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)