www.vrcberks.org For People- A ected by In Sight Check out Blindness and Low Vision the new l k Proud ly serv to our ing Berk s County since 1929 website! SPRING | 2017 Vision Resource Center of Berks County Inside this I ue and Berks Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services President’s Message .............page 2 In-Sight Awareness .........page 4 Meet our Intern ..................page 5 Welcome Jim Welde, our Workshop Coordinator ......page 5 Tips for Assisting People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision ..................page 6 Helen Keller Day June 27 ..............page 7 Wednesday, May 17, 2017 • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Services Provided by VRC .................page 7 Meet potential customers face-to-face Dine in at Berks County’s only gathering of the Dark .............page 8 vision and hearing experts! Vision Resource Center of Berks County | 2020 Hampden Boulevard, Reading, PA 19604 | 610-375-8407 Chairperson, Board of Directors Steve Bobick President/CEO Lori Schermerhorn Editor Carolyn Krick Advertising Carolyn Krick In-Sight Printed by Reading Eagle Company Calendar of Events APRIL President’s Me age Tuesday, April 4: Insight on BCTV at 10:00 a.m. Lori Schermerhorn, President/CEO Tuesday, April 5: Social/Recreational Activity Saturday, April 8: Child Client’s Spring Activity from 1 to 3 p.m. at VRC 2020 Hampden Blvd, Reading 19604 Happy Spring, everyone! Mother Nature sure has been giving us a run for our money this past winter, hasn’t she? Here at VRC we have Wednesday, April 19: Lunch Bunch at 11:30 a.m. at Deluxe been ready and looking forward to the warmer weather months Restaurant, located at 2295 Lancaster Pike, Shillington, 19607 coming up! Our second Easter egg hunt for blind and visually Wednesday, April 26: Sight Loss Support Group with Mark impaired kids and their siblings is just around the corner (complete Levengood from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the VRC, located at 2020 with “talking” eggs that say “Yoohoo!! I’m hiding!” providing audible Hampden Blvd. Reading 19604 clues to help the kids locate them) which was a lot of fun for the Wednesday, April 26: Caregiver’s Support Group from 2:00-3:00 kids and us last year! Our annual Vision and Hearing Expo is coming p.m. at the VRC up again on May 17th at the Reading Crowne Plaza (see ad on front page for more info)! June ushers in summer and even warmer MAY weather as we plan activities and day trips for our adult clients, and Tuesday, May 2: Insight on BCTV at 10:00 a.m. then it’s time for Kids Camp again in July! Busy days ahead but that’s Wednesday, May 17: Lunch Bunch at 11:30 a.m. at Prime Steak and the way we like it! Wine Restaurant, located at the Crowne Plaza, 1741 Papermill Rd, We also recently gave our website a facelift! Check it out when Wyomissing, 19610 you have a chance to see what we’re up to (www.vrcberks.org) and Lunch-Learn at 11:30 a.m. like us on Facebook to get more information going on at our agency Wednesday, May 24: as well as inspirational stories about the blind and visually impaired! Wednesday, May 24: Sight Loss Support Group with Mark Until next time… Levengood from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the VRC, located at 2020 Hampden Blvd. Reading 19604 Wednesday, May 24: Caregiver’s Support Group from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the VRC Our Mi ion JUNE Our mission is to strive to prevent blindness and visual Tuesday, June 6: Insight on BCTV at 10:00 a.m. impairment, and to advocate and provide quality education, support services, and rehabilitation to enrich the lives of blind and visually Wednesday, June 21: Sight Loss Support Group with Mark impaired persons and their caregivers. Levengood from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the VRC, located at 2020 Hampden Blvd. Reading 19604 Wednesday, June 21: Caregiver’s Support Group from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the VRC, located at 2020 Hampden Blvd., Reading 19604 Contact us at 610-375-8407 Monday, June 26th through the 29th: Adult Activity Week for Lori Schermerhorn President and CEO ext. 112 clients. Carolyn Krick Vice President of Operations ext. 110 ursday, June 29: Lunch Bunch picnic at VRC, located at 2020 Rosann Strauss Director of Workshop Services ext. 118 Hampden Blvd., Reading 19604 Ann Heiser Caseworker for Vision Screenings ext. 114 *All questions, registrations, and transportation requests for Mark Levengood Counselor ext. 120 Lunch Bunch, Lunch-Learn, Sight Loss Support Group, and Social/ Alicia Santiago Social Worker ext. 122 Recreational Activities should be directed to Mark Levengood at Joyce Morgan Activities/Transportation Coordinator ext. 125 610-375-8407 ext. 120 The Caregiver’s Support Group is dependent upon caregivers actually attending and/or requesting support. Please do not register for events more than one month in advance. VRC Services Center Hours Please feel free to consult the VRC Activity Line at 610-375-8407 ext. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 123 for an audio recording of that specifi c month’s events. 2 | Monday, April 4, 2017 Eye care excellence has a home at Granite Point. Adam J. Altman, MD AT EYE CONSULTANTS OF PENNSYLVANIA, providing the best possible patient Helga S. Barrett, OD care begins with a commitment to clinical excellence and compassionate care. Our Leslie P. Brodsky, OD Jennifer H. Cho, OD ophthalmologists and optometrists are respected for their experience, and as important, Michael Cusick, MD for their genuine compassion. In fact, our physicians and specialists are some of the best that Gary L. Dietterick, OD David S. Goldberg, MD you’ll find anywhere, and that’s one reason why Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania is regarded Dawn Hornberger, OD as the leading ophthalmology practice in the region. Bottom line: where you get your care Y. Katherine Hu, MD Lawrence E. Kenney, MD matters. Insist on the experienced eye specialists at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. Barry C. Malloy, MD Michael A. Malstrom, MD For an appointment, call 610-378-1344. Martin F. Miller, OD Mehul H. Nagarsheth, MD Abhishek K. Nemani, MD Jonathan D. Primack, MD Kevin J. Shah, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmology and Optometry | Cataract Surgery and Premium IOLs | Diabetic Justin M. Shaw, MD Retinopathy | Low Vision | Macular Degeneration | Vitreo –Retinal Surgery | Glaucoma Eye Care | Monica Wang, OD Corneal Transplants | Bladeless Custom LASIK | Laser Vision Correction | Pediatric Ophthalmology Denis Wenders, OD and Optometry | Contact Lenses | Cosmetic and Reconstructive Eyelid Surgery Presenting Sponsor of the 2017 VISION & HEARING EXPO EyeConsultantsOfPA.com Wyomissing | Pottsville | Pottstown | Blandon Monday, April 4, 2017 | 3 2017 O cers and Board of Directors: April: National Sports Eye O c e r s Steve Bobick Safety Month Chairman Kelly Kline Vice Chairman/Legal Counsel • Prevention is the key and sport-specifi c eye protection can save your vision. Eye protection during Chad Johnson any activity with potential for injury can also save vision. Eye protection is more than eyeglasses Treasurer but specifi cally safety or sports glasses. Board Members • For all age groups, sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently in baseball, basketball and Sherm Barto racquet sports. Client Representative • If you already have reduced vision in one eye, consider the risks of injuring the stronger eye Steve Bobick before participating in contact or racquet sports, which pose a higher risk of eye injury. Check Utilities and Telecom Consultant with your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) to see if appropriate eye protection is available and whether Gary Brown or not participating in contact or racquet sports is advised. Berks Digital Inc. For more information: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-sports Joe Capozello R. M. Palmer Thomas Devlin Client Representative Chad Johnson May: Healthy Vision and Customers Bank Ultraviolet Awareness Month Kelly Kline Law Offi ces of Kline & Nadirov Jennifer Mish • Healthy Vision Month is sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology to promote Comfort Keepers awareness of eye health, prevent eye diseases and reduce vision loss. Gary Rothermel • Ultraviolet Awareness Month is sponsored by Prevent Blindness America to increase awareness Shoemakersville Lions Club of how UV rays can damage your eyes, increase your risk of cataracts and cancers of the eye Heidi Sensenig, OD especially in high-risk patients. Wyomissing Optometric Center Inc.. • Simple daily measures can prevent vision loss such as wearing sunglasses with UV protection, wearing safety glasses when working outside or in the home, taking care of your contact lens, eating healthy, not smoking and regular eye exams with your eye physician. For more information: http://everharteyes.com/disordereyecare/eye-calendar/1027-healthy-vision- Thank you and-ultraviolet-awareness-month.html to District 14P Lions Clubs June: Cataract Awareness VRCBC Insight Advertising Policy Month All ads submitted to VRCBC Insight for publication will be reviewed by staff for suitability. If there is a question concerning the content of • Cataract Awareness Month is a time to bring attention and awareness to a condition any proposed advertisement, a staff that is the most common cause of blindness worldwide. member will contact the advertiser to see if any adjustments can be made. • Cataracts are essentially the clouding of the lens inside the eye – the part VRCBC Insight reserves the right to behind the iris that focuses light to the retina in order to produce clear refuse any advertisement deemed images for us to see. Although this clouding can be caused by certain inappropriate for VRCBC Insight. medications, diseases (diabetes), or trauma, the most common cause is The publication of any advertisement the normal aging process.