IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
July 5-12

You can still register for the ACB Convention! There are seminars, workshops and programs on finding a career, legislation, diabetes, quiet cars, and all kinds of technology. If you are entertaining the idea of attending, contact the BGCB office for Convention information.

We will have a detailed report on the Convention out to you. Ten of us are attending and I know we can come up with a diverse report for all of you who couldn’t attend. I’m hoping to meet the little guide pony. The convention will return to KY in 2012.

Commission for Citizens with Disabilities Board

Each month on the last Wednesday of the month The CCD board meets at the downtown library in the 4th floor conference room C at 9:00 am. The meetings usually last until 10:30. Some of the projects we have been working on are, Para-transit research, sidewalk café issues and a wide variety of different issues that concern people with disabilities

At our June 25th meeting we had some of the Lextran Executive Staff come and give an update of the new services they are starting to implement. They also had some researchers from UK come in and do a survey on behalf of Lextran using two type of keypads to enter your responses.

Everyone is invited to attend any of the meetings Any questions please contact Myself or the BGCB office

Morry La Tour

News to Use

New Web Community Brings Together Parents of Visually Impaired Children

New York, NY (April 29, 2008) When parents learn their child has a visual impairment, it can be overwhelming. Parents wonder, "Will my child fall behind at school?" or "Will my child make friends?" or "Will my child have a successful career?" With only 93,600 visually impaired school-aged children in the U.S., over half of whom have additional disabilities, it's easy for families facing vision loss to feel alone.

To help these families connect with each other and give busy parents, grandparents and other caretakers a place to find comprehensive resources and support 24 hours a day, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) today launched FamilyConnect™, an online, multimedia community for parents and guardians of children with visual impairments.

Located at www.FamilyConnect.org, FamilyConnect™ gives parents access to message boards where they can talk to other parents, compelling videos featuring real-life families, parenting articles, a mom-authored blog, a glossary of more than 30 eye conditions, and links to local resources. The site also features sections dedicated to multiple disabilities, technology, education, and every age group from infants to teens.

"We created FamilyConnect™ to give parents the support and information they need to ensure their children can achieve their dreams-whether that is playing sports or music, learning to read braille, getting a first job, surfing the web, making the cheerleading squad, traveling the world, or going to graduate school," said Carl R. Augusto, President & CEO of AFB.

A recent NAPVI/AFB survey of parents of children with visual impairments showed that parents/guardians turn most commonly to physicians (82%), educators (76%), and web sites (65%) for information and support regarding their children's vision problems. This is consistent with national statistics from the 2006 Pew Internet & American Life Project that show 80 percent of American adult Internet users have searched for health information online. For parents living in rural areas with fewer resources, the web is particularly important to finding relevant, trustworthy information and the right services.

"When I talk to parents of visually impaired children they almost always ask about three things: they want to talk to other parents who have children with the same eye condition as their child, they want access to the latest health and education information, and they want to know what the future holds," said Susan LaVenture, Executive Director of NAPVI. "FamilyConnect™ offers parents all these things-and more-in one place."

In addition to joining a community of parents, visitors to www.FamilyConnect.org can create a personal profile and receive information on news and events based on their child's age, eye condition, and location. Families can also find articles written by parents and professionals on topics such as:

Finding the Right Eye Care Professionals for Your Child

Developmental Milestones: What Do They Mean?

Your Child's Individualized Educational Program

Friendship in the Teen Years

College Life Begins

In designing this web site, AFB and NAPVI partnered with leading national organizations and hundreds of local agencies that serve children who are visually impaired to keep FamilyConnect™ content complete and up to date. AFB and NAPVI also solicited input from families across the country. Here are representative samples of what they are saying about the final result.

Jen and Bill O'Neill, Nebraska
Daughter Camille, age 3, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
"Our family is truly amazed at what we've seen of the site. Wow! Thank you all for the insight to see that this is something that is so needed for families who are facing and overcoming the diagnosis of visual impairment. The site is more than I imagined it would be-it is so comprehensive and truly allows families to connect with one another and to resources."

Patty Bushland, Arkansas
Daughter Mary Rose, age 2, Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA)
"When I found out my baby was visually impaired, I immediately went to the Internet to find out everything I could about her condition and what I could do to help her. FamilyConnect™ is so important, and I wish it had been there for me when my daughter was first diagnosed."

The goal of www.FamilyConnect.org is to provide connections and support. By providing accurate information and creating a forum for meaningful discussion, families and their visually impaired children will feel empowered to reach their full potential.

FamilyConnect™ is generously supported by grants from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc., Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Morgan Stanley.

About AFB
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than forty years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB.

About NAPVI
The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) is an international membership organization serving families in the U.S. and in 55 countries. NAPVI helps parents to find information and resources for their children who are blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities. NAPVI provides leadership, support, and education to assist parents in helping children reach their potential.

The Courtesy Rules of Blindness

When you meet me don't be ill at ease. It will help both of us if you remember these simple points of courtesy:

• I'm an ordinary person, just blind. You don't need to raise your voice or address me as if I were a child. Don't ask my spouse what I want -"Cream in the coffee?" ask me.


• I may use a long white cane or a guide dog to walk independently; or I may ask to take your arm. Let me decide, and please don't grab my arm; let me take yours. I'll keep a half-step behind to anticipate curbs and steps.


• I want to know who's in the room with me. Speak when you enter. Introduce me to the others. Include children, and tell me if there's a cat or dog.


• The door to a room or cabinet or to a car left partially open is a hazard to me.


• At dinner I will not have trouble with ordinary table skills.


• Don't avoid words like "see." I use them, too. I'm always glad to see you.


• I don't want pity. But don't talk about the "wonderful compensations" of blindness. My sense of smell, touch, or hearing did not improve when I became blind. I rely on them more and, therefore, may get more information through those senses than you do - that's all.


• If I'm your house guest, show me the bathroom, closet, dresser, window-the light switch, too. I like to know whether the lights are on.


• I'll discuss blindness with you if you're curious, but it's an old story to me. I have as many other interests as you do.


• Don't think of me as just a blind person. I'm just a person who happens to be blind.

BGCB Spotlight

Congratulations!

The community’s top volunteers were honored at the Central Kentucky Volunteer Awards recognition breakfast, coordinated by United Way of the Bluegrass and sponsored by Keeneland.

The winner of the Individual Service Award was BGCB Member Carol Porter. Carol was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa as a young adult. This progressive, genetic disorder eventually results in blindness. Rather than viewing this as a handicap, Carol sees it as a new beginning. She has made it her passion to serve others and does so as a volunteer and advocate for Bluegrass Council of the Blind, respite care for Hospice of the Bluegrass, Friends for Life and Kentucky Talking Book Library. She also is very active with Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church including serving with Room in the Inn, Refugee Sponsorship, Thursday Community Meal and the Prison Ministry.

We here at BGCB couldn’t be prouder of Carol! Her efforts on behalf of BGCB are certainly appreciated.

Congratulations to Grandparents Patsy & Jerry Rose and Uncle Philip! Sarah Caroline Rose has finally been delivered to the arms of her waiting family in the US. When asked, Patsy says,” She’s perfect, she’s just perfect and that’s all I can say”.

Happy Birthday!

We'd like to wish the following Council Members with birthdates in the third quarter a very Happy Birthday!

If we have missed anyone’s birthday, it’s only because we don’t have that info in our records. Just contact us at the BGCB Office (859 259-1834), and we’ll be sure to update that info.

Condolences

We at BGCB extend our sympathies to the family and friends of BGCB Member Theresa Saunders on her passing. Theresa will be missed by all. A special Thank You to all those who made donations to BGCB in her honor.

Our sympathies also go out to BGCB Member Billy Porter on the recent passing of his two brothers.

About The Blue Grass Council of the Blind

The Blue Grass Council of the Blind, Inc., a United Way agency, is located at 1093 South Broadway, Suite 1220, Lexington, KY 40504. The Council provides the only full-time information, education, advocacy, and referral service in Fayette County for individuals and their families who are blind or visually impaired, without regard to gender, race or religion.

Among the services offered are peer counseling, referral to appropriate agencies or programs to assist individuals in their adjustment to blindness, educational and social activities, advocacy services for the blind as well as a speakers' bureau to acquaint the community with the potential of the blind and visually impaired.

Our office offers demonstrations of many aids and appliances to help the blind and visually impaired cope with their loss of vision. We also provide catalogs and brochures describing thousands of aids and devices that can be purchased directly from the supplier. The Council sends a newsletter, every three months in large print, on cassette tape, or via email to all who request inclusion on our mailing list. This newsletter makes interested persons aware of the various activities of the Council, of current legislative actions affecting the blind and other items of interest to the community. All services offered by the Council are free of charge.

The Blue Grass Council of the Blind seeks to promote awareness of the abilities, rights, and specific needs of blind/visually impaired (b/vi) people. We encourage and motivate b/vi individuals to become productive, involved citizens of their community. Another challenge is to educate the public about the needs, aspirations and achievements of the visually impaired.

Please call 859 259-1834 for more information on the following services for the visually impaired:

• Agencies and programs
• Counseling
• Educational and social activities
• Advocate or speaker
• Aids and appliances
• Newsletter