Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING - WITHOUT SIGHT THE MOST ROUTINE TASKS CAN SEEM INSURMOUNTABLE, THE SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM ASSESSES THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF A CLIENT AND DEVELOPS A CUSTOMIZED PLAN OF ACTION FOR TEACHING THE SKILLS THAT ENABLE INDEPENDENCE.SOCIAL SERVICES - PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THEIR CURRENT SITUATION AND NEEDS. VISTA CENTER'S SOCIAL WORKERS HELP INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP A REHABILITATION PLAN, PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND KEEP THE INDIVIDUAL INFORMED ABOUT PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THAT PERSON'S INDEPENDENCE.ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY - VISTA CENTER'S TEACHERS WORK WITH CLIENTS ONMASTERING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CANE USE, CROSSING STREETS, USING PUBLICTRANSPORTATION, WALKING WITH A GUIDE DOG AND NAVIGATING EVERYDAYENVIRONMENTS.DAILY LIVING SKILLS - TRAINING HELPS CLIENTS LIVE SAFELY AND BECOMEMORE INDEPENDENT BY LEARNING SAFE COOKING TECHNIQUES, INDEPENDENTMEDICATION AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT, HOUSEKEEPING, PERSONAL HYGIENE, MONEYAND PAPERWORK MANAGEMENT AND ADAPTING TO EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS SOCLIENTS CAN NEGOTIATE DAILY TASKS.COUNSELING AND SUPPORT GROUPS - INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL AND/OR GROUPPROFESSIONAL COUNSELING. SESSIONS HELP CLIENTS ADJUST TO LIVING WITH ADISABILITY.THE HEALTH LIBRARY - AN AFFILIATE OF THE STANFORD HEALTH LIBRARY,OFFERS A VARIETY OF SCIENTIFICALLY-BASED MEDICAL INFORMATION ON VISIONLOSS AND REHABILITATION. SKILLED VOLUNTEERS CAN RESEARCH MEDICAL TOPICSFOR ANY BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON WHO REQUESTS ASSISTANCE.SUPPORT FOR VOCATIONAL SERVICES - VISTA CENTER STAFF SUPPORT VISUALLYIMPAIRED PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING OR RETURNING TO WORK WITH ORIENTATIONTO THE JOB SITE, ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND BYLINKING THEM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE JOB SUPPORT.THE STORE AT VISTA CENTER - IS STOCKED WITH A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS THATCAN HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED ENJOY AND LEAD MOREINDEPENDENT LIVES.VOLUNTEERS - VISTA CENTER'S ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS WORK DIRECTLY WITHITS CLIENTS FILLING A VARIETY OF NEEDS. THEY ALSO WORK IN THE STORE ATVISTA CENTER, THE HEALTH LIBRARY OR ASSIST VISUALLY IMPAIRED STAFFMEMBERS.

SCHOOL AND YOUTH SERVICES - BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM THEIR SIGHTED PEERS IN THEIR DESIRE FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH OTHERS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. THE SCHOOL AND YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS, STRATEGIES, CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE TO BUILD THE FUTURE THAT THEY DREAM OF AND THAT IS POSSIBLE.FAMILY AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES - PLANNED EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR A FAMILY DAY OF FUN! THEY ENJOY AMUSEMENT PARKS, VISITING THE ZOO, GOING FISHING, KAYAKING, ICE SKATING AND A WHOLE LOT MORE!WHEN I GROW UP - OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUTH TO "SEE" THEIR FUTURE POSSIBILITIES BY GETTING TO KNOW BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED IN A SIGHTED WORLD.TEENS TOGETHER PLUS - IS A MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP FOR VISTA CENTER'S BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUTH WHO ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 22 YEARS OLD. IT IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEERS, BUILD SOCIAL SKILLS, RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST RELATED TO BLINDNESS.BRAILLE CHALLENGE - IS A CELEBRATION OF BRAILLE LITERACY IN THE FORM OF A CONTEST AMONG BLIND SCHOOL CHILDREN. THE CONTESTANTS ARE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES ONE THROUGH TWELVE. WINNERS PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE SPONSORED BY THE BRAILLE INSTITUTE.INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS - TEACHERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION OF BLIND CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTS WITH NUMEROUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE THEIR BLIND EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION'S SERVICES INCLUDE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY, TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUTH, TEACHERS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES.