Vision Rehab Podcast

Louis Braille was born January 4, 1809 and his birthday is celebrated worldwide as World Braille Day. Braille can mean many things for those with a vision loss. If you've never had sight, it is how you read. For those with a recent vision loss, it may feel like getting drawn into ;blindness. Braille can be as simple as a handy way to label items around the house, like a medicine bottle, or as complex as reading a novel, business report, or whatever is on the computer screen.

If you've just been diagnosed with a vision loss form macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetic eye disease, you may want to know what to do next. here are some next steps offered by vision rehabilitation therapist Steve Kelley on the Vision Rehab Podcast.

Reductions in Funding (RIFs) to disability services like the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and Office for Special Education Programs (OSEP) will not save money, these staffing cuts will cost money in the long run. These are programs that provide services for individuals with a vision loss from macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, and blindness, and provide training for getting back to work or resuming daily living tasks.

Braille funding for training resources is cut, along with funding for Deaf-Blind programs for children.

How will the recent legislation to limit access to Medicaid impact the blindness and low vision community? What impact will this have on rehabilitation services for those with macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, vision loss and blindness?

Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (VRT) Week is recognized the week of April 14 each year in honor of Anne Sullivan, the vision rehab professional who worked with Helen Keller.

The month of February is Low Vision Awareness Month. Low vision is often caused by macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes or injury.

May is Older Americans Month and the perfect time to look at vision loss and the services available for older Americans with macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, or other eye conditions or injuries resulting in low vision or vision loss.