As well as conducting intake and referral interviews
with individuals to help identify what services from the Society may be
helpful, individual counseling related to adjustment to vision loss may
be provided. Two support groups are also offered, one for older adults
and one for younger adults, with both focusing on meeting the needs of
more recently blind or visually impaired persons.
Additional referrals and help in filling out necessary forms for other community support
services are also provided, including referral for Wolfner Library for the Blind,
Mind's Eye Information Service, free telephone directory assistance, religious
resources, and the State Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.
Individuals are taught independent living skills on a
one-to-one basis, including cooking methods, housekeeping skills and other
activities related to adapting appliances and household items for independent
use. Techniques for identifying money, clothes and food items are taught,
as well as marking appliances for easiest use by the individual.
Orientation and safe travel within a persons home, including
adaptation of the home for maximum and safest movement are taught. Traveling
independently in the neighborhood or community are also taught, including
the use of the white cane and public transportation. Some individuals utilize a white support cane if getting around with a cane is necessary.
Staffed by an Optometrist and two specially trained professional
staff, the Low Vision Clinic provides full functional vision assessments
to determine if there are prescriptive or non-prescriptive vision aids
which may help a person best utilize the remaining sight they have. This
exam compliments the persons primary eye doctor's medical exam by looking
at how the visual functioning may be enhanced.
If an exam by the Society's doctor is not indicated or
desired, other Low Vision staff can assist a person with identifying and
training in the use of non-prescriptive aids, such as magnifiers, lighting
and lamps, computers and other devices which enlarge regular print onto
larger screens.
For individuals wanting to learn braille for reading
and/or writing, all levels of braille are taught. Some individuals prefer
braille only for identifying items (clothes, food, etc...) while others
want to learn it as a complete communication system. When indicated or desired, the use of a slate and stylus are also taught.
In addition to magnifiers and other vision devices, a
number of computer programs are available for demonstration. Some items
serve as complete reading machines whereby printed words can be scanned
and read aloud by a voice program, while other programs enlarge material
onto computer screens. Various speech synthesized voices can be demonstrated
as well as programs that enlarge what comes from within a computer. Screen reader software enables a computer to “talk” and say everything
which is visually seen on the screen. Appointments needed for demonstration and ongoing training.
Individual counseling may be provided to an individual to help them adjust to their recent loss of vision, and where helpful will include any family member.
Support groups meet in eight-week sessions and are throughout the calendar year. Support groups give the opportunity for peer support and to learn from others
facing the same life situation. Transportation assistance is made available for those participating in support groups.
Two times per month group activities are held at the Society's office.
These groups, which provide socialization and support, will do such activities as exercises,
cooking, arts & crafts and have guest speakers. Spouses are allowed to attend as they desire.
A younger adult group has a monthly outing to various venues in the metro area.
Additional activities include making available free tickets to the Saint Louis Symphony, Saint Louis Cardinals, and the summer outdoor MUNY Opera. The
Saint Louis Public Library also sponsors with the Society monthly DVS Movies of the Month, free full length movies shown at two library locations and free of
charge. Nominal transportation donation is requested of those the Society provides transportation for.
In small group settings individuals learn adaptive techniques to help the person continue cooking, whether it be full meals, snacks, or other items. Some
transportation assistance is offered.
Special interest classes are held throughout the year offering a wide variety of options. Examples of such classes include pottery, gardening, picture frame
making , and much more. A nominal fee for supplies is requested, transportation is the responsibility of the individual attending these classes.
Four times a year an evening program is focused on the family member in order to help them understand more fully the person’s vision loss and impact on daily
activities. How the other person’s vision loss impacts the family member is also discussed. Those attending may be spouses or adult children of a parent losing their
vision.
The Society carries over 250 different vision and independent living aids. All strengths of magnifiers are available with or without lights, some are hands free
while others are hand held. In addition, monocular and telescopic aids are available for near and distance viewing. Larger and more expensive aids, are available for
demonstration and sale and include lamps and CCTV’s. Appointments needed for vision aids.
A number of other independent living aids are available to assist with writing, cooking, money management, telling time, playing cards, address books, calendars,
thermostats, and other items.
In conjunction with the St. Louis Public Library two times a month at different library branches DVS movies are shown. DVS movies are audio described with a
voice describing what is happening in the movie, including the movie set, gestures and other visual aspects when there is no talking by the actors. The St. Louis
Public Library provides the movies with the Society providing, for a $5 fee, transportation. Reservations required for transportation assistance.
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from any of
the services of Saint Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired,
please call us at 314-968-9000 or click Make
A Referral.
