STAYING FIT: AVRE REMAINS ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY

Transcription

1 InSight Summer 2015 Assocition for Vision Rehbilittion nd Employment, Inc. STAYING FIT: AVRE REMAINS ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY At AVRE we pride ourselves on being tem plyers. This spring the gency cme together to prticipte in two locl community events, helping sprk tem spirit nd encourge physicl fitness. After successful run lst yer, we very proudly hd three runners representing AVRE in this yer s Greter Binghmton Bridge Run. President/CEO Kenny Fernld, who rn for his second consecutive yer with running guide Ken Howell, nd Assistive Technology Instructor John Ellzey, who rn his very first time, both successfully completed the hlf mrthon or 13.1 mile course. Production Supervisor Luigi DiRusso rn nd completed the 5K. To help rise the overll excitement t this yer s run, the AVRE stff cme together to encourge ll of the runners the morning of the rce. The gency ws very fortunte to work with locl rdio personlity Rich Birdsll of 98.1 The Hwk who helped AVRE s presence be seen nd herd downtown. AVRE ws lso fetured in four live rdio spots on their sttion to enlighten listeners on the different rehbilittion services we provide in our surrounding communities. With severl employees nd our friends t Positive LifeForce on hnd, we were ble to bring smiling fces to ll involved. In June, group of 13 employees prticipted in the Broome YMCA s lrgest nnul fundriser, the Corporte Chllenge tht ws held t SUNY - Broome. 54 locl compnies nd businesses cme together to prticipte in the event, which ws designed to promote cmrderie while creting generl wreness of the businesses in our community. The fundriser consisted of four different physicl chllenges including 5K, predicted mile, rely rces nd mile exclusively for executive stff members. Luigi DiRusso nd Tom Grruto represented the gency in the 5K, finishing the 3.2 mile run in 26 minutes nd 21 seconds. Representtives from both of our mnufcturing nd rehbilittion deprtment competed in the predicted mile, n event in which prticipnts estimted how long it would tke them to complete the mile hed of time. The prticipnt who finished closest to their estimted time, won. Cssie Burgess led the wy for Tem AVRE in the predicted mile with difference of seconds. As n opportunity to get the gency s nme out there, both of these events were gret bonding experience for ll involved. Although AVRE did not plce, it ws certinly n enjoyble time for everyone nd we look forwrd to rising the competition t both events next yer! Above: Stff members come together to cheer on the Greter Binghmton Bridge Run prticipnts in the AVRE front visitor prking lot. Above: 13 employees pose for tem photo t the Broome YMCA s Corporte Chllenge t Broome Community College. Our Mission: To crete opportunities for success nd independence with people who hve sustined vision loss.

2 WELCOME ALL, TO AVRE! THOMAS GARRUTO Employment nd Creer Specilist Thoms hs over 15 yers of experience nd eduction in Humn Services. Originlly from Binghmton, NY, Thoms lived in Sn Frncisco for 15 yers where he begn his creer in Humn Services supervising tem of volunteers who provided clen syringes nd eduction to ctive users living on the streets of Sn Frncisco. Thoms cme to AVRE from Ctholic Chrities where he worked s Job Plcement/Coch for those living with Autism. Some of Thoms hobbies include: running, yog, films, nd theter. During the summer, he spends weekends hiking in the Ctskills or visiting the Jersey Shore. When he is not tking weekend rod trip, he enjoys working in his perennil nd vegetble grdens. Thoms is looking forwrd to helping the consumers of AVRE chieve independence nd gin sense of pride through employment. Pt ws born nd rised in Binghmton, NY. After receiving her Associte Degree in Accounting from Broome Community College, she trnsferred to Binghmton University to pursue creer in Eduction nd Humn Development. PATRICE LUMSDEN Reception/Accounting After college, Pt spent 33 yers in the Accounts Pyble Deprtment t IBM before retiring. This yer, Pt hs come out of retirement to pursue new chllenges nd join the tem t AVRE s our new front desk receptionist. Pt is lso founding member of Widows to Widows, support group tht ssists new widows get through difficult times. In her free time she enjoys going to the beches in Florid nd trveling to Cyug Lke with her fmily. She lso cn be found driving her 11 yer old grndson to nd from hockey prctices in the winter. TODD BIRCHARD Rehbilittion Assistnt Todd grew up in Aplchin, NY nd currently lives in Owego with his wife nd two children. Todd holds Bchelor s degree in History from Binghmton University nd Mster s in Eduction from Elmir College. Todd worked for the Union-Endicott school district for the pst seven yers nd the field of eduction for over ten yers. Todd lso hs over twelve yers of experience working with specil needs children in Tiog County t summer cmp nd yerly recretion progrm clled Cmp Ahwg. At this cmp, Todd worked with children of ll ges nd disbilities to lern, sty ctive, nd hve fun. In the spring Todd will be ttending Slus University in Elkins Prk, Pennsylvni to become certified Orienttion nd Mobility Instructor where his experience in eduction will be vluble sset tht trnsitions him into this new nd exciting creer. Todd is excited bout beginning this new journey t AVRE nd is excited to meet ll of the wonderful people tht work here long with ll of the people tht AVRE serves in our community. 2

3 CONTINUING TRAINING By John Ellzey In the two most recent Business Mngement Trining sessions, NIB (Ntionl Industries for the Blind) chose to hve us focus primrily on dt nd innovtion. We tlked bout how dt lone doesn t pint picture until we use the correct nlysis for interprettion. One prticulr tool which stood out to me ws the Vlue Curve Anlysis, which is used to plot compny s strtegic profile, compny s strengths nd weknesses. This ws the most exciting tool to lern becuse my group members nd I instntly found use for this metric in our reserch pper which is due to Envision INC. by next session. With regrds to innovtion, I took wy two min points. The first is tht innovtion is s much necessity s not mking the sme mistke twice. This point ws mde through some of our pre-session ssigned redings which stted tht only 13.4% of the Fortune 500 compnies in 1955 were still on the list in Alterntively, think of sles for snowbords, which hve skyrocketed in recent yers but hven t been on the mrket for longer thn 15 yers. Second, innovtion cretion drives new products nd processes for mking existing products better. History shows us where we hve been, nd it enlightens us to the best pth forwrd for the future. It hs been quite the honor trveling to Arlington, Virgini for these pst four sessions. Every time I return to AVRE I m fueled with more pssion for our vision nd mission. WAY TO GO, STEVE! Join us in congrtulting Orienttion nd Mobility Specilist Steve Connors on receiving $500 scholrship from the VisionServe llince! The VisionServe llince offers scholrship to develop the next genertion of professionls working in the field of blindness nd vision rehbilittion. Steve ws wrded the scholrship in support of his decision to provide qulified services fter pssing the ACVREP exm in orienttion nd mobility. Congrtultions, Steve! CELEBRATING 25 YEARS Sundy, July 26th mrked the 25th nniversry of the Americns with Disbilities Act. The Act ws signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 to help eliminte discrimintion ginst people with disbilities, including but not limited to employment, public trnsporttion nd ccommodtions, nd telecommunictions. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo honored the nniversry by signing two pieces of legisltion which strengthen stte protections for people with disbilities. The first protects people who re disbled from being refused ccess to public plces, while the second is designed to help militry fmilies who hve reltives with disbilities. Photo: Property of USA TODAY, CJ Gunther, ep Although much hs been done to protect the rights of people with disbilities, there is still much more to be done nd improved on in the yers to come. USA TODAY fetured n rticle written by Jmes Aln Fox, member of the USA TODAY Bord of Contributors nd professor t Northestern University, in which he discussed the chllenges of trveling through n irport for those who re blind nd visully impired, becuse he too ws recently certified s leglly blind. Whether it is the struggle of nvigting through n irport terminl with white cne nd being unble to see low-lying luggge or hving to sk strnger bout flight chnge becuse the irport monitor is hung high nd too smll to see, there re clerly chllenges people with sensory impirments still fce tody. Blogger DeAnn Elliot recently hd piece published in The Wll Street Journl discussing how dptive technology often struggles with internet ccessibility. As the virtul world hs now become destintion to browse, shop nd py bills, web ccessibility hs become s eqully importnt s ccessibility in the physicl world. With tht sid, everyone t AVRE is proud of the dvncements tht hve been mde for people with disbilities so fr thnks to the ADA. And we, like mny, spire to live in world where individuls who re blind or visully impired cn live, lern, nd work independently. 3

4 ADVOCATING FOR ABILITY ONE Ech yer, stff from Ntionl Industries for the Blind (NIB) ffilited gencies cross the country gther in Wshington, DC to dvocte for the AbilityOne Progrm. The AbilityOne Progrm mkes it possible for gencies like ours to sell product nd services into the federl mrket, thus enbling us to crete good jobs for people who re blind. AVRE hs prticipted in the NIB Public Policy Forum since it begn in The Forum offers the opportunity to gther with collegues to lern bout nd discuss legisltive issues tht my impct the progrm. Agencies re encourged to schedule visits with their US Sentors nd House Representtives to educte them bout AbilityOne nd ny pertinent legisltive issues. Above (left to right): Olmsted s Gry Wgner, AVRE s Stephen Comency, Kenny Fernld nd Jenn Smll, Alphpointe s Gin Gowin, NABA s Chris Burke The gol is to grner their support for the progrm nd legisltion tht ensures its continution. An importnt lesson we ve lerned over the yers is tht connecting with your elected representtives mkes n impct. They wnt to her constituent s stories bout how progrms like AbilityOne improve people s lives. Of course, there is power in numbers nd sttistics do mtter, but individul voices count, too. We re fortunte in the Southern Tier to hve representtives who listen. Sentor Chuck Schumer nd Congressmn Richrd Hnn dvocte for our progrm, purchse our products, nd hve visited our fcility. They meet with us personlly when we visit the Cpitol. They re truly AbilityOne Chmpions. Our dvice if you hve concerns, write to your representtives or visit them in Wshington. And, be sure to vote! It counts! Lern more bout the AbilityOne Progrm t MOVING ON UP! AVRE prides itself on the longevity of its employees. We think it s fir to sy tht employee longevity sys lot of positive things bout n orgniztion. We hve numerous employees who hve been here over 20 yers, including our CEO, Ken Fernld. Erlier this yer we celebrted the retirements of two long-term employees over 50 yers between them! Mny things contribute to this type of longevity, but recognizing strong work ethic, commitment, nd job well done is fundmentl. In tht vein, we re plesed to nnounce two internl promotions of couple of long-timers! Chrles Grdner hs been with AVRE since 1992, most recently s Mnger of Opertions. He hs held severl positions over the yers, wering multitude of hts. He s likely never spoken the words it s not my job. He hs lwys put in the extr effort to get the job done well nd on time, including working weekends nd coming in before sunrise. In 2009, he ws recognized with the Amy J. Lteer Awrd for going well bove nd beyond wht s expected. He s developed keen sense of AVRE s business nd hs seen it through both chllenges nd growth. In his new position s Director of Mnufcturing, Chrles will oversee ll dy-to-dy opertions t the Downtown Binghmton fcility. Jenn Smll hs been with AVRE since 2006 (not quite s long s Chrles!). For the first nine yers, Jenn ws the Director of Development nd Communictions. Similr to Chrles, she s worn vrious hts over the yers nd hs lwys been willing to tke on new projects or help nother deprtment. Severl yers bck she temed up with Ken Fernld (VP of Opertions t the time) to grow the commercil mrket for our copy pper. The inititive ws quite successful nd she discovered solid interest in the business side of the orgniztion. In her new position s Chief Operting Officer, Jenn will oversee Development, Mrketing/Communictions, nd the Business Division, including new business development nd the switchbord opertions in the Bronx nd mid-hudson Vlley. Sty Connected! Follow us on socil medi Assocition for Vision Rehbilittion nd Employment 4

5 THE SOLUTION IS THE PROBLEM By Cssie Burgess I remember when I found out tht I needed eye glsses. I ws in seventh grde nd I ws told tht ll those long nights in front of the television hd blurred my vision. I immeditely wnted to skip hving glsses nd wer eye contcts right wy, but wsn t ble to do so. But fter two yers of toughing it out with eye glsses, I ws finlly ble to mke the switch from glsses to contcts. I hve now been wering soft lens eye contcts without ny issues for ten yers -- tht is up until bout week go when I woke up with the worst red eye I ve ever hd. Hving lerned more bout eye conditions since working here t AVRE, I knew it wsn t simple cse of pink eye. With conditions worsening nd being unsure of wht exctly ws going on, I went to see my primry cre physicin the next dy. She exmined my eye, confirmed it wsn t pink eye nd sent me to see n ophthlmologist right wy. After long ten minute cr ride nd wit in the ophthlmologist s office, I ws finlly exmined by the doctor nd dignosed with moderte cornel ulcer nd infection, otherwise known s kertitis. I ws told tht cornel ulcer is n open sore tht forms on the corne nd is usully cused by infections. It is lso common dignosis for contct lens werers. I ws stumped. How nd why did this hppen? After further discussion, my doctor sked me one simple question. When ws the lst time you replced your contct solution nd cse? I dmit tht it hd been some time since I hd bought new bottle of solution nd tht I hd probbly used the sme lens cse for yers. All of which ws possible becuse I ws lso guilty of mking hbit out of sleeping in my contcts. As result of my condition, I ws given ntibiotic eye drops nd ws stuck wering my glsses for week. Fortuntely becuse I sought out my doctor right wy, I would hve no permnently dmge nd I would not suffer ny vision loss. This experience tught me lot bout eye helth nd how to properly cre for your eyes. Most importntly, I lerned three importnt lessons tht I believe every contct lens werers should exercise. contcts in. By doing so, you prohibit your eyes from receiving the proper mount of oxygen they need to brethe nd function efficiently. Lst but not lest if you ever notice ny chnges in your vision, lwys consult with your doctor. They re there to help you, so utilize them s needed. It is lwys better to be sfe thn sorry! ANNUAL APPEAL Although it s only summer, we re lredy gering up for the holidys nd the strt of our 2015 Annul Appel. Ech fll we sk our donors to support the work we do throughout the yer. Their generous contributions support our ongoing efforts to educte the community bout vision rehbilittion services. Their gifts support senior vision services nd recretion progrms for young consumers. In so mny wys, AVRE donors help people in our community who re blind nd visully impired chieve their gols. We re committed to engging our community in cretive wys to connect more people with services tht will help them remin independent nd succeed t work nd in school. We re gld you tke the time to lern bout wht s new t AVRE by reding our qurterly newsletter. We lso encourge you to visit our redesigned website t to lern more bout our services. For the most current goings-on t AVRE, follow us on Fcebook nd Twitter. And, s you pln for your nnul, yer-end chritble giving, we sk tht you gin consider AVRE. You cn mke contribution nytime through our website or vi mil during the Annul Appel. If you hve specific questions bout mking gift, cll Cssie Burgess t our office t Help us mke difference in our community. COMING SOON Utilize eye solution tht contins hydrogen peroxide. When you re t the store nd unsure of wht kind or brnd of solution you should use to sok your contcts in when they re out, consider the solution tht is 3% hydrogen peroxide. This lmost gurntees you tht ll nd ny bcteri or germs on your lenses will be killed. 2. Replce your contct solution nd cse regulrly. 3. Do not sleep in your lenses! This is the most importnt tip I hve for ll who wer contcts. Whether you forgot to bring your supplies with you on vction or you re just too tired to tke them out before bed, never llow yourself the excuse of sleeping with your 5 Go to our website t for more informtion regrding our upcoming Nine t Night golf tournment!

6 AUGUST IS CHILDRENS EYE HEALTH AND SAFETY MONTH! Did you know tht 1 in 20 preschoolers hve vision problem or tht eye injuries re one of the leding cuses of vision loss in children? With kids heding bck to school, it s crucil to remin prepred nd wre of how to keep our youth s eyes helthy! Here re some tips s we hed into those Autumn months: Children should lwys ply with ge-pproprite toys nd stry from toys with shrp objects. Prents should lwys be cutious of their child squinting or turning their hed in n usul mnner. Include vision screenings in every yerly check-up with the peditricin. For more informtion, plese visit AVRE ViewPoint Store Coupon 10% Off TOTAL PURCHASES UP TO $100 GOOD ON: MANY LOW VISION AIDS PRINTER & COPIER PAPER MANILA FILE FOLDERS JAWS CLEANING PRODUCTS BATTERIES One coupon per customer. One time use for current purchse. Store hours: Mondy Fridy 8:00 AM 5:00 PM FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND InSight is published qurterly by the Assocition for Vision Rehbilittion nd Employment, Inc. 174 Court St., Binghmton, NY Emil: vreinfo@vreus.org Editor: Cssie Burgess Assocition for Vision Rehbilittion nd Employment, Inc. 174 Court St. Binghmton, NY Address Service Requested InSight is vilble in the following formts: Lrge Print (14 pt), Brille, emiled text, Word document on disk or cd, nd regulr udio cssette. If you would like to receive InSight in different formt, plese cll us. AVRE serves visully impired individuls of ll ges who live in the New York counties of Broome, Chemung, Chenngo, Cortlnd, Delwre, Otsego, Tiog, Tompkins nd Schuyler, s well s the Pennsylvni counties of Brdford, Susquehnn nd Tiog. AVRE is n Affirmtive Action nd Equl Opportunity Employer. If you would like more informtion bout AVRE nd its services, plese feel free to contct us.