Support and Information for Visually Impaired Veterans
Sight Loss Services, Inc., is a non profit, human service organization offering peer support, information and referral, and home independence training to people on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket who are learning to cope and function safely and independently with the loss of sight. We do so by offering eleven Self Help Support Groups, an extensive and up to date Information and Referral Network, Outreach and Home Independence training, Educational presentations and distributions, and Adaptive Aids that assist the visually impaired in carrying out everyday tasks with minimal interference from vision loss. In addition, we offer an Eye Care Project which pays for eye exams and/or glasses for those who cannot otherwise afford the cost of such service. Founded 26 years ago as a chapter and 20 years ago autonomously by a visually impaired woman seeking assistance, it is the goal of our organization to improve the quality of life for those who have lost their vision. Based on a “peer support and self help” philosophy, our programs are geared toward helping to reduce the fears and isolation caused by the onset of vision loss and toward helping to simplify the mechanics of everyday living. Ours is the only agency providing these services to residents of our Cape and Islands area, and we do not charge a fee for our services because we service people in crisis, many of whom are low income elders and young adults. On average, our agency provides roughly 9,000 units of services to over 2,000 unduplicated individuals annually.
A large number of those to whom we provide service are visually impaired veterans who, whether they be blinded during service or after, have unique emotional concerns to which only fellow veterans can relate. They can benefit immeasurably from detailed information regarding government services, options, adaptive equipment, rehabilitation, and financial benefits. Being visually impaired, they often miss out on the opportunity to avail themselves to these worthwhile services to which they are entitled because of the visual impairment that prevents them from researching their available options. More often than not the information is in print format which is difficult or impossible for them to read, or transportation is needed to communicate with an official at a local or regional office location. In our capacity as an agency that provides information and support to the visually impaired, we have been instrumental in assisting visually impaired veterans obtain many useful resources; however, our knowledge is limited. We have networked very closely with the Veterans Administration staff and volunteers who service this area and have determined that there is a vital need for specialized services available to those veterans who are visually impaired.
With the assistance of the Veterans Administration Visually Impaired Service Team, we have developed a program that will take a three pronged approach to offer the visually impaired veterans of Cape Cod and the Islands useful, comprehensive services. It is our goal to offer semi annual support sessions; one in June and one in December; that will provide visually impaired veterans with:
a) an opportunity to share their unique feelings and emotions;
b) an opportunity to gain needed relevant information in an accessible format to help them maintain daily independence and productivity; and
c) an opportunity to participate in a social setting with a meal to help break the isolation that is caused by the onset of vision loss.
Transportation will be provided by our volunteers for those who need it to the accessible location offered to us by the Hyannis Veterans of Foreign Wars. Guest speakers with relevant information for visually impaired veterans will be invited to speak at each session, and a nutritious meal will be provided at little to no cost. This will be an opportunity for support, information, socialization, and self esteem development to be shared and exchanged as new ideas and friendships begin to develop and enhance the lives of those who have served our country.
More information can be obtained by calling:
Sight Loss Services
(508) 394-3904
(800) 427-6842 (MA only)
V.A. New England Healthcare
Visually Impaired Service Team
V.A. Medical Center
830 Chalkstone Ave.
Providence, RI 02908
Att: Adele Geringer
(401) 273-7100 Ext. 3520
adele.geringer@med.va.gov
Veterans Administration
OutPatient Clinic
145 Falmouth Road
Hyannis, MA 02601
508-771-3190
Mass. Veterans Service Agents
Dept. of Veterans Services
First Citizens Federal Credit Union Bldg.
66 Falmouth Rd.
Hyannis, MA 02601
Mail to: P.O. Box 429
Hyannis, MA 02601
(508) 778-8740
1-888-778-8701
Also:
Bourne: (508) 759-0600 Ext. 348
Harwich: (508) 430-7510
Sandwich: (508) 833-8027
Wareham: (508) 291-3100 Ext. 3135
Provincetown: (508) 487-7099
Assisting Veterans, Dependents, and Widows with benefits and services. Home Visits are available.
Cape and Islands VFW’s
Post 8074 Frank V. Iannello
Box 574, Harwich 02645
Post 2578 Dennis F. Thomas
467 Iyanough Rd., Hyannis 02601
508-775-9817
Post 9917 Brewster
Box 875, Brewster 02631
508-896-9040
Post 8607 Brown James Buck
150 George Ryder Rd.Chatham 02633
508-945-0554
Post 5489 Mashpee Memorial
Box 1728, Mashpee 02649
508-995-8786
Post 2569 Edward Hooper Gardiner
90 Teaticket Hwy, E. Falmouth 02536
508-540-2569
Post 5988 Aptucxet
180 Shore Rd., Bourne 02532
Post 2091 Thaddeus Kosciuszko
3 Amvets Ave., Falmouth 02540
508-540-3014
Post 9261 Martha’s Vineyard
Box 1437, Oak Bluffs 02557
508-693-9261
Post 8608 Sidney&Robert Henderson
Box 941, Nantucket 02554
508-228-6149
Post 3152 Lewis A. Young
1 Jerome Smith Rd., Provincetown 02657
508-487-1348
Cape and Islands American Legions
Post 488 Dennis
1045 Route 134, South Dennis 02660
Post 287 John R. McKay
Box 950, Wellfleet 02667
Post 197 West Yarmouth
Box 317, W. Yarmouth 02673
Post 206 Barnstable
Box 374, Centerville 02632
Post 82 Byron L. Sylvaro
21 Washington St., Nantucket 02554
Post 257 Gen. George W. Goethals
47 Martin Rd., Vineyard Haven 02568
Post 188 Clark-Haddad
Box 956, Sandwich 02563
Post 253 Chatham
Box 394, Chatham 02633
Post 262 Mashpee
5 Coombs Ln., Mashpee 02649
Post 308 Orleans
Box 838, Orleans 02653
Post 231 Stephen H. Meuse
39 Eventide Ln., Hyannis 02601
Post 71 Morris-Light
Box 585, Provincetown 02657
Post 186 Martha’s Vineyard
Box 193, Edgartown 02639
|