Senior Connection
Over 300 attended the 2009 Senior Connection on June 10, a day-long conference featuring experts in the fields of vision loss and aging. MAB and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind co-sponsor the annual event, held for 15 years at the Lantana in Randolph, MA. A conference for MAB’s support group network, the Senior Connection features keynote speakers and exhibits for the blind and visually impaired attendees. This year representatives from 28 of MAB’s 34 support groups attended.
The program began with welcome speeches from Joseph Weisse from the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), MAB CEO Barbara Salisbury, and MCB Commissioner Janet LaBreck. Cheryl Standley from MCB’s Bridge Program read the roll call of the peer empowerment groups, celebrating all the group members from around the state.
The keynote speaker B.J. LeJeune, Director of Deafblind Programs, RRTC on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University, spoke about her experiences working in the field of blindness and low vision. Her humorous and at times poignant speech highlighted some of the many challenges that elders experiencing vision loss often face. She said 12-14 million are living with vision loss in the United States, and of those 6.5 million have severe vision loss. 55% of these individuals are over 65.LeJeune discussed the vision loss research underway, such as the Lighthouse study on elders’ falls due to vision loss; the study determined that falls predominately occur when visually impaired elders get in and out of bed. She also explored the relationship of vegetables to vision loss, posing questions such as whether vegetables are not as nutritious as they used to be, and if the lack of proper nutrients getting to the retina has increased cases of vision loss. To learn more, visit: Veggies Fighting Blindness.
The exhibition portion of the conference followed, where participating agencies and organizations had the opportunity to display their products such as vision loss adaptive technology, and provide information about products and services for blind and visually impaired individuals.
The exhibitions featured:
The technology exhibitors included:
During the afternoon seminar “Surviving Sight Loss as Yourself,” Hannah Fairbairn from the Carroll Center for the Blind led an animated discussion about ways to adapt to sight loss, with an open forum for audience members to provide insight. Support group members offered helpful advice about ways to improve the safety in one’s home, and strategies for communicating with family members and friends about how to maintain these systems. The lively seminar provided a great way for participants to share with each other and connect over similar experiences, strengthening the solidarity of the Senior Connection.
Photos:
"I’ve learned how to do things that I never knew how to do before. I try hard to stay focused and give 100% effort because I have goals for myself, to go to college or to get a job. I want to try new things."
- Josh
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