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[Smyth, Charlene R]

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The Children's Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) was established in 1996 with a small grant from the West Virginia Lions.  CVRP's mission is to provide school-age children, with incurable vision loss, access to the visual environment.  CVRP is a "needs-based" project that responds to individual needs of visually impaired children, teachers, parents and related professionals in West Virginia.  Clinical vision evaluations, teacher education and mentoring, parent assistance and support, site visitation/student follow-ups, summer camps, and a lending library for optical devices and technology are components that have been identified by teachers and parents that will assist in meeting these needs.


Children's Vision Rehabilitation Program's (CVRP) mission is to provide comprehensive vision rehabilitation services to blind and visually impaired school aged children in West Virginia regardless of their ability to pay.  The goal of this project is to provide children with tools to become independent and employable by optimizing visual function and compensatory skills both at home and school.  CVRP executes this mission through medical eye care, optical devices, assistive technology, educational recommendations and support to local communities and school systems.  In pursuit of these goals, a multi-disciplinary team of professionals trained in ophthalmology, optometry, orientation and mobility, occupational therapy and education to execute a comprehensive evaluation, treatment plan and follow-up for each student.


CVRP will be hosting a Summer Institute in Morgantown, WV June 13-17, 2016.   This event features children from across West Virginia who happens to be blind and visually impaired.  CVRP's mission is to increase educational and social opportunities, independence and employability for visually impaired children by providing access to all environments that sighted children experience.  The children from WV will participate in a week long Summer Institute.  The focus will be music but skills such as independent living, socialization and self-advocacy skill will be incorporated.  Blessing will be here to serve as a mentor and a coach to parents and students and prepare the children for a "grand" performance at the Creative Arts Center in Morgantown, WV on June 17, 2016.  Twenty-nine children from all areas of WV will participate in this event.



This event was inspired by Blessing Offor, a young boy from Nigeria, who grew up facing the world without sight but sees the world and his future very clearly.  Blessing was left with no sight trying to maneuver school, family and life as a blind child.    In 2014, Blessing made his debut on "The Voice".  He turned all four chairs and his future took a new path.  He has a record deal but still feels that educating parents and children to set high expectations, along with hard work to overcome the obstacles of blindness.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqaXd7IXtJY





Additional BIO for Blessing Offor
Blessing Offor is a contemporary artist that strives to create a musical legacy that will stand the test of time.  One who's sought after in various circles his music touches the hearts and souls of people from all walks of life.  Blessing's music is simply an expression of who he is, as he transfers the essence of his heart and mind, to melody and lyrics.

He describes his first Sojourn Records release "Roots," as a means of musically shaking the hand of all who hear it, and aspires for his future tunes to move his listeners to welcome him to dinner.  Born on the rich continent of Africa, his own roots began in Nigeria, before he took flight to America.  A blessing is what Mr. Offor considers his life to be, as he was born blind, in his left eye due to congenital glaucoma.  An unfortunate accident, when he was a child, resulted in him becoming blind completely.  Despite these unfortunate circumstances, Blessing doesn't want anyone to cry for him, as he feels his condition enables him to see aspects of life more clearly.  His uncle Chigozie [pr: che-go-ze-ye] was among the first to recognize his talents.  Once he brought his nephew to the states, Blessing's elementary school teacher Dr. Denise Gamble introduced him to the music association Talented And Gifted (T.A.G.), after he perked up her ears by playing rhythms on his desk.  He then went on to take classical piano lessons, and is now a skilled guitarist, as well as a mean saxophonist.  An admirer of the legendary Stevie Wonder, he is a lover of "The Motown Sound," as well as iconic artists James Taylor, Roberta Flack, Carol King, Lionel Richie, The Beatles and Sly Stone.  Performers of today's music that he enjoys and respects include John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, Norah Jones, Sam Smith and John Legend.


Contact Information for interviews:

Rebecca Coakley, WVU Director of Low Vision Outreach, coakleyr at wvumedicine.org<mailto:coakleyr at wvumedicine.org>  (304)288-5563



Paula Lang, WVU Low Vision Education Specialist, langp at wvumedicine.org<mailto:langp at wvumedicine.org>  (304)598-6965



*Interviews with kids, Mr. Offor and staff can be obtained June 14-16 (9am-noon) at Benton Grove, Morgantown, WV.  Please make prior arrangements with Rebecca Coakley.





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