NC Lantern - Summer 2008
Newsletter of the LightHouse of the North Coast
The Lantern is free to the community we serve: blind and visually impaired individuals and their families and friends.
FINAL ISSUE NOTICE
NOTE TO READERS:
Due to postal rate changes, The North Coast Lantern will be discontinued and news of the North Coast will be included in the regular Lantern newsletter.
Please let us know what you think! To submit feedback about this newsletter, send an email to: lantern@lighthouse-sf.org.
PHOTO: Karen Mitchell
PHOTO CAPTION: Karen Mitchell stands looking back toward the camera with a white cane in her right hand and a rolling backpack in her left hand.
The Year of the Rat
By Kathleen Adkins
The legendary phantom of “Phantom of the Opera” uses binoculars to keep an eye on things. Karen Mitchell, on the other hand, uses opera glasses to go to college.
Without her binoculars, Karen cannot see information written on a classroom board 15 feet away. She couldn't have imagined that a pair of binoculars would become so important to her when she woke up in the middle of the night 11 years ago.
“It was about 5:00 in the morning and I thought the electricity had gone out,” Mitchell said about waking to a nightmare that didn't disappear at daybreak. “I could not see the digital clock, so I turned on the lamp and could perceive that the light was on.”
Within 24 hours, Mitchell learned she had glaucoma, underwent two laser surgeries to decrease the pressure in her eyes, and then went home with horrific headaches and time to reflect about her vision.
“I knew I had something, but I didn't really know [what],” Mitchell said of her vision during the month leading up to the early morning revelation that became her daily reality. “I had started to misidentify things.”
Perhaps Mitchell's background as an accomplished painter enabled her to replace reality with her imagination. But glaucoma, often referred to as the “thief in the night,” had been affecting the delicate tissue of her hazel eyes.
“I was working at a care home, and a piece of wood had broken off the kitchen wall. I really thought it looked like the hindquarters of a dead rat, so I asked my boss to come over and take care of it.”
The year that she thought she found a dead rat was 1997. A lot has happened since then, including Mitchell traveling the path of adjusting emotionally and physically to vision loss.
“I've had so much support from Rick at the Department of Rehabilitation, Mary at College of the Redwoods, Peggy from Eureka Assistive Technology, Janet and Ali from the LightHouse and Mari from Tri County Independent Living,” Mitchell fired off, perfectly identifying the people who supported her dream of obtaining an AA degree from College of the Redwoods and a master's in social work from Humboldt State University.
Another path Mitchell has traveled is Eureka's Herrick Avenue, a street that often carries drivers who may have been enjoying a 65 mile-per-hour romp down nearby Highway 101 just moments prior. Herrick Avenue is near Mitchell's home and also home to a nearby elementary school and public bus stop.
“I see shapes and colors,” Mitchell said about her morning walk down that avenue toward a school crossing guard.
“I can see that she's a person on the other side of the street, but I can't see the features of her face unless she's right in front of me.”
“I used to stand near H Street, close my eyes and try to guess the lanes the cars were in,” Mitchell said, describing an activity that calls upon her sense of hearing, which has not sharpened with the onset of glaucoma - although her ability to use it has improved.
As Mitchell continues her five-year college plan, you may hear or see her as she makes her way throughout the North Coast. Perhaps you'll hear her backpack bumping along the pavement, carrying textbooks and a talking calculator.
Perhaps you'll see her in the front row of a classroom, gently pressing a pair of opera glasses against a pair of eyes that gaze through her visual impairment.
Or perhaps one day you'll hear about a dedicated licensed social worker celebrated for changing many people's lives and known to wield a pair of opera glasses and a funny story about a dead rat.
Study Finds Lack of Knowledge About Glaucoma and Other Eye Conditions
According to a study done by the National Eye Institute and Lions Club International
Foundation, 92% of the people surveyed did not know that there are no early indicators for glaucoma.
Many said they consider the loss of eyesight to be worse than losing an arm or leg, or the ability to hear or speak.
The study also showed that:
- Most Americans do not know the risks and warning signs of diseases that could blind them.
- Only 16% had ever heard of the term low vision, which is vision loss that neither eyeglasses nor medical therapies can help.
- More than 70% surveyed said that a loss of their eyesight would have the greatest impact on their day-to-day lives.
- Hispanics knew the least about eye health and were the least likely to have their eyes examined.
- 41% said that they had not seen or heard anything about eye health or disease.
To contact the National Eye Institute, call 301-496-5248, email 2020@nei.nih.gov or visit the NEI website.
One of the many resources available to learn about glaucoma is the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF), located in San Francisco. According to GRF, there are virtually no symptoms with open angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease. In addition, there is usually no pain associated with increased eye pressure.
Vision loss related to glaucoma begins with one's peripheral or side vision. People may compensate for this unconsciously by turning their heads to the side, and they may not notice anything until significant vision is lost. The best way to protect against glaucoma is to get tested. If you have glaucoma, treatment can begin immediately.
Questions about glaucoma? Call your local LightHouse Vision Rehabilitation Specialist at 707-268-5646.
Come to the “Respect for Abilities” Fair on July 25
Tri County Independent Living is again holding an Accessible Technology Fair on Friday, July 25 at the Red Lion Hotel in Eureka from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Humboldt Council of the Blind President James Forbes and LightHouse publicist
Kathleen Adkins will host the LightHouse booth, which is sure to be full of good information about adjusting to vision loss. For more information about the fair, contact Tri County at 707-445-8404 or visit the Tri County Independent Living site.
Discovering the LightHouse
There are all sorts of ways that people learn about the
LightHouse. And sometimes that knowledge leads to helping others.
For a woman named Hilary Butts, a move from southern California landed her in a home near the Humboldt Senior Resource Center on California Street in Eureka. Hilary, who has Retinitis Pigmentosa, began attending a low vision support group that meets at the center each Tuesday morning. That's how she heard about the LightHouse.
“They've done a lot for me,” she said about assistance provided by the North Coast LightHouse team. “I'm learning braille, they loaned me a CCTV and they provided mobility training. I moved to this area for the weather and services, and boy do they have it!”
Hilary has taken her personal experiences adjusting to vision loss to a new level and will be serving the LightHouse as a volunteer-in-training once a week during the summer months. Way to go, Hilary!
If you would like information about becoming a volunteer at the LightHouse, contact Community Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Keyatta Shade at 415-694-7371 or kshade@lighthouse-sf.org.
Taking the Bus on the North Coast
Many North Coast residents utilize bus transportation, while others would rather not and still others simply cannot. For those who would like to use the bus system, here are two ways to obtain local information:
Call the Humboldt Transit Authority Monday through Friday at 707-443-0826.
Visit the Humboldt Transit Authority offices at 133 V Street in Eureka (a few blocks south of Target).
Changes Would Enhance Bus System and Community
Arcata resident Peggy Martinez has had positive experiences as a regular bus rider on the North Coast.
“The drivers are great and extremely conscientious,” said Martinez, owner of Eureka Assistive Technologies and past President of Humboldt Council of the Blind (HCB). “It's been nice seeing so many more people riding the buses lately. Recently, newly elected Humboldt County Third District Supervisor Mark Lovelace sat next to me on the bus, and I've also seen Arcata City Council member Paul Patino and Greenwheels Executive Director Chris Rall riding the bus.”
Martinez points out, however, that HCB has been concerned that the Humboldt Transit Authority offices are closed from noon to 1:00 pm.
“If you're out somewhere and can't access the website, don't have the schedule written in your PDA, or don't have someone handy to read it to you, schedule information is simply not available during that hour,” she explained. Many of us have found this to be very inconvenient.”
Martinez said they are pleased with improvements that have been made to the HTA website. They will continue advocating for other improvements, such as service on Saturday evenings and Sundays, and an automated phone scheduling system.
“We believe changes like these will increase ridership and improve the quality of life for the entire community.”
Become an Angel by Contributing to the Rainy Day Fund
When LightHouse Social Worker Janet Pomerantz was given the “Making a
Difference for Women” Award in 2007 by the Soroptimist Club of Humboldt Bay, she was also awarded a $500 grant to donate to a worthy nonprofit.
Not surprisingly, Janet chose the LightHouse of the North Coast as the grant recipient. There is now a small pot of money to use as a discretionary rainy day fund for North Coast residents adjusting to vision loss. Sudden vision-related needs can happen on a sunny or a rainy day. That's why we are hoping to grow this fund so that our consumers who are in need of emergency medical care can be assisted in a timely manner with money for hotels or transportation.
Our local funders include the North Coast Lions, Union Labor Health Foundation Angel Fund, the Humboldt Area Foundation, Soroptimists and the McLean Foundation. All have generously supported many consumers who are visually impaired.
Recently, the rainy day fund was utilized to help a local person pay for his hotel when he traveled to Santa Rosa for emergency eye surgery.
Without the operation - made possible by assistance from his relatives, church and the fund - this gentleman would have lost his vision.
Would you like to donate to the rainy day fund to assist a local person coping with vision loss? Call our office at 707-268-5646, or send a donation to 2830 G Street, Suite B, Eureka, CA, 95501. While we cannot share the identities of those who benefit from your generosity, the LightHouse will let you know how your dollars were spent to help others.
Sendero GPS Helps Users Find Great Food and Braille Menus
People who use Sendero GPS, or products powered by Sendero GPS, will be glad to know that as of July 1, 2008, braille menus will be attached to three North Coast Restaurants: the Sea Grill and Lost Coast Brewery restaurants in Eureka and Northwoods Restaurant in Crescent City.
The ability to attach enhanced content, such as audio or text files, to user-created points of interest is just one of the features that makes Sendero GPS the most powerful accessible GPS solution available. For more information about Sendero GPS, visit the Sendero Group website. Contact Sendero by phone at 888-757-6810 or by email at GPS@SenderoGroup.com.
Descriptive Video Services Bring Visual Media to Life
There are many descriptive video services (DVS) that make visual media such as television programs, feature films and home videos more accessible to viewers who are blind or visually impaired.
According to the Media Access Group at WGBH , a television or VCR may be all you need to enjoy descriptive videos.
If your TV or VCR was made after 1992, you should have what is called a Second Audio Program (SAP). You can activate the SAP feature through the TV's remote control or onscreen menu. (Sometimes it's labeled "MTS" and provides a choice of SAP, mono or stereo. If you have difficulty locating this feature, consult the equipment manual or call the manufacturer).
There are also stand-alone SAP receivers, which function very much like a radio. On the North Coast, Reading Service of the Redwoods provides such receivers to eligible community members. With a SAP receiver, you simply tune it to the channel that broadcasts the description soundtrack. This may be used in addition to a TV or for audio only.
The LightHouse of the North Coast has a number of informative descriptive videos in VHS format if you have access to a VCR. If you have computer access, try out descriptive videos by enjoying a segment about Enchanted Hills Camp.
Reading Service to Expand Broadcast Schedule
Reading Service of the Redwoods (RSR) will be installing a new system that replays its broadcast throughout the day, making it easier for listeners to hear information at their convenience.
North Coast residents who currently use the service must tune in from 10:00 to 11:30 am Monday through Friday to listen to local newspapers and other important local information being read live by volunteers in the studio.
Available through a free, specially tuned radio receiver, RSR serves many LightHouse contacts and Lantern subscribers. Listeners who are on the RSR email list will receive a notice when the system is ready. Those who don't have email will receive a phone call informing them of the new schedule when it becomes available. Stay tuned for details!
To contact Reading Service of the Redwoods, call 707-826-1247 or email rsr1@sbcglobal.net.
More to Having a Guide Dog Than Meets the Eye
On Wednesday, October 22, Guide Dogs for the Blind will host “Introduction to the Guide Dog Lifestyle,” a hands-on workshop for persons seriously considering a guide dog.
The workshop will be held at the Adorni Center in Eureka and will cover the application process, communicating with a guide dog, instruction in dog care, maintenance and obedience, simulated guide dog walks, navigating street crossings, and an overview of the 28-day training program.
For more information, contact Jeanine Kitahata at 800-295-4050, ext. 4199, or email jkitahata@guidedogs.com.
Groups Provide Forum to Meet Others Adjusting to Vision Loss
Men and women throughout Humboldt and Del Norte counties gather regularly to discuss what's happening with their vision and to share tips on adjusting to vision loss.
With groups meeting in Fortuna, Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville and Crescent City, there's a lot of good information swirling about for people to get their hands on.
For more information about meeting locations, times and names of group facilitators, contact LightHouse of the North Coast at 707-268-5646 or email LightHouse Program Assistant Patti Rose at prose@lighthouse-sf.org.
Department of Rehabilitation Relocates Humboldt County
Offices
If you know where the Applebee's Restaurant is in Eureka, then you know (almost) where our local Department of Rehabilitation has moved its offices. You can find the new offices at 1330 Bayshore Way, Suite 101.
DOR continues to provide vocational rehabilitation services for visually impaired and blind North Coast residents, including: adjustment to vision loss and blindness, preparation for work, assistive technology, reader services, occupational training, job placement and on the job follow-up.
For more information, visit the DOR website. You can also call DOR counselor Rick Saria at 707-445-6300, email rsaria@dor.ca.gov or visit the DOR offices in Eureka behind Applebee's.
North Coast Resident Enjoys Talking Books From East Coast
Lindy Timmerman, a Humboldt County resident who is blind, discovered a great organization through her church called the Xavier Society for the Blind (XSB).
Based in New York and similar to the Braille and Talking Books Library, XSB supplies free materials, such as talking books and magazines focused on Catholicism and Christianity. Examples include biographies of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. John of the Cross. Timmerman says XSB will send you tapes to be played on your own cassette recorder, supplied by Talking Books.
To contact Xavier Society for the Blind, call 800-637-9193.
Learn Something New at Eureka Adult School
The LightHouse provides opportunities for the blind and visually impaired to learn new ways to adapt to vision loss and gain increased independence. Other learning opportunities are available at the Eureka Adult School.
Eureka Adult School will begin its fall schedule on September 2. Categories of classes include: computers and careers; fitness; GED and diploma classes; adaptive education; courses to learn English as a second language; and “Fifty Plus,” a class that covers topics such as cooking, multimedia, physical fitness and tips for mature drivers.
For more information contact Eureka Adult School at 707-441-2448.
Accessible Medical Equipment Seminar Available to Bay Area and Beyond
If you own a telephone or have Internet access on a computer, you can participate in a September seminar about accessible medical equipment. The seminar takes place on Friday, September 5, and is sponsored by the LightHouse.
Once you reserve a spot, you'll be able to dial in by phone or connect via the Web. For more information, contact the Vision Loss Resource Center at 888-400-8933 or info@lighthouse-sf.org. You can also call your local LightHouse team at 707-268-5646.
Contact Us:
LightHouse of the North Coast
2830 G Street, Suite B-1
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone 707-268-5646
Para Español 800-592-9053
TTY 707-268-5655
FAX 707-268-5647
Other LightHouse Locations
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
214 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone 415-431-1481
TTY 415-431-4572
FAX 415-863-7568
Adaptations Order Line:
888-400-8933
Enchanted Hills Camp
3410 Mt. Veeder Road
Napa, CA 94558
Phone 707-224-4023
FAX 707-224-5435
