[Community-service] volunteers at cleveland sight center

[Cheryl Fields]

Well, Stanley can give you more advice about providing computer
training, he will get the message on Monday morning.
Camp does have blind bolunteers and staff, there a variety of
activities, there is a outdoor swimming pool, crafts, talet shows,
discussion groups, hiking, fishing, outdoor boeling, outdoor chesss
board, open air chapel, they create a band each session so much more
one of the adult sessions ends with a banquet and live band really
nice. Other summer activities include golf, biking and hiking, beep
baseball Cleveland Scrappers! sailing and more. The craft volunteer is
low vision however everyone in the class has taught others what they
know. Share the Vision is a program coordinated by a blind staff
member and his entire pool of peer volunteers are blind it's a
requirement. Our other volunteers are sighted and blind. I think
Stanley is the only Americore volunteer csc has used, by the way his
supervisor is blind too.


Consumr Council is a committee made up of csc consumers it a very
diverse group we offer practicle suggestions and introduce new ideas
and programs, constructive critisim of events or programs. We meet
monthly and have a staff advisor as well as other blind board members
as part of the group. Administration rely on us to give honest
opinions before some programs/ideas are emplemented, and we don't hold
back, it's a great group.

Domestic Violence/ Another friend and I went through an extensive
volunteer training, the agency was very inclusive. Making all
materials accessible to us and as a result they updated their web site
and most volunteer training is on line. HooRay!
We advocated for a healthy relationship workshops at csc for women,
this lasted 6 weeks. We are in the process of planning a collaboration
with law enforcement, health care facilities, csc and domestiviolence
agency. Wanting to promote awareness, how to talk to a bind person,
where are shelters and are they prepared for us, proper reporting.
This would include educating the blind community that there are safe
places for us and how to ask for what is available. It is a exhaustive
process but I am determined to see it through. Ultimately we are
hoping a support group for persons with disabilities will come from
this, our deaf community in Cleveland is participating in a study with
law enforcement concerning domestic violence. So, this is gaining
momentum. At our state convention I presented a short talk on domestic
violence and we had a breakout session with a wonderful speaker. Since
then our state president has encouraged me to take this further and we
will work on identifying agencies in Ohio that are prepared for blind
adults and continue to educate our community to report crimes
perpertrated against them.  I go to fairs and community event to pass
out literature, support fund raising and anything els I'm comfortable
with. There is additional training for direct care services, I'm not
ready for that right now my comfort zone is out in the community,
education and awareness.

anyone that wants more info about csc can contact me at
cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com, enough said, we should stick to
volunteering on this list, smiles.  Thanks and I'm glad you're
interested! I hope this encourages some of you to begin new
activities/programs in your area, find what fits.

Cheryl
On 2/22/14, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I had some questions about Cleveland sight center, csc, and thought I'd ask
> here in case any other have experience.
> I think its cool to volunteer with other blind people to help them out. I'm
> considering volunteering to provide
> Jaws training to blind students here.
> BTW, I'm not living in Ohio, but have investigated out of state centers as
> my state one did not meet my needs.
> I think CSC sounds neat with a wide variety of recreational activities for
> their clients.
> I think its great they have employment training there such as that call
> center training to bridge the gap amongst the unemployed blind population.
>
> On another note, what do you do at the domestic violence agency, Cheryl?
>
> Cheryl posted some good info about volunteering at CSC and I'll repost it in
> case anyone missed it on the other thread and wish to read.
> Messages get lost among conversations with same subject lines.
>
> Cheryl, feel free to provide your email address you want to corespond off
> list, if you want.
>
>
> My questions are:
> What is the CSC consumer counsel?
>
> Does CSC regularly use Americorps volunteers?
> Is it typical for volunteers to be blind, or is Stanley an exception?
> Do they accept volunteers for that summer camp? What activities are at it?
> Curious, are the volunteer craft teachers blind or sighted?
>
> Cheryl said:
>
> My friend, Stanley, provides training for csc consumers on adaptive
> technology. These consumers are in our supportive employment programs
> or literacy programs. He and his supervisor recently are providing
> introductory instruction on mobile devices. When he was with Americore
> one of his jobs was to support braille instructors during classes
> provided at csc.
> Cleveland Sight Center may be an agency to consider inviting to the
> convention. It is unique, there are more than 15 blind/lowvision
> employees on staff, entire staff is approx. 100. The agency houses a
> call center where there are some additional blind employees, these
> people are not csc employees. The agency has several contracts to
> provide call center services and they are employees of those various
> companies. Some work from home, training is at the agency or can be
> accessed on line. I can provide contact information if you want to
> connect.
> Several employees presented /participated, not sure, at the national
> convention employment seminar last year in Orlando. Like many not for
> profits, csc could not function without the many volunteers, a large
> number of them are consumers. Some things that agency
> volunteers/consumers do, I facilitate a book discussion, someone else
> instructs line dancing, others provide braille instruction to those
> not in employment or literacy programs, instruction in crochet and
> other crafts. We have a camp located in Chardon Ohio and it employs
> blind and sighted persons 18 years and up, this is a perfect summer
> job for college students and has the potential for full time permanent
> employment after graduation. We employ 2 rehab teachers that are
> blind, there are guide dogs and canes all around the building, smiles.
> Another program administer by a blind staff person is Share the
> Vision, this provides Peer support for those that have recently lost
> their vision. It is a wonderful program that everyone can participate
> in, the only qualifications are you must be blind and have a
> telephone!  I'll stop here because this could go on for a long time,
> as you can tell I am quite proud of the rehabilitation, recreation,
> staff and volunteers at csc!
>
> Until Next Time!
>
> Cheryl
>
>
> Also wrote:
> Stanley is a employee, he was a consumer and Americore
> volunteer/student prior to employment. There are others on staff with
> the same status, not Americore, .
> I am a csc consumer and board member, chair csc consumer council, vice
> nfb/Cleveland, community gardening and volunteer with local domestic
> violence agency. I am happy to chat anytime.
> I encourage all of you to visit csc if you are in the Cleveland area,
> it is not a perfect place but it is a great place!