[Ohio-Talk] Sight Center

Mon Jan 27 17:39:39 UTC 2020

Dave, I do not believe they teach Braille at the Toledo Sight Center and
that is extremely concerning to me. Unless things have changed recently,
that was the situation. I am sure they have good people who care a lot but
unless they can deliver crucial services like Braille it is very troubling.
I have also noticed that all of the agencies for the blind throughout the
state of Ohio provide far more services to people who have a visual acuity
between 20 60 and 20 200 than those who have a visual acuity that qualifies
as legally blind. I have been involved as a blindness professional for over
30 years. Does the Toledo Sight Center have any professional staff who are
blind? I know they have in the past.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dave Bertsch via
Ohio-Talk
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2020 11:20 AM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dave Bertsch <dwbertsch at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Ohio-Talk] Sight Center

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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