VisionAware Peers, Author at ConnectCenter

From Awareness to Action: Preventing Falls

Posted on September 13, 2023 - 5:41 am by VisionAware Peers

Editor’s Note: Falls Prevention Awareness Week is September 18-22 this year. The theme is “From Awareness to Action,” as reflected in the title of this post. Former peer advisor Mary Hiland, and current peer advisor, Empish Thomas reflect on avoidable accidents and tips for preventing falls. Preventing Falls and Accidents by Mary Hiland, former VisionAware […]

Mental Health Awareness Webinar and Action Steps

Posted on September 7, 2023 - 9:29 pm by VisionAware Peers

Editor’s note: The following information was coordinated by Sandra Burgess, MSW, LCSW and updated by Katie Frederick in September 2023. According to figures from the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (57.8 million people in 2021). Unfortunately, only about half of those seek and […]

Ways to Respond to Social Interactions

Posted on March 3, 2023 - 3:52 pm by VisionAware Peers

Group of people who are blind and sighted standing together. Present is a guide dog and a person with a long white cane.

Elizabeth Sammons and other VisionAware peers have put together a comprehensive article on Social Interactions as Non-Visual Participants to call out the importance of Zero Discrimination Day. The article shares personal stories of handling uninformed comments made by strangers in stores, airports, restaurants, and other public venues. This blog summarizes some of the key points. […]

Be My Eyes and APH ConnectCenter: An Exciting Partnership

Posted on February 24, 2023 - 12:56 pm by VisionAware Peers

In 2015, APH VisionAware published a post by Audrey Demmitt, peer advisor, about a new app called “Be My Eyes.” In the post, Audrey said, “ I am visually impaired and recently tried this app on the recommendation of my optometrist John Henahan, who also wrote about his experience.” Dr. Henahan said, “I love being an […]