[Nfbk] New Website Offers Information and Support for Adults with Vision Loss

[Joey Couch]

New York (June 12, 2012)—Are you or a family member having difficulty
seeing? Or perhaps been diagnosed with an eye condition such as
macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy? If
the answer is yes, you’re not alone: vision problems affect 25 million
Americans, and are on the rise.

To support this growing community, the American Foundation for the
Blind (AFB) and Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation have
launched VisionAware.org, a free, easy-to-use informational website
for adults with vision loss, their families, caregivers, healthcare
providers, and social service professionals.

The new VisionAware combines two stand-alone resources from AFB and
Partners for Sight (Senior Site and the former VisionAware,
respectively) into a single, comprehensive website offering dynamic
social networking and customized guidance for adults of all ages with
rich content and practical tips on living with vision loss.

“Of the services available today that help people newly diagnosed with
vision loss, we anticipate that VisionAware will be a superlative
resource for finding help and support on living fully and
independently,” said Carl R. Augusto, AFB president and CEO. “By
combining our efforts with the Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight
Foundation, we can better serve the millions of adults coping with
vision loss.”

“This partnership will strengthen our goal of serving adults who are
losing their sight,” said Susan Olivo, Executive Director, Reader’s
Digest Partners for Sight Foundation. “For this growing community,
it’s paramount for them to know that help is available.”

Visitors to the new VisionAware will find:

• Free, practical tips and resources for adults with vision loss,
their families, friends, caregivers, and related professionals

• Information on eye diseases and disorders

• Different ways to connect, including message boards and social media
channels like Twitter and Facebook

• Breaking news on the latest developments in vision loss treatment
via the VisionAware blog

• Directories of helpful services, products, and resources

The new VisionAware complements AFB’s family of websites, which are
designed to expand possibilities so that people with vision loss can
achieve their full potential. For more information, visit:
www.VisionAware.org.

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About AFB
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit
that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB’s
priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the
quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve
people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living
for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with
relevant and timely resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud
to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than 40 years
that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB.

About Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation
Since 1955, Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation (PFS) has
been a vital source of support on local, regional and national levels
for the blind and visually impaired. With an emphasis on connecting
people in need with resources and services, the Foundation has
provided new technology, new opportunity and new hope for hundreds of
thousands of people across the United States.

Joey Couch
phone 606-216-8033.
email ki4vjd at gmail.com
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