Did you know that 3.4 million Americans have low vision or no vision and that 130,800 Kentuckians have a visual disability?
Fortunately, there’s help.
The Blind Services Coalition of KY presents the second annual Eye Opening Symposium
9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, October 15 at the Fayette County Extension Office, 1140 Red Mile Place, Lexington.
The free conference is designed for persons who have low vision to no vision and families and friends of persons with low vision to no vision, social workers, rehabilitation counselors, physicians and educators.
The symposium and lunch are free thanks to its sponsors: Retina Associates of KY and Vanda Pharmaceuticals.
Contact the Fayette County Extension Office for more information at (859) 257-5582 or email Debra.Weller@uky.edu to register.
The schedule is as follows:
9 a.m. Registration and exhibits
9:30 a.m. Vision of the future with Dr. John W. Kitchens, Retina Associates of KY
10:30 a.m. Bioptic driving with Dr. Musick, Drs. Ditto & Musick Eye Care Center
11 a.m. History of the white cane with Pamela Roark-Glisson, National Federation of the Blind
11:15 a.m. Orientation and mobility with Jennifer Roark, KY Office for the Blind
11:45 a.m. Lunch by Mtani Catering and Exhibits
12:15 p.m. The Story of my Life by Jerry Young, Veteran
12:30 p.m. Techniques for independent living with Melinda Ciampolillo, VA Medical Center
1 p.m. Braille, still an important skill with John Glisson, Blind Veterans Association
1:10 pm. Low vision clinics
1:30 p.m. Nutrition and eye health by VA Dietetics
2:20 p.m. Quality of Life with Harley Cannon, Artist
Exhibitors include:
Aging with Grace, Aging in Place – The Health Club for Seniors
Blind Services Coalition of Kentucky (BSCK)
Bluegrass Area Agency on Aging & Independent Living
Bluegrass Technology Center, (BTC)
Cool Insurance Group
ITNBluegrass
Kentucky School for the Blind, (KSB)
Lexington VA Medical Center
Life Plan of Kentucky
Miracle Ear
Morning Pointe
LegalShield
Brian Goemmer
Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation (KSBCF)
Kentucky Talking Book Library
Independence Place, Inc. (IP)
Commission for Citizens with Disabilities
Bluegrass Council of the Blind (BCB)
Blinded Veterans of America (BVA)
ASEA
NFB of Lexington
Office for the Blind
Opportunity for Work & Learning (OWL)
Radio Eye
ResCare HomeCare
Retina Associates of Kentucky
Right at Home
Senior Helpers of the Bluegrass
Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
University of Kentucky Disability Resource Center
The Willows at Hamburg
Vanda Pharmaceuticals
Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS)