[NFBSF] Vista Center resource list

[Amy Jine]

Vista Center staff members are currently working remotely Monday through
Friday to continue providing services to our blind and visually impaired
community.
If you are in need of our services, please call our Vista Center Client
Help Line at 650-503-4258, or email us at vistacenter.client.help at gmail.com.
Table of Contents
1. Vista Center Online Services Offerings
2. Hadley School for the Blind: Monthly Discussion Groups
3. Vista Center: Virtual O&M Workshop
4. Bookshare: Free During Current Crisis
5. The World According to sound: Radio Show on KQED Radio
6. Avenidas Senior Care Services: We're here for you!
7. RespectAbility.org: COVID-19 Community Gathering
8. Poetry: David E. Brew - The Peace of Wild Things
1.
VISTA CENTER ONLINE SERVICES OFFERINGS
For information about dates and times, please call 408.295.4016 ext. 204
Mat Yoga
All ability levels welcome. Breathing, stretching, and relaxation exercises
promoting health.
Instructor: Yoga Bharati
Spanish Support Group
Leader: John Faustino
Contact Info: 650-858-0202 x128
Living with Vision Loss
Adaptive techniques for independence & daily living.
Leader: Vivian Younger
Gentle Chair Yoga
All ability levels welcome. Breathing, stretching, and relaxation exercises
promoting health.
Instructor: Yoga Bharati
Relaxation & Meditation Yoga
All ability levels welcome. Breathing, stretching, and relaxation exercises
promoting health.
Instructor: Yoga Bharati
Weekly Client Community Meeting
An open meeting held each Wednesday. Join us to stay up-to-date on our
programs and activities and enjoy weekly speakers. Join early for a little
social time before the meeting starts.
Adjustment to Vision Loss Support Group
Trained rehabilitation counselors help clients adjust to their vision loss
and discuss adaptive techniques for daily living. This course is done in
12-weeks, one session per week.
Leader: Vivian Younger
Brown Bag Program – Home Delivery (bi-weekly)
A brown bag of groceries is available for low-income, underserved clients.
The client must be pre-registered for the program.
Coming Soon...
Keys to Success Workshop (prior arrangement required)
Facilitated by Vivian Younger, author of A Guide to Independence for the
Visually Impaired and Their Families.
MONTHLY SERVICES
SUPPORT GROUPS
Working Age II Support Group
MON 10A-12PM (2 Hours)
2nd Monday of the month – April 13, May 11, June 8
Leader: David Hoffman No Fee
GO GO GO Senior Support Group
MON 1:30-3:30PM
2nd Monday of the month – April 13, May 11, June 8
Leader: David Hoffman No Fee
Cypress Support Group
WED 10-11:30
3rd Wednesday of the month – April 15, May 20, June 17
Leader: Sharon Hudson No Fee
Teams Conference call: Sharon will call individuals to join.
Working Age Support Group
WED 11AM – 1PM
2nd Wednesday of the month – April 8, May 13, June 10
Leader: Sharon Hudson No Fee
Teams Conference call: Sharon will call individuals to join.
Another Slice of APPle Pie
Join us for our Accessible Technology Sessions
Join VCSJ’s venerable, one and only, Ernie Molina for our famous, fantastic
and free monthly seminars on accessible technology, new apps, & more. See
you, all, here! Sessions will be online until further notice.
Please RSVP the Wednesday prior to each session
Friday, APRIL 17 - 10 AM to 11 AM
Friday, MAY 15 - 10 AM to 11 AM
Friday, JUNE 19 - 10 AM to 11 AM
2.
Hadley School for the Blind:
Monthly Discussion Groups
Social distancing has become the norm these days. And while that can be
isolating, there are some ways to stay connected with people. Hadley is
still offering their discussion conference call groups every week. In these
phone-in sessions,their learning experts share tips and insights on a
topic. Then, Hadley opens the phone lines for questions. Below is the link
for their schedule of groups which include such topics as a writers group,
a gardening group, a cooking group and other groups designed to help those
who are feeling isolated. Select the "Sign Up" buttons on their web page to
receive reminders and call-in information for upcoming groups.
https://hadley.edu/discussions
Here is how to contact Hadley by email, phone or just to click to get to
their website home page. Phone: 800-323-4238
On the web: hadley.edu
Email Hadley: feedback at hadley.edu
3.
Vista Center:
Virtual O&M Workshop
Friday April 17, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Zoom Conference Call
This workshop will discuss various topics on Orientation and Mobility,
discuss the benefits of a white cane, and answer your burning questions!
RSVP to Valerie at vcampos at vistacenter.org. This will take place on Zoom.
Log in info to go out the day before.
If you need assistance with Zoom please contact Valerie prior to April 10th
at vcampos at vistacenter.org
4.
Bookshare:
Free During Current Crisis
Bookshare service available free during current crisis as NLS / BTBL mail
service is suspended
Until further notice the NLS or BTBL mailing of digital cartridges has been
suspended. They are still offering the digital downloads. Since it will not
be possible to sign up for their digital downloads bookshare.org is
offering a free membership.
Bookshare on the web: bookshare.org
5.
The World According to Sound:
Radio Show on KQED Radio
This show highlights fun and unusual sounds. They partnered with LightHouse
to record several episodes which highlighted the experiences of blind
Californians through sound. Every day, they highlight a unique sound such
as 1000 students typing on laptops or the sounds of the moving mechanisms
inside of a pipe organ.
Listen on the web: World According to Sound
6.
Avenidas Senior Care Services:
We're here for you!
Don't forget, Avenidas is here for you. If you'd like to receive friendly
phone calls, need help with grocery shopping, or want to participate in a
virtual social activity, we can help.
Call us at (650) 289-5400, email us at info at avenidas.org or visit our
website, www.avenidas.org for the latest resources and fun activities.
Do You Need a Crisis Intervention?
Avenidas Care Partner Manager Paula Wolfson is here to help you and your
family! If you are navigating a hospital admission, ER visit, skilled
nursing home stay or assisted memory care unit, call (650) 289-5438 and
leave a voice mail or email pwolfson at avenidas.org. Paula is coaching
families and patients over the phone as they navigate these systems.
Signing up for Avenidas classes and events online
Signing up online for Avenidas classes and events, like our Town Hall
meetings, is easy and convenient. Our website is open 24 hours and there is
no waiting for a response. If you or a family member does not have access
to a computer please contact Avenidas for assistance.
· For most classes and events, Zoom log on information will be emailed to
registered participants. Instructors will email students directly.
Info at avenidas.org will send emails for larger events, such as the Town Hall
meetings.
Please don't hesitate to email info at avenidas.org if you have any questions.
Please keep in mind, this mailbox is only monitored Monday à Friday,
between 9am and 4:45pm.
Try some of our new virtual programs!
LGBTQ Social Isolation Virtual Support Group!
This is a new weekly support group for members of the LGBTQ community who
are coping with being isolated during this Coronavirus outbreak.
Co-Facilitated by Thomas Kingery of Avenidas and Jenn Chan of OpenHouse,
this support group will foster community, provide a safe space to express
feelings and experiences, and to gain coping skills via the internet.
This group will meet every Monday morning from 10-11 am via the Zoom
platform. Those interested in participating should email Thomas Kingery at
tkingery at avenidas.org to request and invitation; please put "support group"
in the subject line.
All events are free, but please rsvp to: rsvp at seniorplanetavenidas.org
For some of our online events, there will be limited space.

8.
Poetry:
David E. Brew - The Peace of Wild Things
The following was provided by Vista’s resident poet master, David E. Brew a
cup of tea, practice your restorative breathing and read this for your
moment of Zen.
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
- Wendell Berr
If you are need of services, please call Vista's Client Help Line:
650-503-4258--

*Amy Jine*

*Transition Program Specialist*

*Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired*

*101 N. Bascom Avenue*

*San Jose, CA 95128*

*O: (650) 858-0202 Ext 183*

*M: (415) 886-7049 (preferred)*



ajine at vistacenter.org

Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
<http://www.vistacenter.org/>

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