<div dir="ltr">FYI, from URCommunity Cares<br><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">UR Community Cares, Inc.</strong> <span dir="auto">&lt;<a href="mailto:info@urcommunitycares.org">info@urcommunitycares.org</a>&gt;</span><br>Date: Tue, Jun 24, 2025 at 6:13\u202fPM<br>Subject: Learning to Truly See: Reflections from the Human Guide Workshop<br>To:  &lt;<a href="mailto:marysilverfox@gmail.com">marysilverfox@gmail.com</a>&gt;<br></div><br>Mary Silverberg<br><div class="msg649351344724080639"><u></u>                <div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;background-color:#ffffff"><p style="font-size:0px;background-color:transparent;height:1px"><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="0" height="0" alt="Web Bug from https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/view?id=4104.2745235.1.a3ccabf11b35d32ae02b97a472460140" /></p> <p style="display:none;font-size:0px;color:transparent">Learning to Truly See: Reflections from the Human Guide Workshop Today, I had the privilege of attending a Human Guide Workshop hosted South East Cen</p> <p style="font-size:0px;background-color:transparent;height:1px"></p> <table id="m_649351344724080639mimi_background_color_wrapper" align="" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%;min-width:640px;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" id="m_649351344724080639"> <table class="m_649351344724080639container" id="m_649351344724080639container" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:640px"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" id="m_649351344724080639"> <table style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0"></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639logo-container" id="m_649351344724080639logo_container" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="590" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;text-align:left;margin-top:0;margin-right:auto;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:auto"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" id="m_649351344724080639logo" style="padding-top:15px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:0"> <img width="176" height="75" src="https://cascade.madmimi.com/theme_logos/0126/5598/promotion/Logo-R-Large.png?1663582579" style="width:auto;height:auto;max-width:590px;max-height:75px;display:inline-block;border-top-width:0;border-right-width:0;border-bottom-width:0;border-left-width:0"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table id="m_649351344724080639outer_wrapper" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="590" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;border-radius:4px;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0"> <div style="border-radius:4px"> <div id="m_649351344724080639header_inner" style="display:block;width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;text-decoration:none"> <a style="text-decoration:none;display:block;width:100%!important;color:#c71585;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2889.1.ce2a3d1a8e28d0f5db808982339ade17" target="_blank"><img width="590" style="display:block;width:100%!important;text-decoration:none;border-radius:3px 3px 0 0;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none" alt="HKC" src="https://files.gem.godaddy.com/promotion_images/5561/8658/original/HKC.jpg?1750801584"></a> </div> <table class="m_649351344724080639full" id="m_649351344724080639" align="" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="" id="m_649351344724080639" style="height:30px;line-height:30px;margin-top:0;margin-right:auto;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:auto;padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:30px">   </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full" id="m_649351344724080639" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:30px">   <div class="m_649351344724080639module" dir="ltr"> <span class="m_649351344724080639text-container" style="text-align:left"> <h1 align="left" style="display:block;width:100%;line-height:1.5em;vertical-align:baseline;color:#008000;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:18px;text-align:left;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Learning to Truly See: Reflections from the Human Guide Workshop</h1> </span> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full" id="m_649351344724080639" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:30px">   <div class="m_649351344724080639module" dir="ltr"> <span class="m_649351344724080639text-container" style="text-align:left"> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Today, I had the privilege of attending a <strong style="font-weight:bold">Human Guide Workshop</strong> hosted <a style="text-decoration:none;color:#c71585" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2890.1.1bfc0a861c6ac297f29006fac263a631" target="_blank">South East Center for the Blind</a>, and presented by the Helen Keller National Center, featuring Christine Tedford and Jenna Rydl\u2014both Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS). This immersive experience brought together a diverse group, including volunteers, bus drivers, board members, physical therapists from Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are hard of hearing.</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">We gathered to learn how to better support individuals with vision and hearing loss\u2014those with conditions like macular degeneration, optic atrophy, glaucoma, color blindness, and retinitis pigmentosa. These are not just clinical terms; they represent real challenges people face daily\u2014reading a menu, identifying groceries, navigating new spaces, or moving to a new home.</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0"><strong style="font-weight:bold">Understanding Vision Loss</strong></p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Christine and Jenna explained that legal blindness isn\u2019t just about total blindness\u2014it\u2019s defined as having visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. Some individuals have central vision loss, making tasks like reading recipes or shopping difficult. Others lose peripheral vision, as with retinitis pigmentosa, which often begins with night blindness in the teenage years and progresses over time. We also learned about scotomas, or blind spots, and how these vary from person to person.</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Accommodations can make a world of difference\u2014such as additional lighting, reduced glare, magnification, voice output, tactile sign language, braille, contrasting colors, and <a style="text-decoration:none;color:#c71585" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2891.1.e506542f533c0d4a271c674069a2089e" target="_blank">OttLite task lighting</a>. Tools like white canes are not one-size-fits-all either\u2014participants were encouraged to swap out cane tips for different environments, like hiking.</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0"><strong style="font-weight:bold">Human Guide Techniques</strong></p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">The heart of the workshop was learning the <strong style="font-weight:bold">Human Guide technique</strong>\u2014a respectful and effective way to assist a person who is blind or has low vision in navigating their environment.</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0"><strong style="font-weight:bold">Here are the essentials:</strong></p> <span class="m_649351344724080639list" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;display:none!important"> \u25aa Tap the back of the person\u2019s hand gently to signal you are ready to guide.<br> \u25aa They will slide their hand up to your elbow, maintaining a C-shaped grip\u2014like holding a soda can.<br> \u25aa No hand-holding, no interlocking arms.<br> \u25aa The guide keeps their elbow bent at 90 degrees and walks slightly ahead.<br> \u25aa In tight spaces, the guide can make a fist and place it behind their tailbone to let the person grasp the lower arm and follow through the narrow area.<br> </span> <table class="m_649351344724080639list-item" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="none" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;float:none;width:auto;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet" valign="top" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:14px;padding-top:0;padding-right:0.5em;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0" align="left">\u25aa</td> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet-text" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:auto;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0.2em;padding-left:0" align="left">Tap the back of the person\u2019s hand gently to signal you are ready to guide.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639list-item" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="none" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;float:none;width:auto;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet" valign="top" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:14px;padding-top:0;padding-right:0.5em;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0" align="left">\u25aa</td> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet-text" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:auto;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0.2em;padding-left:0" align="left">They will slide their hand up to your elbow, maintaining a C-shaped grip\u2014like holding a soda can.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639list-item" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="none" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;float:none;width:auto;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet" valign="top" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:14px;padding-top:0;padding-right:0.5em;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0" align="left">\u25aa</td> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet-text" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:auto;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0.2em;padding-left:0" align="left">No hand-holding, no interlocking arms.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639list-item" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="none" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;float:none;width:auto;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet" valign="top" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:14px;padding-top:0;padding-right:0.5em;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0" align="left">\u25aa</td> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet-text" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:auto;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0.2em;padding-left:0" align="left">The guide keeps their elbow bent at 90 degrees and walks slightly ahead.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639last-list-item" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="none" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;float:none;width:auto;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0"> <tbody><tr> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet" valign="top" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:14px;padding-top:0;padding-right:0.5em;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0" align="left">\u25aa</td> <td class="m_649351344724080639bullet-text" style="color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;width:auto;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:1.3em;padding-left:0" align="left">In tight spaces, the guide can make a fist and place it behind their tailbone to let the person grasp the lower arm and follow through the narrow area.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0"><strong style="font-weight:bold">It was a simple but powerful lesson in dignity and independence.</strong></p> </span> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full m_649351344724080639image m_649351344724080639table-3" id="m_649351344724080639" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:30px">   <div class="m_649351344724080639module m_649351344724080639image" dir="ltr"> <table align="" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_649351344724080639module-3" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding-bottom:18px"> <div align="center" style="text-align:center"> <img width="400" alt="HKC1" src="https://files.gem.godaddy.com/promotion_images/5561/8665/original/HKC1.jpg?1750801596" style="height:auto;width:100%"> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full" id="m_649351344724080639" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:30px">   <div class="m_649351344724080639module" dir="ltr"> <span class="m_649351344724080639text-container" style="text-align:left"> <h2 align="left" style="display:block;width:100%;line-height:1.5em;vertical-align:baseline;color:#ff1493;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px;text-align:left;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Broader Services &amp; Support</h2> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">The Helen Keller National Center serves all U.S. states, including territories like the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Samoa. They offer training for individuals who are deaf-blind or have combined vision and hearing loss, beginning at age 14 or 16, depending on location. There are grants available by region and through agencies like BESB (Board of Education and Services for the Blind) to help fund these supports.</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0"><strong style="font-weight:bold">One important takeaway:</strong> the Center can help individuals even if they are transitioning between states, and they\u2019ll work with nursing homes or group homes to train staff when someone needs that extra level of support.</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Need help navigating housing or benefits? Christine encouraged everyone to reach out\u2014referrals are available for those kinds of resources too, click link to go to their website: <a style="text-decoration:none;color:#c71585" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2892.1.409a08e84330f577ef3965d397c48f41" target="_blank">https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/</a></p> </span> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full m_649351344724080639image m_649351344724080639table-5" id="m_649351344724080639" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:30px">   <div class="m_649351344724080639module m_649351344724080639image" dir="ltr"> <table align="" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_649351344724080639module-5" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding-bottom:18px"> <div align="center" style="text-align:center"> <img width="400" alt="HKC2" src="https://files.gem.godaddy.com/promotion_images/5561/8665/original/HKC2.jpg?1750801601" style="height:auto;width:100%"> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full" id="m_649351344724080639" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:30px">   <div class="m_649351344724080639module" dir="ltr"> <span class="m_649351344724080639text-container" style="text-align:left"> <h2 align="left" style="display:block;width:100%;line-height:1.5em;vertical-align:baseline;color:#ff1493;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px;text-align:left;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Final Thoughts</h2> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Today\u2019s workshop reminded me how much we can all do\u2014especially when we listen, learn, and lend an elbow.</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Whether you\u2019re a professional, a family member, or a neighbor, we all have a role to play in building a more inclusive community. <br> <strong style="font-weight:bold">The first step? Extend a hand\u2014not to lead, but to walk alongside.</strong></p> </span> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full" id="m_649351344724080639" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="left" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:30px">   <div class="m_649351344724080639module" dir="ltr"> <span class="m_649351344724080639text-container" style="text-align:left"> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">My Meme was DeafBlind in her later years and I wish I had known then what I know now,</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">Michelle Puzzo, Executive Director</p> <p align="left" style="vertical-align:baseline;line-height:1.5em;color:#3a352a;font-family:&#39;Helvetica Neue&#39;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;text-align:left;unicode-bidi:embed;margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:1.3em;margin-left:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0">860-430-4557</p> </span> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full m_649351344724080639image m_649351344724080639table-8" id="m_649351344724080639" align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" id="m_649351344724080639" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:30px">   <div class="m_649351344724080639module m_649351344724080639image" dir="ltr"> <table align="" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="m_649351344724080639module-8" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding-bottom:18px"> <div align="center" style="text-align:center"> <img width="400" alt="HKC3" src="https://files.gem.godaddy.com/promotion_images/5561/8909/original/HKC3.jpg?1750802344" style="height:auto;width:100%"> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table class="m_649351344724080639full" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;width:100%!important;min-width:100%!important;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;background-color:#ffffff"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" style="text-align:center;padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:30px"> <div align="center"><a title="Facebook" style="text-decoration:none;color:#c71585" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2893.1.900a6721bdf3b288bd700ae6ee950a9d" target="_blank"><img src="https://gem.godaddy.com/assets/img/social/minimo/facebook-a7575e5ca956ddebffebe3aee55fadd386c6c8a969b9de10f16c9c499217f1d4.png" alt="facebook" title="Facebook" width="32" height="32" border="0"></a> <a title="Instagram" style="text-decoration:none;color:#c71585" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2894.1.c66cd373e7a4205ca239ba080b785638" target="_blank"><img src="https://gem.godaddy.com/assets/img/social/minimo/instagram-0253778cbb5e4a5b3430dcbc92d8e0137bc514206c22cb3737458f84c5c16989.png" alt="instagram" title="Instagram" width="32" height="32" border="0"></a> <a title="LinkedIn" style="text-decoration:none;color:#c71585" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2895.1.c0ccd09b8b45103653b63e0a23fd88bc" target="_blank"><img src="https://gem.godaddy.com/assets/img/social/minimo/linkedin-f4cae18405c4cab8a9ea26fe456ed862e80e1db2b94e95d0ed12deb8f02207b1.png" alt="linkedin" title="LinkedIn" width="32" height="32" border="0"></a> <a title="Twitter" style="text-decoration:none;color:#c71585" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2896.1.853ee7c31bf5902e0b92248c9a094a80" target="_blank"><img src="https://gem.godaddy.com/assets/img/social/minimo/twitter-6005960f8df9c261bf4f15b9ec1a2d722c8dc4e2ad53da7d663bc6ea4d957da6.png" alt="twitter" title="Twitter" width="32" height="32" border="0"></a> <a title="YouTube" style="text-decoration:none;color:#c71585" href="https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/4104?id=2745235.2897.1.1a8a94e2825fa627772614440b6425a1" target="_blank"><img src="https://gem.godaddy.com/assets/img/social/minimo/youtube-5620c7bac9977585435e1c0b4d4d7b85b9e8dea0655222acda7c9d465cbb947a.png" alt="youtube" title="YouTube" width="32" height="32" border="0"></a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