[Ohio-Talk] Sight Center

[Dave Bertsch]

Well, thanks Barbara, but I choose to give them the benefit of the doubt before casting a cloud over them on our list here. Your point on the Akron Center is unfortunately valid but I didn't meet with an agency, I met with people, and they're doing some good work there. Just because one facility or agency is failing to fulfill its mission, I'm not going to look at every other facility or agency in a skeptical or cynical light. That would diminish our opportunity to work with them and help them improve their services and their focus. Focusing on long ago past disappointments with them, most likely different people there at the time, creates the same roadblock to learning from each other and working together. The people make the difference. Room to improve? Sure, like all of us. But I will readily and gladly refer people in that part of Ohio to the Sight Center in Toledo.

Dave Bertsch
Greater Akron


-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barbara Pierce via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2020 8:21 AM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
Cc: Barbara Pierce
Subject: Re: [Ohio-Talk] Sight Center

Dear Dave,

There are always two sides to every issue. Remembering how disillusioned you all in the Akron chapter became with the Akron Blind Center, you should not be too surprised to learn that we have a long and rather unpleasant history with the Toledo Sight Center. I can only hope that they have reformed their ways, but for a lot of ears they have dragged their heels at teaching Braille and offering constructive support and assistance to the blind people they are supposed to serve. Agencies in general have sharpened their skills at talking a good game while finding it inconvenient to provide constructive service.
Barbara
Barbara Pierce, President Emerita
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
440-774-8077
 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations for blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and their dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

> On Jan 26, 2020, at 5:00 PM, Dave Bertsch via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Ohio, this past Friday afternoon I met with Stacey Butts, Director of the Sight Center of Northwest Ohio in Toledo. I was given a tour of the facility, including their store, low vision clinic, assistive technology lab and training rooms for mobility and daily living adaptations. I was so impressed with the Center and its staff. They serve 18 counties in the northwest corner of Ohio, with safety and adaptive services to residences and at their facility. They really stretch their budget and do a lot with very little. Wish every community in Ohio had a facility with services and staff like the Sight Center of Northwest Ohio. Thank you Stacey and keep up the great work!
> 
> Their store has everything from bump dots to high tech, here is a link https://sightcentertoledo.org/services/the-shop/
> 
> Their web address is www.sightcentertoledo.org<http://www.sightcentertoledo.org>
> 
> Dave Bertsch
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> Greater Akron Chapter
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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