>> LAURIE SCHALLER: Today, we are going to speak about vision loss prevention and supports.
My name is Laurie Schaller area I work here at national disability Institute.
My contact information is on the slide and my phone number is 202-449-9521.
Here at national disability Institute, we envision a society in which people with disabilities have the same opportunities to achieve financial stability and independence as people without disabilities.
Our mission is to collaborate and innovate to build a better financial future for people with disability and their family members as well.
Here at NDI's assistant technology loan program our services include outreach and the provision of promotional webinars, we provide financial education and guidance on spending plan development.
We provide referrals to financial counseling or programs that can help people get the accepted assisted technology they need.
We received a grant funding through the U.S. Department of education rehabilitation service administration.

Today, we's will spotlight will spotlight vision loss prevention and supports.
We will spotlight the history of vision loss alliance, we will speak about eye health, therapy and accommodations for those who have vision impairments.
NDI receive funding for this program through U.S. Department of education and we partner with banks to issue and service prequalified assistive technology in New Jersey and New York to help people purchase the assistive technology that they need.
We buy down the interest so that the borrower get the loan at 4% interest.
NDI deposit funds with our partnering banks and credit unions to guarantee any loans involved.
Our services include the provision of these webinars.
NDI has a 96% repayment rate.
We make sure if we cannot find a grant for the assistive technology that someone needs and they can afford the loan that they receive from us.

What is assistive technology?
It is any technology accommodation or accessible feature that can help a person perform an action that a person who does not have a disability can typically do.
And I will work day many of us use assistive technology throughout the day.
For example we are using our smart phones, laptop computers but it also includes hearing and vision aids, smart home systems, stair climbers, standing wheelchairs, home or vehicle modifications, adaptive recreational equipment, accessible housing pods and business equipment as well.
Our spotlights really highlight cutting edge technology that is available for people to select from.
We can help people to find assistive technology that they need.
Within our AT and I have one specifically for New York states residents in another four New Jersey residents.
We welcome people to explore those resources and to call me if you need assistive technology and you're wondering if the grant may be available to help you make that purchase.
If you need a loan, we can walk you through the process and generally it takes just a couple of days to have a loan that can help a person to purchase assistive technology or services.

Today, I would like to welcome Elsa Zavoda and she presents from the vision loss alliance of New Jersey.
She has been with them since 2016.
She is the vice president of programs.
She is a practicing occupational therapist since 1997 with extensive clinical experience serving in a variety of settings.
Elsa Zavoda graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a Masters degree in occupational therapy.
She obtained a graduate certificate and low vision rehabilitation from the University of Alabama in Birmingham under the leadership of Mary Warren.
She served as a teaching assistant working directly with Ms. Warren and Elson also has been focusing on rehabilitation low vision since 2006.
She is the 16th occupational therapist and the U.S. and the first in New Jersey to be awarded specialty certification in low vision from oh ATA in 2010.
She got her accreditation and she has successfully established and implemented three low-vision programs in New Jersey and practice at the low-vision center of central New Jersey.
She serves as the visual advisor@occupationaltherapy.com.
We would like you to tell us more about your experience and the advice you have to offer our audience today.
Thank you.

>> ELSA ZAVODA: Thank you so much for having me today.
I am very happy to be here with all of you.
Thank you for the introduction my name is Elsa Zavoda I am with visual loss alliance of New Jersey.
I am also about to celebrate my seventh anniversary with the organization.
I will talk about education with Eyecare health prevention and also simple helpful tips and strategies to help you in adapting resources that can be available to you.
There's a lot I will be covering over this time with you.
You can feel free to contact me after today's presentation if you have further questions or would like to have a conversation with me especially if it is something more personally related to you or your situation or a loved one that would probably be a better conversation us to have off-line together.
Vision loss alliance of New Jersey our mission is that we empower people with vision loss are blinded by providing support, education, and training in assistive technology and independent living skills.
Provide in person and virtual programs that are free of charge over the zoom platform.

This is a link here to our website to our programs that we offer and also to our YouTube channel where you can view previously recorded presentation.
We have many presentations and program and they are all free of charge and grant funded.
You're welcome to join us for anything and everything.
We have an array of weekly classes in yoga, fitness, and also meditation and mindfulness.
We also have enrichment programs which include a peer support group with a focus on education, educational speaker series, we bring in a variety of speakers on different topics.
Such as certified orientation and mobility specialist to speak about mobility and safety in the community.
Last evening we did a two cross and we talked about the safety of crossing intersections and the traffic cycle.
And vehicles that no longer make noises as for what we are used to.
And also helpful bystanders who may tell you it is safe to cross when you are not sure if it is safe to cross.
All of those aspects and we cover artificial intelligence apps that are able available.
That is just one example but we bring many speakers on different topics.
We have a gentleman who is summoning Mount Everest was going to come back and share his adventures with us who had lost his vision years ago in an accident.
We look forward to hearing his adventures climbing Mount Everest.

We are not for profit organization 501(c)(3), we are funded through donations and has been in existence since 1943.
We are not just state commission for the blind New Jersey has its own that provide services funded through the state of New Jersey.
We are a private organization that provides services.
Our services can be ongoing there's no opening and closing of cases such as with the state agency.
We have a lot more freedom in that regard.
We serve adults with vision loss in all ages.
We originally known as New Jersey foundation for the blind founded in 1943.
It started as a social club in New York for adult men and women with vision loss and blindness.
To find a place where they can connect with others.
I am not so isolated and in 1955, we moved back to the county which is where we are in a different location in Denville.
We have the diamond spring lodge, was a beautiful property as you can see with a lake and there was a pool and it became a summer retreat for women with vision loss and blindness where they can come each year and connect with friends, participate in social activities but also skills that was all a part of that experience in coming to the diamond spring lodge each year.
These are some of the pictures of the boating and they had a large pool in the entryway that was accessible to the pool.
This is some examples of cooking in the kitchen.
Identify money in a different ways of folding bills to readily identify them when you take them out of your wallet.
Skills were a part of this summer retreat if you will.
These are some other graphics here and some women sitting around a piano with an individual playing a piano and they are singing.
A woman feeling a globe which I wish I had the opportunity to experience that myself.
In 2006 we transition to year-round programs and technology and independent living skills.

These are some of the pictures as we transition to different programs that we are currently providing now that have evolved over the years.
We serve men and women with vision loss and blindness.
In one picture we are using accessible cell phones and these were the jitterbug that was a modern invention before smart phones were created.
In the picture on the right is a therapist working with a client using handheld magnifiers to access reading a newspaper.
We have examples here in our kitchen cooking class which is happening right outside of my office door right now.
You're making sandwiches today using a grill in our kitchen right now today.
On the left it is slicing and onion and on the right is putting cookies into an oven.
This shows orientation and mobility services which we still provide to this day.
We have a certified orientation and mobility specialist who comes on-site monthly to practice skills with using travel canes with our participants.
We also go out into the community on excursions four times a year.
Here's an example of us crossing streets, navigating sidewalks and we also practice with entering businesses and we also practice with entering businesses.
We are able to provide them free of charge to our participants here in our organization.
Here is an example of wellness and healing arts program.
Someone is doing painting and art class and we have African drumming class which we offer both of those programs today as well.
More pictures of the wellness program.
On the left is a quilting class and on the right a horticulture class which we still offer today.
We have an accessible garden in the back outside which is lovely with raised garden beds.
Another picture from our assistive technology program.
On the left is an individual using an iPad learning voiceover to access her iPad to communicate and connect with her grandchildren.
On the right is a gentleman using a computer with software to allow him to be able to access the screen with screen reading and matter magnification software.
In 2015 we change our name to vision loss alliance of New Jersey to reflect our mission and connecting with other organizations that are like-minded and serving individuals and to be able to collaborate with them.
We moved to a new location.

For our current programs we launched in 2006, we offer independent living skills training.
Teaching people the skills to be able to live an independent life, mobile technology training using iPhone and iPad with built-in accessibility.
We have a learning lab program using screen magnification and screen reading software for vocational and vocational activities.
And in our holistic wellness program with art, pottery, healing through drumming, cooking, yoga, fitness etc..
These are on-site programs and you would need to live in surrounding areas to join us.
We are accessible by many forms of transportation in this northern New Jersey area.
For those who are not in this location, we have our virtual programs that are available for you to be a part of to join us.
These are a few more pictures of our healing arts program.
The drumming class happens outside and it is an accessible program.
This is independent living skills.
Our garden outside that I mentioned to you and then cooking in the kitchen.
This is our new location in these pictures.
On the left is our learning lab with four students using accessible technologies to access their computers.
On the right is an individual using her iPhone.
This individual has no big vision at all and she is using voiceover to access her cell phone.
Low vision occupational therapy which is my specialty.
Dictation we address reading, writing, education lighting, contrast, and home safety and fall prevention and occupational therapy.
We provide training and assess the assistive technology.
If anyone is interested in finding a therapist in New York I can connect you to someone in your location or at least get you started on the path to finding someone.
Low vision occupational therapy is covered by Medicare and most major insurance is because it is occupational therapy services.
That is important to be aware and it does not need to be prescribed by a physician.
I typically would recommend that if the and eye care or a low vision specialist.
Here are some pictures innovation occupational therapy and some of the assistive technologies.
I educate people and using to determine what is most helpful to them.
Whether it is using a small electronic magnifier or electronic magnification device.
These are virtual learning opportunities that I mentioned before that are funded through grants and generosity of individual and corporate donors.
We have a variety of programs that we offer weekly programs, monthly programs, and speaker series that happened poorly throughout the year.
You're welcome to register for any of our programs.
If you need assistance to register for them, we can assist you with that.
You would just need to contact us.
You can join zoom calls as you did today.
You can either join through the zoom act, you can call in and entered the meeting ID or you can use the mobile app if you have a smart device to join by mobile.
It is the easy way to join zoom program if you have that technology in your hands.

We're going to go over some helpful styles of strategies to protect your eye health.
Daily exercise, move your body every day.
Whatever way you are able to, if you're able to get outside and exercise report to a facility to exercise.
Even exercising in your own home, it is important to get up and move your body every day.
Find ways to move your body throughout the day.
As you move your body, you need to bring more oxygen into your body and that is healthy and helpful for your whole body will also your eyes.
Around wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays.
Polarized sunglasses can be another measure of protection.
Make sure you sunglasses have the guilt and protection to protect you from those dangerous rays that can damage your eyes and also will mitigate progression of eye disease if you do have a in eye disease.
Combining wearing a hat with the brim is important.
According to safety glasses if you are doing risky activities, if you do a household work, woodworking, anything where desk or sediment can get into your eyes and cause damage to your eyes.
It is important to where space safety eyewear.
Monitoring blood pressure.
If you are requested to monitor your blood pressure getting yourself a cup to use at home and you can get one with a large print readout or a talking blood pressure cuff from your eye care provider.
The really important that you follow that if you are supposed to be monitoring your blood pressure.
If your blood pressure risers in your body is stresses all of your muscles in your body including the vessels in your eyes which are at high risk for damage because they are so tiny.
Avoid diets and foods that are high in saturated fats.
Eating those high-protein and low-carb less processed food is always very helpful in protecting your eyes.
These are some examples and eat the rainbow is the title.
Vitamins to help support nutrition and maintain my health.
There are vitamins that can help supportive of your eye function.
As we all know more important than taking a vitamin with your body does not always absorb his eating the nutritious foods that can really nourish your body.
Here are some examples on the slide.
Omega-3 fatty acids which is found in fish, tuna, salmon, and halibut.
Lutein that is found in kale, spinach, college greens and turnip greens.
This is a fancy word zeaxanthin is commonly be greens, broccoli, peas, corn, and eggs specifically in the yolk.
I know we hear the risk of a high cholesterol in the yolk but the yolk also has some other healthy important nutrients in it that are important for our bodies.
Zinc is found in black-eyed peas, kidney beans, lima beans, peanuts, lean red meat, poultry, oysters, and fortified cereals.
More I healthy fool food choices.
Vitamin C, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons, strawberries, peaches, red peppers, and tomatoes.
Lycopene is only found in tomatoes and low-salt tomato products.
Whether you eat raw tomatoes or canned tomatoes make sure you stay away from draw jar spaghetti sauce is.
You want to speak stick to tomato sauces at home for spaghetti versus buying something in a jar and adding your own seasonings.
You will get used to that having that sweet taste of tomato sauce because I don't know why sugar needs to be in there in the first place.
Anthocyanins are found in blueberries, blackberries and contain a pigment which can actually act as an sunscreen for cells protecting them from damage by absorbing blue and green and ultraviolet rays.
If you are blue, green, or a like his old color you are more at risk of absorbing the damaging rays from the sun.
Those of us who have darker pigment in eyes such as a dark hazel or brown eyes that is one layer of sunscreen that is automatically built into our eyes and it is a protective mechanism.
Mindful if you have lighter eyes, you're going to absorb the damaging rays so to be extra careful with making sure that you always have my prayer eyewear protection on.
This is a really important formative documentary.
I can send the link over to NDI for you to watch this video.
It's called losing sight finding home hope living with macular degeneration.
Things you could do to mitigate eye vision loss as I started to mention earlier.
Lighting needs as we age automatically our need for lighting increase is about three times as much as when we were younger.
If you now have an unconditional topic that the knee can increase even more significantly.
But the challenging in light is to eliminate without increasing glare.
It is about increasing the wattage because sometimes it causes more glare, it is more important to add a layering of lighting.
Having good overhead room lighting and having a desk lamp you can put on top of something.
I love LED lamps and I have an example here.
This is just a little portable lamp that can be very helpful and you can put it on top of what you are doing without having it go into your eyes and it is on top of the surface.
That is what I mean about layering of lighting.
I like LED because it stays cool to touch.
You do not feel like you're getting the heat near your face if you're close to it.
It is energy-saving as well.
You can get options that plug in or portable rechargeable options like this that you could easily move around your home.
Also important to use blinds and shades to control the amount of light entering into a room.
You should also face away from Windows when you are working in the home.
Make sure your T.V. screen, your computer screen, your cell phone screen are not facing open windows where there is a light a lot of light.
I mentioned about this ambient room lighting is the overhead room lighting.
They also have different options such as a little headlamp that you can wear and an adjustable band that you can get from Home Depot, Lowes or Amazon.
It is like a cave minors light.
I can help you with having your hands-free and the light is directed wherever you are turning your head and moving your eyes.
It is helpful in the home and also helpful even outside of your home.
For example if you are taking the garbage out and you have the extra illumination in your hands.
Flashlights can be helpful.
To have your friend live that I in your pocket or purse.
These are some examples of how glare can be harsh.
Whether you are in your home or outside in a vehicle.
Glare filter indoor and outdoor options.
Check with your eye care provider about where you can obtain a pair of wraparound glare filters.
They block the light from the top and the sides which is important.
Also for you to know there are colors that are uniquely for outside that are darker and those that are for inside that are lighter.
You never want to wear dark filters indoors.
It is going to take away the usable vision that you do have.
You do want to wear the lighter color filters when you are indoors.

Next we're going to talk about contrast.
There is a demonstration the word start from a light contrast to a more significant contrast.
The words are light so they stayed in.
Contrast is for the critical items needed for untoward orientation so that they stand out.
You want to minimize patterns try to avoid pattern wallpaper, tablecloths, placemats, pattern everything.
They can cause disturbances.
I called them visual clutter for the eyes.
You can no longer find what you are looking for because it gets lost individual clutter.
Using bright bold contrasting colors can be really helpful to you.
I have some examples coming up in the future slides.
This is examples of what low contrast can look alike and examples of what high contrast to look like.
When someone has a eye condition contrast may or may not be impacted.
If your contrast ability is impacted it does put you at higher risk for falls and self injury.
So really important for you to create contrast within your home.
That can be accomplished through very simple adaptations and strategies.
Here is a black and white cutting board.
There are catalog companies where you can order these items which I can send over to NDI.
You can go to Amazon, target and purchase your own.
It doesn't always have to be a specialty catalog that you find items from.
It can be locally that you can find these things.
Having a cutting board that is black versus white, you can create contrast by whatever it is you are cutting on the cutting board to have it being more visible.
On the slide on the right there showing cutting sweet potatoes on a black cutting board to create a contrast while someone is cutting.
This is a microwave, I have a gentleman who was not able to use the microwave independently.
His daughter would go off to work each day and warm his food in a microphone microwave.
We were able to put something on his microwave to make it accessible so he would be able to take his food out of the fridge and put it in microwave and heat it in himself.
Putting tape on the microwave made it accessible for him to heat up his meal when he was ready to eat it.
This is an example of stairs.
There's a contrast on the steps because you have the white on the risers and the wood grain across the top.
It may not be enough contrast for someone.
If they were the same color that would make it more challenging.
It might not even look like steps to someone, it might look like a floor to someone.
Apply color on the end of the steps and you can do it with outdoor steps as well.
Using duct tape or outdoor duck tape like gorilla tape, they make it in bright colors that can be reflective.
This is a tablecloth with a lot of distraction going on with the pattern with flowers and fruit.
It could be really hard to find items on this busy tablecloth.
Putting it on a solid tablecloth can make it stand out more easily.
It can be as simple as putting coffee in a white mug versus a dark mug.

So very simple strategies you can use to help you be more independent in your home.
Here are some simple strategies as well.
Moving furniture to make clear pathways in the home.
Eliminating hazards such as electrical cords on the floor, throw rugs, floor plans, low arguments that you may not see while you're navigating in the home.
If you use a support cane or a walker or a wheelchair, you going to need more space than just to walk through.
It is important to just have the space readily available.
You want 3 feet of walking space in your home.
Returning items in the same location each day after using them.
Group similar items together.
Keeping the hairbrush with the comb together.
The toothbrush with the toothpaste in the cup that you're going to use to rinse your mouth out.
Maybe keeping them in a caddy together like a little basket all your self-care items together.
It is easy to find them and keep them in the room that they are most often used in.
Pushing chairs in immediately after getting up from the table.
Reminding your love wants to push their chairs and when they get up as well.
Close doors and cupboard doors the media that test immediately after using them.
If the doorbell rings and you realize you need to use the restroom, something else comes into your mind and you turn back and you can enter yourself.
Close the dishwasher door, if you're loading the dishwasher, close it.
You want to avoid these types of risk of self injury if possible.
Don't leave doors open.
Door should be fully open or fully close.
Especially a basement door something with stairs like that probably have the door fully closed.
It is better to know that the doors close and you don't accidentally fall down the steps and you open it when you need to go down the steps.
It makes it safer for everyone in the home.
Wash knives immediately after using them.
If you don't have time to watch the more you know you're going to use them later again, put it behind the sink.
Do not put it in the sink where soapy water and other dishes are going to point to the sink can camouflage the knife being in the sink.
Wash it immediately.
Keep flammable items away from the stove.
This towers, sleeves on shirts, be careful anything is not anywhere near the stove second cause a fire hazard.
I've always been fearful that I would not know how to use a fire extinguisher in an emergency.
I do not practice using one and pulling the pin and pointing the holes.
We have one in the kitchen and we have had it for years.
Honestly, it is inside of my closet where we keep a lot of other household items.
If I really needed in an emergency, I would have to dig to grab it.
That is not what you want to do.
As an option, I keep this in my kitchen out on the countertop.
I've had to use it once already.
We had a toaster oven catch on fire.
This is easy fire spray my first alert.
It is something you can buy on Amazon, at a hardware store and it is the spray.
It is point and spray type of can.
If you think about hairspray and you point and shoot and it is able to stop fires fast.
It is useful for grease, fabric, trash, and electric.
It covers those types of fires that you potentially have.
Leave that out on your countertop that way if you need to use it right away, it is available.
I have teenagers boys in that house that are starting to cook so the fire spray is on the counter at all times.
This is some examples of labeling measuring cups so they are more visible.
Having a black and white set of measuring cups.
It helps somebody with being able to determine what temperature or setting they put their stove on.
This is in the middle so it would be a moderate heat where I have it set up.
And then you would know to turn it in one direction to make the heat higher or other direction.
It gives you an orientation point.
This is a Pyrex measuring cup.
You can use high marks on it and it dries where you can feel it and if you are pouring, you can slide your finger on the inside if it is a cold liquid to feel where the line is.
We are fine of using a 1 cup Pyrex measuring cup and putting it against the contrast between surface of the light stand out.
If you need to measure more than 1 cup, you can use it repeatedly.
It is easier than trying to navigate a larger measuring cup.
There are non-optical aids available.
Liquid level indicators, both dots, talking alarm clocks, blood pressure cuffs, smart technology that is hands-free.
Alexa, Google home, Apple has a mini device that also can be a personal assistant to you.
There are many smart technologies in your home, they can help you if they Bluetooth to your appliances.
They have one second Bluetooth to set a microwave, pot, washer machine, lights, thermostat.
There's a lot you can do with smart technology now.
There are smart plugs that you can put in your home and you can set it remotely even to have a light come on before you enter the house.
Rubber bands, you can put it around conditioner to separate it from shampoo.
I have made a mistake before.
You don't want to put your conditioner and before you shampoo because your hair will not end up the way you want it to.
I put a rubber band around my conditioner to separate from shampoo.
Eyestrain issues, take a break.
Everyone on this call every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for about 20 seconds and let your eyes relax and look at nothing and focus on nothing.
Your eyes need to take a break.
They need to take a break from looking at screens, they need to take a break from focusing and just as the eye muscle relax around them.
You can refocus your eyes for what you need to do.
If you find that is not enough, take breaks every 10 minutes or sooner.
It may be you need to get up altogether and walk away from what you are doing and take a longer break.

Here are some helpful websites.
They have video, podcast, discussion groups, also subtopics, daily living skills, technology and videos to show you how to access your iPhone with using low-vision strategies or voiceover.
You can learn braille there's orientation and mobility education and also address emotional from using your vision.
There's handouts that you can print for yourself or a loved one.
A household modification also strategies in daily living activities that can be helpful for you.
Even applying your makeup.

Two helpful apps and we don't have time to demonstrate them today.
Seeing AI and my eyes are two artificial intelligence apps.
It can have a menu in a restaurant, products by accessing barcodes, currency to tell you denomination over Bill, caller identification.
It can decipher handwriting which is exciting.
And more features but those are the highlights of that act.
And be my eyes you can receive live support in the moment with the aided volunteers and professionals to provide assistance in performing daily living activities such as checking expiration dates, distinguishing colors, reading instructions, setting appliances etc..
You need a smart device to access this health.
You need to register and create an account.
You need to register as an English speaker.
So they match you up with an English-speaking volunteer.
After specialized help available in personal health and technology.
Having someone there with you to assist to interpreting a covert test.
You can have somebody who is trained to help you in deciphering and self administering the covert test.
When communicating with others in your life that have vision loss it is important to use etiquette.
Refer to a specific direction such as saying right or left in relation to that individual.
I like to use the clock method.
Let's picture the clock is in front of you so 12:00 is in front of you.
3:00 is to your right.
9:00 is to your left 6:00 is behind you so I might say something that is 10 feet in front of you at 10:00 or 3 feet to the left of you at 9:00.
Just to give people some orientation versus saying over here and over there.
That is not helpful detailed information for someone with vision loss.
Indicate approximate distant as well.
If possible information about landmarks along the way and speak directly to a person who has blindness or vision loss with a national voice as you with anyone else.
Not everyone with vision loss has hearing loss.
Be mindful to speak in a natural tone.
Unless someone says, they cannot hear you and you might need to raise your tone.
It is acceptable to ask someone how may I help you or may I be of assistance in some way versus assuming someone needs help or automatically providing help.
Don't avoid visually descriptive language making references to colors, patterns, designs, shapes is perfectly acceptable.
Asking someone with vision loss did you read that book or did you watch that show on T.V. that is very unfamiliar vernacular language we use.
It is not offensive to most people with vision loss.
Some I make a little joke out of it.
Because of that for themselves don't feel like you need to be careful of every little word such as that.
It is common language and most people see that language very well.
It is really important medication resources script talking labels share with you how you can get set up with script talks that can read your medications to you.
It is available free of charge.
You have to have your pharmacy and technology to make the labels that are interpreted through near field communication where you use a device on your smart phone to access them.
Accessible pharmacy services for the blind, there are comprehensive home care pharmacy services.
They provide specialized help with all types of disabilities including vision loss.
I would encourage you to reach out to them.
They can become your pharmacy of choice or they are willing to answer any questions that you may have with vision loss and making sure that your medications are accessible to you.
And strategy to access your medications, they are a helpful resource.
It was created by a pharmacist who is blind himself.
There's transportation resources available.
You may want to contact your Department of aging or human services where you live to find out what local transportation options are available to you.
In New Jersey here we have something call access transit.
They follow bus routes here in New Jersey and they will transport people through access link locations for a reduced fare.

This is our contact information if you want to follow up with myself, Elsa Zavoda are our program director Linda.
She can help you register for the great virtual programs.
If you are in New Jersey are interested in visiting us in our live programs, you are welcome to schedule a visit.
The website is here, our phone number, and this includes previously recorded webcasts.
Thank you so much for having me here today.
I am available for questions now.
You want me to ask about low-vision services in New York?

>> LAURIE SCHALLER: Sure.
I did put a link the chat for everyone.
Informing people where they can find vision loss services in New York State.
You are welcome to take a look.
We did receive a question if people have questions for Elsa please put that in the Q&A.
The AI device that you were talking about does that work on a person's cell phone so if they are working and they have a difficult time reading will the device refer them?

>> ELSA ZAVODA: This is correct.
It is only available on Apple devices.
It is not available on android.
It is an app and it is free.
It was put out by Microsoft.
Seeing for artificial intelligence.
It will read to you.
For those of you who have access to Apple devices I encourage you to download it.
There are all sorts of and there's a channel in the bottom.
Each virtual button if you will is a touchscreen but there are different options in that channel that you can explore.
They all perform different activities.
I really encourage anyone to try using it.
If you have someone around you that is tech savvy that can help you with learning how to use the app if you have a little bit of difficulty, it is a wonderful resource for people and it is free.

>> LAURIE SCHALLER: That is great.
You can help the person who comes to you for services to find simple suggestions that can really make life easier.
We recently bought a microwave ourselves and so far I have minimal divisional impairment and it took us months to figure it out.
Nothing was really labeled on it.

>> ELSA ZAVODA: They are becoming like spaceships.
Good advice for everyone here that is a good point.
When you're shopping for an appliance or if you need a new one in your house, make sure you are out there shopping.
Go with a family member because you need to determine if they are accessible to you.
Less is more when it comes to vision loss are minus or blindness.
Something you can put a bump.2 and the simpler the better.
For example an air fryer with a dial where you have to put it to toast, bake, it is a better option than something with a lot of buttons or sensors you need to press.

>> LAURIE SCHALLER: Very good, thank you very much for that advice.
Elsa, do you find that there are common times that a person needs to purchase assistive technology?

>> ELSA ZAVODA: The one it is what your needs are and what you are looking to accomplish.
What are your goals?
You can work with a low-vision specialist.
A low-vision specialist is an important member to add to your team.
It is optometrist and they can see what they can do to help you.
If you have a retina specialist, glaucoma specialist cataract specialist, you might have all of these different specialists but it is important you see a low-vision specialist.
They are more apt in being able to determine if there's some sort of optical correction to make a difference to help you function better.
They also focus on what your goals are.
Do you need to use the computer?
Do you need to see far away?
Do you need to see very close?
They will look at trying to find solutions for you.
The first solution typically starts optically as we know with glasses.
But then there is a vast array of devices and technology out there that is why it is important to see a low-vision specialist.
You can also have a vendor come to your home and work with you and demonstrate these devices to you.
It starts out with simple magnification devices.
I did not put this in the presentation because I knew we did not have a lot of time today.
There is a world of technology.
There are handheld portable devices, desktop magnification devices, portable devices and lots of options out there.
It is a matter of what works for you and what your needs are.
I can come back and do a presentation just on assistive technology.
So it is good to explore and great for you to know that you have national disability Institute available possibly to help with providing a loan for you to be able to purchase some of this technology to help you in your daily life.

>> LAURIE SCHALLER: Thank you, Elsa.
One person just asked where can they purchase those bump dots?

>> ELSA ZAVODA: You can get them through Amazon.
They will sell them as one third party.
There are three catalog companies that we recommend two people.
You can call those companies, you can get catalog mailed to you.
The first one is independent living aids.
The website is independent living aids.com.
Then there's Maxie aids and it is Maxie aids.com.
You can contact them as well.
I do urge that you don't purchase any type of visual aids such as magnifiers through those types of companies but the bump dots that is a nice easy things to purchase or even through Amazon.
Or you can be creative and go to a craft store or Home Depot.
The idea is to buy bumps.
If you think about the past for furniture or cupboard doors that exist and very inexpensive solutions to provide tactile's strategies.

>> LAURIE SCHALLER: I wanted to let people know that there are opportunities to afford any assistive technology that a person may need to purchase.
I continue to meet people who receive SSI or SSDI benefits.
Many people are surprised to learn that they are allowed to work and there are work supports available through Social Security administration that can help people to purchase items that they may need for employment.
There are opportunities for people who receive Medicaid benefits.
The person who receive SSI or some type of Medicaid may be limited in being able to save up to $2000.
The plan for achieving self-support that is a work support allows a person to say much more to be able to purchase what they need for education that leads to employment.

There are the achieving a better life experience able act accounts that are available.
Those are available to people who have a disability that began before age 26.
A person who receive SSI can save up to $100,000 in an ABLE account.
It does not impact any type of Medicaid eligibility.
The person who onset ABLE account and the family and friends can contribute up to $17,000 into ABLE account.
If the person works, they may be able to contribute even more of their employment earnings.
There is information available at the ABLE national resource center.
We welcome you to take a look and you can see here on the slide the first item that a person can use the IRWE ABLE funds and it can also pay for transportation services or to purchase a home or make a home accessible.

We understand that there are times when a grant is not available for a person to be able to purchase what they need.
Often it is for an accessible vehicle may be a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Our loan program can provide loans up to $45,000 for residents of New York State and New Jersey.
Our interest rate is only 4% interest.
I wanted to share this chart to compare a loan of $10,000 if a person gets financing through AT vendor and that interest rate of 16%.
Some folks can use credit cards to purchase assistive technology and the rate is often 24%.
A person who gets a loan for $10,000 payable over five years by coming to NDI assistive technology loan program could say at least $3500 in terms of the interest by getting a low interest loan.
We welcome you to consider that option.

My contact information is here on the slide.
It will be posted at the website.
Next, August 17 we have a presentation seeing eye dogs and therapy dogs and we welcome you to sign up for that.
The link is here and I want to ask questions before we wrap up.
What information was most helpful what do you need help finding a job?
What kind of assistive technology would you like to know more about?
Do you want to schedule NDI AT loan presentation for your agency or community organization or a group of friends?
That can be set up free of charge.
We thank everyone for participating today.
We welcome you to complete the survey so we can improve our services and make sure we are providing the information that will make the difference for you to help you move forward.
Also, thank you so much.

>> ELSA ZAVODA: Thank you so much.
Thank you everyone for having me here today.
Please feel free as I mentioned earlier to reach out to me directly here at vision loss alliance.
We are happy to assist you in any way or direct you towards appropriate resources.

>> LAURIE SCHALLER: Thank you very much.
Everyone have a great day.