SIGHT LOSS SERVICES, Inc. - AN OVERVIEW

Many of you who receive the “The Candlelight Newsletter” have been members of Sight Loss Services and have availed yourself of our many services for the visually impaired over a number of years. For others who may be more recent we want you to be aware of the background of Sight Loss Services and all this agency has to offer.

Sight Loss Services, Inc. is a Cape and Islands-based human service organization providing emotional support and informational services to people who are learning to cope with the loss of sight. We are the only agency providing services of this kind to Cape and Islands residents of all ages, and we offer them free of charge. Founded as a chapter in 1980 and autonomously in 1987, our programs are based on a peer support and self-help philosophy.

We are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of individuals who represent all parts of the Cape, by residence or by community project affiliations. The daily operation of our agency is managed by an Executive Director. Our Support and Information Coordinator and Resource/Outreach Coordinator with the assistance of our Home Independence Instructors and nearly 40 volunteers help to make our programs and services possible.

From a handicapped accessible location on School St. in West Dennis, we are able to coordinate our services, which includes 11 Self Help Support Groups offered at locations Cape-wide; an up-to-date Information and Referral Network; Education and Awareness; an Outreach program which includes the Telephone Buddy program and a Home Independence program; and our Adaptive Aids program:

SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUPS:
Our Self Help Support Group program is maintained by visually impaired group coordinators and by volunteer Driver/Guides who provide transportation. We have 11 monthly support groups at handicapped-accessible locations Cape-wide. Participants exchange coping skills and problem-solving strategies and gain the confidence they need to accomplish everyday tasks despite diminished vision.

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL:
We have an extensive and up-to-date Information and Referral Network which helps us to provide the answers to any questions regarding vision loss, community resources for the visually impaired, the latest in eye research, alternative treatments for various eye diseases, and referral information for local eye care physicians. We network with and make referrals to many Cape and Island human service agencies.

OUTREACH/HOME INDEPENDENCE:
Our Outreach program consists of outreach calls to clients and our Telephone Buddy Outreach Program and Home Independence Programs. The Telephone Buddy Outreach Program pairs individuals who have something in common, whether it be the same eye disease, hobbies, backgrounds, interest, or even location, so they may call each other when feeling lonely and need to hear a friendly voice. Our Home Independence Program is geared toward individuals who are visually impaired (but not legally blind) who are having difficulty functioning in the home due to the loss of sight. Our instructor will teach the client to accomplish everyday tasks such as cooking, money management, personal grooming, in-home mobility, identification, safety, recreation, etc. Through the use of many resources and adaptive aids we help the visually impaired client to maintain an independent and productive lifestyle in the home environment with minimal interference from the loss of sight.

ADAPTIVE AIDS:
Our Adaptive Aids Program introduces a variety of items which are designed to assist the visually impaired in carrying out daily tasks. We display these items and allow clients to come in and try them out before purchasing. Adaptive Aids include such items as sunglasses, hand-held magnifiers, cooking devices, talking clocks and bold faced watches, sewing aids, letter, check and signature writing guides, bold lined paper, labeling aids, large print recreational games, medical devices, and more. No profit is made through the sale of adaptive aids. Grant money, when available, can provide these devices for those who cannot otherwise afford to pay the cost. In addition, our Tech Center and Lighting Lab offers examples of video magnifying devices and lighting fixtures for individuals to experiment with before making the decision to purchase.

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS:
Staff members make outside presentations to local area community groups, professional organizations, church groups, nursing homes, independent living centers, nutrition sites, schools, and other clubs. We actively participate in health fairs and utilize media to inform the public of our programs and services. Our newsletter is distributed 4 times a year in large print, on cassette, or via e-mail to over 550 individuals and groups. Our large print website format is accessible to visually impaired computer users and has connected us with individuals worldwide.

In addition to our five primary programs, Sight Loss Services has developed the following special projects:

EYE CARE PROJECT:
We offer an Eye Care Project for individuals who cannot afford the cost of eye exams and/or glasses. Included in this category are individuals whose income “falls through the cracks” of the guidelines that determine qualification for assistance, children of parents who do not qualify for assistance, victims of domestic violence, people who have recently been laid off, accident victims people in job-training programs, and those who have lost vision from HIV/Aids. This fund is a one-time-only fund and is supported by grants from various foundations – most recently the Ramlose and Kelley Foundations.

SUPPORT AND INFORMATION FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED VETERANS:
We have developed a program specifically serving visually impaired veterans who live on the Cape. We have two semi-annual support group sessions that will provide the veteran with the opportunity to a) share and exchange feelings; b) gain needed relevant information in an accessible format; and c) participate in a social setting with a nutritious meal to help break isolation. Transportation is provided by our volunteers to those who need it.

ART CLASSES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED:
With funding provided to us by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, we were able to offer Art Classes for the Visually Impaired during the Spring of 2008 that consisted of three 2-hour classes. The first class was a Collage class that incorporated the concept of shapes and color contrast. The second was a Cape Cod Valentine (Sailor’s Valentine) class that provided a tactile opportunity for visually impaired students to work with seashells and create something that is historically connected to Cape Cod. And the third class was a Clay Sculpture class that provided students with the opportunity to utilize their hands and imagination as they create while developing their own personal techniques. Transportation was provided by volunteers of our organization. We hope to continue to offer these classes and perhaps expand on them, as funding permits.

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