VISTA CENTER FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
2500 EL CAMINO REAL NO 100, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 www.vistacenter.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: VISTA CENTER ENABLES INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL THROUGH EVALUATION, COUNSELING, EDUCATION AND TRAINING WHICH PROMOTES INDEPENDENCE AND IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE.

SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING - WITHOUT SIGHT THE MOST ROUTINE TASKS CAN SEEM INSURMOUNTABLE. THE SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM ASSESSES THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF A CLIENT AND DEVELOPS A CUSTOMIZED PLAN OF ACTION FOR TEACHING SKILLS THAT ENABLE INDEPENDENCE. CLIENTS MAY RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP COUNSELING TO ASSIST THEM WITH ACCEPTING THEIR VISION LOSS AND DISCOVER NEW WAYS OF CONQUERING ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING. OUR DAILY LIVING SKILLS INSTRUCTORS TEACH NEW SKILLS WHICH ALLOW THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUAL TO CONTINUE COOKING, MANAGE THEIR MEDICATIONS, MAINTAIN HYGIENE, HOUSEKEEPING, AND MONEY MANAGEMENT. WE PROVIDE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING TO TEACH THEM HOW TO CROSS STREETS SAFELY, USE A CANE, TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND NAVIGATING EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS. THE HEALTH LIBRARY RESPONDS TO THOUSANDS OF INQUIRIES A YEAR ABOUT VISION RELATED ISSUES BY EMAIL OR PHONE. SHARED PATHS IS A SOCIAL RECREATION PROGRAM FOR BLIND/VISUALLY IMPAIRED SENIOR/ADULTS THAT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE OR TO CONTINUE ENJOYING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT WHILE BEING IN A SUPPORTIVE ATMOSPHERE.

LOW VISION SERVICES - WHEN SOMEONE IS SLOWLY LOSING SIGHT, LOSING FAITH IN ONE'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY BECOMES A REAL FEAR. BY CONDUCTING LOW VISION EVALUATIONS, WHICH RESULT IN RECOMMENDATIONS AND EDUCATION TO ENHANCE THE USE OF REMAINING FUNCTIONAL VISION, VISTA CENTER'S SPECIALLY TRAINED LOW VISION OPTOMETRISTS PROVIDE DEVICES, SERVICES, AND SUPPORT THAT ALLEVIATE FEAR AND RESTORE HOPE. APPROPRIATE LOW VISION AIDS ARE IDENTIFIED SUCH AS A MAGNIFIER, PRISM SPECTACLES, TELESCOPES, HIGH POWER READERS, HAND-HELD AND STAND MAGNIFIERS, VIDEO MAGNIFIERS, SPECIALTY LOW VISION TINTS FOR CONTRAST AND GLARE TO ENHANCE CONTRAST WHEN WALKING INDOORS AND OUTDOORS. PROPER LIGHTING & CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT IS DEMONSTRATED AND DISCUSSED TO IMPROVE ONE'S HOME ENVIRONMENT. OUR LOW VISION EXPO IS A BIANNUAL EVENT DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY ABOUT THE RESOURCES, LOW VISION AIDS, LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES - BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM THEIR SIGHTED PEERS IN THEIR DESIRE FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH OTHERS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS, STRATEGIES, CONFIDENCE, AND COURAGE TO BUILD THE FUTURE THAT THEY DREAM OF AND THAT IS POSSIBLE. VISTA VOYAGERS OFFERS OUTINGS THAT ARE RECREATIONAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUTHS TO MEET AND BE MENTORED BY A BLIND ADULT ROLE MODEL. TEENS TOGETHER PLUS IS A SUPPORT GROUP TO HELP TEENS GET THROUGH THE EMOTIONAL STRUGGLES OF BLINDNESS. INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS PROVIDES TRAINING AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. WE COLLABORATE WITH TWO OTHER LOCAL BLIND AGENCIES TO PROMOTE THE ANNUAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE INVOLVING SCHOOL AGE YOUTH TO WHO COMPETE AND PUT THEIR BRAILLE LITERACY SKILLS TO THE TEST.

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