THE ALLIANCE of and for VISUALLY IMPAIRED TEXANS (AVIT) And

THE ALLIANCE OF AND FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED TEXANS (AVIT) and

THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND OF TEXAS (ACBT)

PRESENT

BLINDNESS SUMMIT

State Capitol Auditorium

1100 Congress Avenue

Austin, Texas 78701

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Working together we can do more to overcome barriers

to EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND INDEPENDENT LIVING
for Texans who are blind and visually impaired

BLINDNESS SUMMIT CONFERENCE PROGRAM – SENIOR TRACK

10:30-11:30AM and 2:30-3:30 PM

FOCUSING ON SERVICES FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER TEXANS COPING WITH THE LOSS OF THEIR VISION.

INTRODUCTION

Over a quarter of a million seniors in Texas, 269,000, are considered legally blind and consequently suffer from a major loss of independence. What’s more, these numbers are growing rapidly as more people live longer. The population of individuals over the age of 65 is expected to grow by 60% over the next 15 years.

“Low vision”, among seniors is most often caused by age-related visual disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts.

Seniors with low vision have difficulty performing customary daily living activities and experience a diminished quality of life. Visual impairments among seniors increase an individual’s risk of falling, injury, and can contribute to depression and poor general health.

Older Texans with vision loss need special training in relearning independent living skills, viable transportation ALTERNATIVES and adaptive aids and technology in order that they may live independently and with dignity.

The DARS - Division for Blind Services, local Lighthouses for the blind, Independent Living Centers, Home Health Agencies and Area Agencies on Aging and Disability offer an array of vital services and assistance to older Texans who are visually impaired.

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services

Division for Blind Services

Independent Living Program

Laura Marin, Independent Living Field Specialist

1-800-628-5115 Toll Free Number

www.dars.state.tx.us

The DBS Independent Living Program assists people who have visual impairments in their efforts to achieve as much independence as possible within their families and communities, in accordance with each individual's capacity, interest and ability.

1.  Adjustment to Blindness: Assistance with coping with vision loss, understanding eye condition, adaptations/alternate techniques to incorporate into daily life, readiness to participate in training, explaining disability to others.

2.  Quality of Life: Leisure and recreation activities, volunteer exploration, satisfaction with current lifestyle.

3.  Travel: Orientation and mobility, public transportation

4.  Independent Living Skills: Cooking safety skills, measuring liquids, kitchen appliances/aids, washing clothes, repairing clothes, household chores, home maintenance, grooming, eating skills, managing medical conditions, medication management.

5.  Communication: Low-vision evaluation, access to printed material, telling time, writing skills, telephone skills, money identification, organizing/labeling, Braille.

6.  Support Systems: Community resources (Meals on Wheels, Area Agencies on Aging, Center for Independent Living, etc.), use of mentors, consumer organizations, directory assistance etc.

San Antonio Independent Living Services (SAILS)

Marie Herrera ILV/Volunteer Coordinator 210-281-1878 ext.123

Gloria Aguirre IL/Outreach Specialist 210-281-1878 ext.115

1-800-474-0295 Toll Free Number

www.sailstx.org

Since 1981, SAILS has worked to make San Antonio and The surrounding Counties a better place to live, work and play for people with disABILITIES.

Our Mission:

To advocate for the rights and empowerment of the people with disABILITIES and to provide needed services to people with disABILITIES in order to increase their self-determination and independence

People with disABILITIES have the right to be treated with dignity and respect; the right to live and receive services in their own homes, and to decide for themselves what is the best for them. Independent Living is different from other social services in that people with disABILITIES decide what services are needed and the best way to receive those services. This allows individuals more control over their own lives and leads to independence.

ADVOCACY

Provide information and assistance for people with disABILITIES and their families in accessing support systems and promoting changes that enhance full access to the community. Provide education on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and information about disability rights.

How can SAILS assist you or your family members?

SAILS help individuals with any disabilities: mental, physical, cognitive and sensory.

At SAILS, you can:

Ø  Learn skills to become independent

Ø  Meet other people with disABILITIES

Ø  Receive information and referrals

Ø  Learn how to advocate

Ø  Learn to volunteer at SAILS

Ø  Be a part of our community

Ø  One on One Braille Classes

Ø  STAP Program- Free Specialized telephone assistance program for Texas residents.

Ø  Youth Transition Services

Ø  Relocation Services from nursing facilities to the community.

Memorial Hermann Home Health

HomeSight Low Vision Program

Diana Arnold, OT, 281-784-7500

Memorial Hermann Home Health is a full service home health agency with a low vision rehabilitation program for homebound, Medicare patients. The program endeavors to increase the safety, independence and emotional well-being of qualified individuals referred to the program by their MD (PCP, ophthalmologist, other).

Qualified persons would have visual acuity < 20/70 in best corrected eye or constricted visual field to the degree that safety and independence in activities of daily living is impacted. Home safety and lighting assessments are performed and solutions generated. Pt. and caregivers are interviewed and the client is observed performing usual tasks in the home to determine how low vision impacts completion of the activity.

Specific activity goals with independence levels are determined with client and caregiver input. Performance areas of concern are: personal care, medication management, functional mobility, functional communication, leisure, meal preparation, home maintenance, clothing management, and financial management.

Training is provided to teach low vision principles, techniques, and operation of adaptive devices. Resource information is provided to enhance the individuals’ access to other low vision resources available in the community.

SAN ANTONIO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND

PAULA BLACKLOCK

www.salighthouse.org

Senior’s Program Overview

·  Stating point: $100,000 Grant Proposal submitted to the City of San Antonio in 2001 for the startup of the program.

·  Purpose of grant:

To assist visually impaired seniors to maintain healthy and independent lifestyles:

o  Provide independent living skills training

o  Provide Adaptive aids

o  Provide counseling for coping with vision loss

o  Provide a Low Vision Specialist examination

o  Provide Orientation and Mobility Training

·  Continuum of care :

o  Yearly follow up- reassessment of condition

o  Information referral/educate consumer on other services available

o  Support groups, social, educational

o  Provide additional training, computer, supplemental Orientation and Mobility

o  Provider/family training, Blindness sensitivity, family support groups

·  Community Awareness: Educate the community about blindness and available resources. Educate the general public about the challenges of people who are blind or severely visually impaired. Educate the community on the advantages of seniors staying independent.

EAST TEXAS LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND

Ann Phillips, Project Administrator

411 W Front St | Tyler, TX 75702

Tel: 903.590.4350 | Mobile: 903.985.0666

| www.tylerlighthouse.org

Independent Living Skills

The goal of the Independent Living Program at the East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind is to enable adults who are blind or visually impaired to live independently in their homes and communities. This is done through classes that teach alternative techniques to master daily living tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and organizing the home and office.

Training includes:

·  Closet Tips

·  Bed Making

·  Bathroom Tips

·  Housekeeping Tips

·  Cooking

·  Finance Tips

To view a series of Independent Living video lessons presented by Cathy Hooper, please click here.

If you prefer to send them directly to YouTube, the link is: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4863F8E8D32AF6FE

Bexar Area Agency on Aging

(210) 362-5200 E-mail:

Web site: www.aacog.com

Relationship between the Aging and Disability Communities

The San Antonio/Alamo Region disability community is somewhat diffuse, with no single group or organization representing all persons who are disabled. Among disability groups, individuals and their needs can be quite diverse, ranging from transportation to work to transportation to medical appointments, with many other needs in between. There is more of a focal point for seniors in the community, who also need support related to disabilities, but senior advocates do not generally associate their issues with the disability community—and the programs that assist seniors often have separate funding streams from programs

for the disability community.

Innovations in Community-Based Aging and Disability Services

The Aging and Disability Resource Center—Alamo Service Connection

The Aging and Disability Resource Center Program (ADRC), a collaborative effort of

AoA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is designed to streamline

access to long-term care. The ADRC program provides states with an opportunity to integrate the full range of long-term supports and services into a single, coordinated system. By simplifying access to long-term care systems, ADRCs and other single point

of entry (SEP) systems are serving as the cornerstone for long-term care reform in many states.

AoA and CMS envision ADRCs as highly visible and trusted places available in every community across the country where people of all ages, incomes and disabilities go to

get information on the full range of long-term support options. Nationally, ADRC programs have taken important steps towards meeting AoA and CMS’s vision by:

·  creating a person-centered, community-based environment that promotes independence and dignity for individuals;

·  providing easy access to information to assist consumers in exploring a full range of long-term support options; and

·  providing resources and services that support the range of needs for family caregivers

ADRC programs provide information and assistance to individuals needing either public

or private resources, to professionals seeking assistance on behalf of their clients and to individuals planning for their future long-term care needs. ADRC programs also serve as

the entry point to publicly administered long-term supports including those funded under Medicaid, the Older Americans Act and state revenue programs.

Mobility and Transportation

The Alamo Area Accessible Transportation Coalition Initiative (AAATCI), was created in 2011 by the Bexar Area Agency on Aging with the support of the national headquarters

of Easter Seals Project Action.

AAATCI’s vision for accessible transportation in the Alamo Area is to ensure that all

seniors and people with disabilities have safe, least restrictive and barrier-free access

to affordable transportation to meet personal needs. AAATCI’s membership totals more than 60 community members and representatives of public and private organizations

who have an interest in improving accessible transportation in our region.Members

have been actively engaged in AAATCI’s subcommittees: ADA Infrastructure, Dialysis Transportation Research, Sensitivity Etiquette, Urban-Rural Link, and Grant Research.

The Coalition’s achievements in its first year include:

·  Securing an $841,000 grant from USDOT-Federal Transit Administration to create a One-Call/One-Click Center, AlamoRides.org, to provide personalized transportation referrals

·  Completing a preliminary analysis of dialysis transportation patterns in San Antonio

·  Identifying areas in the City of San Antonio’s Unified Development Code (UDC) that could be modified to improve accessibility.