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The
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) will host the sixth annual Possibilities
Fair for Seniors Who Are Losing Vision on Thursday, October 18, 2007, from 9:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $15 and lunch will be provided. It will be held
at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, located in south
Federal Hill at 1800 Johnson Street. To find out more, call (410) 659-9314,
extension 2419 or 2297. The NFB Community Partnership Board invites the public
to attend the Possibilities Fair, which will provide seniors with a hands-on
opportunity to learn methods for improving their lives.
Americans are living longer, and vision loss occurs more frequently among those who are older. More than fifty percent of the 70,000 individuals who become blind in this country each year are over the age of sixty-five. This population is expected to more than double by the year 2030. The training these seniors need—general adjustment to blindness, independent living skills, Braille—is not readily available to them.
Seniors,
though, are eager to learn about the strategies that will enable them to continue
living independent lives. “American seniors have a strong desire to remain
independent as they age. This is no less so for seniors who are losing their
vision. The NFB Jernigan Institute, which works to develop innovative training
methods and education for all blind people, places a high priority on the needs
of these seniors who are often not provided the services made available to blind
people of working age,” states NFB President Marc Maurer.
Demonstration
stations will include speech output devices, mobility practice sessions, and
techniques for the kitchen, as well as a display of helpful gadgets and gizmos
available to make life more accessible. Participants will learn about books
on tape and newspapers over the telephone, talking computers, and magnification
devices. The fair will also include helpful hints about losing vision and enjoying
life! In addition, there will be an interesting mix of nonprofit partners that
will have an array of information, demonstrations, and displays for the seniors
to enjoy.
With over 50,000 members from 700 local and state affiliates covering all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, the Federation is truly the voice of the nation’s blind. Pennsylvania recently had a Possibilities Fair and New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Idaho all have them in the works.
With its national headquarters located in Baltimore since 1978, the NFB has become the leading force in the blindness field today. The National Federation of the Blind is changing what it means to be blind through its dedication to improving the lives of all blind people by coming together, sharing resources, and developing useful programs that encourage self-confidence and independence.