There are many organizations throughout the greater Kansas City area who aid the visually impaired and persons with other disabilities.
Whether we like it or not, we baby boomers are beginning to age a little and with that comes health problems. If you are reading this then either you or someone you care for is suffering from some kind of low vision or vision loss.
The loss or reduction of ones visual acuity is devastating to the person. Often they are pretty self absorbed with the problem and do not realize that those who love them are suffering too.
Our organization offers its support to the family members as well as the person with the visual impairment. Denial is a strong force to deal with and it can take quite some time to get over it. In the mean time the family is floundering around trying to decide what to do. If they choose, they may attend our support group meetings, even if their loved one will not attend. It is possible that with the help of the group he or she may get some ideas on how to help the person in denial. We will also provide the family with sighted guide information and training. We also have a list of dos and don'ts when you share a home with someone who is visually impaired. Your life will be changing some too. Just for instance, you can no longer leave your shoes in the middle of the floor. They make a real handy item to trip over. There other items in this kit for the family including pictures of what your loved one's vision really is as well as information specific to the eye disease in question.
Another difference from the other organizations is that we can move faster. Not being a state agency does have its advantages. You can call on Monday and we can have information to you the next day or make a home visit in just a couple of days.
We don't place a time limit on our support and friendship. If you take longer than average to learn, well then, you just take longer to learn.
We offer a mentoring system in which you may participate. Once you are a client, you may elect to do this or you may not. Your mentor will call you between meetings to check and see how you are doing. You may also call your mentor if you have a question.
Another aspect we believe strongly in is that we need to help the person's whole life. That includes entertainment. Just because the world is dark does not mean that you can't be entertained by all types of things. We will cover the options with you. Ranging from board games for the visually impaired, computer games, recreational sporting activities, books on tape, described TV and movies. Your life only has to be a dark miserable place if you let it be.
There is no charge for the services of First Steps for the Blind. We do have some resources such as a computer engineer and a Braille instructor who do charge. Whether you use them or not is entirely up to you.