What is the NAVH philosophy?
What is the difference between Limited Vision
and Blindness?
And why is that difference so important?
How long has NAVH been around and who started it?
Where can I find NAVH?
Services:
Low Vision Aids
Large Print Library
Fun Rooms
Public Education
Professional Education
Youth Development
Adult Activities
What is the NAVH philosophy?
Most people who have vision loss retain residual vision throughout their
lives. Often the remaining sight is significant and substantial, although
altered or diminished. Our purpose is to work with people with limited vision
so that those affected can live with as little disruption as possible.
Along with the need to try to "forget what was and work with what
is", we stress the importance of using eyesight despite limited vision. Our goal is to supply emotional support to make certain that
hope, dignity and independence are retained.
And we know that most of the world neither sees the difference between
having limited vision and having no sight, nor understands the ramifications.
Because of this, substantial expenditures are allocated towards research
and assistance for the blind, leaving the partially seeing without needed
attention and resources.
In fact, NAVH is the only non-profit health agency in the world solely
dedicated to providing assistance to those with limited vision or,
as we say, the "HARD OF SEEING"®. We do not receive federal
subsidies or United Way funds, but rather, rely upon the contributions
of Members and Friends ...people like you.
No one is ever denied services of any kind if they are unable to make
a donation.
What is the difference between Limited Vision
and Blindness?
One way of looking at it is...if corrective lenses cannot provide 20/40
sight in at least one eye, you may have limited vision.
And keep in mind that those who are legally blind--who test 20/200 or
less in the better eye after the best correction, or have a field defect
in which the widest diameter of the visual field is no greater that 20
degrees--also have limited vision.
We like to think that being visually impaired means you are "A
Little Bit Blind." And chances are you may be more sighted than not.
Consider that the leading cause of limited vision and legal blindness
is macular degeneration which, alone, will NEVER cause complete vision
loss. Most cases of diabetic retinopathy do not produce total blindness,
although the disease is the leading cause of profound vision loss among
young working adults in the United States. Glaucoma, the second leading
cause of vision loss in the world, when successfully treated, does not
lead to total blindness. Retinitis pigmentosa, in the majority of cases,
allows for some residual vision.
While reliable statistics are hard to come by, it is now estimated that
in the United States 26,000,000 people are afflicted with some visual
disorder. Of these, approximately 1,300,000 are considered blind. Of those
only 10% (130,000) have no useable vision or only the ability to perceive
light. Therefore, approximately 1,000,000 are called “legally blind”–those
who have useable vision. NAVH does not consider anyone blind who falls
into this category.
And why is that difference so important?
Those who are unable to benefit from the wide
array of visual aids require skills in the use
of canes, guide dogs, as well as orientation
and mobility training. The partially seeing,
however, have needs which vary greatly with
age, the degree of motivation, and type of impairment.
Training the partially seeing to use residual
vision is a far more expensive and complicated
process.
If you have limited vision, that is, if you belong to the majority
among those who have serious eye problems, you will find information and
services available to you are sparse. And what's worse, the world at large,
including your family and friends, often refuses to understand your vision
is limited and you have trouble seeing, although you are not blind. That
is a difficult concept for many.
The ability to see is not just black and white. There are many of shades
of gray, and those with limited vision live in the gray area.
How long has NAVH been around and who started
it?
Over 50 years ago Lorraine
Marchi, a fourth generation San Franciscan, and mother of 4 children
began National Association for Visually Handicapped.
Her oldest son was born with albinism, and she
became aware that schools were unable to supply
adequate large print educational materials for
children like her son who did not require braille.
Out of that frustration and concern NAVH was
born.
Where can I find
NAVH?
Email staffca@navh.org
if you live in these Western States:
AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY.
Email navh@navh.org
for the rest of the Planet.
NAVH New York City
22 West 21st Street 6th Floor
New York, NY
10010
Phone 212 255 2804
Fax 212 727 2931
navh@navh.org
NAVH San Francisco
507 Polk Street, Suite 420
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 775-NAVH (6284)
Fax (415) 346-9593
staffca@navh.org
With offices in New York and San Francisco,
we are a friendly and an unbureaucratic organization.
Below are some of the important programs which
are available to you.
LOW VISION AIDS
Order low vision aids from items available
in our Low Vision Aids collection
Make your selections online and purchase your low vision aids securely
with a credit card. But if you prefer ordering the old fashioned way ---via
fax --- we have an online fax form that you'll find easy to use..
All of our Low Vision Aids are designed to make life a whole lot easier
for anyone dealing with the difficulties of limited vision.
LARGE PRINT LOAN LIBRARY
Our large print FREE-by-mail library offers over 9000 titles and is accessible
to anyone in the United States. Last year close to 20,000 requests were
filled giving children, young adults and seniors the opportunity to benefit
from the pleasure of the written word--a treasure for those who find it
hard or impossible to read regular print.
In addition to obtaining titles from commercial publishers who carry
the NAVH Seal of Approval, new selections are received from grateful readers
who finish reading books they purchase.
In order to meet NAVH standards, publishers such as Random House, Simon
and Schuster, and Harper Collins submit galleys for examination prior
to final production.
For more information about using our large print loan library,
"CLICK HERE"
FUN ROOMS
Our "Fun Rooms" in New York and San Francisco offer thousands
of people with limited vision, their families and professionals top of
the line low vision aids, proper lighting, and adaptive technology.
In both the New York Metropolitan Area and San Francisco Bay Area, staff
visits are made to homebound seniors unable to travel to the Center. Counseling
is offered in the use of low vision aids which may be provided on loan.
Make sure you come to see our Fun Rooms. You'll be amazed at what ergonomically
designed lighting can do for the "HARD OF SEEING"®.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Awareness about vision and limited vision holds major importance for
NAVH. Until the public - lay and professional - are educated about vision,
our task continues to be directed toward emphasizing the differences between
impairment and total blindness.
As the population ages, the number of people with limited vision dramatically
increases. There are now close to 26,000,000 Americans over the age of
40 who suffer from common eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma
and diabetes.
NAVH educational materials are displayed as part of the outreach program
from Maine to California and in a growing number of foreign countries.
For the past 31 years we have held our annual
Public Awareness Showcase and Counseling Center
at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Attended
by over 500 enthusiastic low vision persons,
their families and friends, as well as professionals,
all benefit from the wide array of exhibitors
and vision care specialists who give freely
of their time to offer assistance and information
for the partially seeing.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
In 2006, for the 50th consecutive year NAVH was invited to participate
in the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. During
the Academy meeting, Dr. Marchi was awarded a Special Recognition Award for her work in the low vision community.
Each year our New York City headquarters is home to the Kambara Low Vision
Symposium for resident ophthalmologists. Representatives from area hospitals
including ophthalmologists from the world over have attended. Kambara is
our opportunity to contribute to the training of young ophthalmologists
and to educate them on the needs of the visually impaired.
Additional opportunities to educate professionals are available through
hosting visitors from around the world. Among those who visited New York
City headquarters have been low vision specialists from Sweden, Italy,
England, Ireland, Japan and several countries in South America.
Attendance at the annual meeting of Independent Sector also offers an
opportunity to spread the word about NAVH to its fellow members.
The NAVH Educational Series for professionals includes:
-
Guidelines for Comprehensive Low Vision Care
-
Professional Guide - Growth and Development of the Partially Seeing
Child
-
The Adult Partially Seeing - A Professional Guide
-
How to Develop a Self-Help Group for Elders Losing Eyesight
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Numerous requests are received by phone, email, postage and in person
from parents seeking advice about raising a child diagnosed with limited vision.
Most parents are referred by pediatric ophthalmologists throughout the
United States or have found NAVH through the web. After being told about
a child's condition, diagnosis and explanation by the physician is rarely
understood or accepted. NAVH becomes a prime source of support, information
and assurance to parents concerned about their child's future.
Great hope is here with fantastic changes in computerized and adaptive
technology. Young people need only to avail themselves of such products
and services to reach personal goals previously unattainable. Success stories of young adults overcoming obstacles
are no longer unusual.
NAVH was the first to institute self-help support groups in the early 60's
for parents of partially seeing children followed by groups for low vision
teens, young adults, and seniors.
ADULT ACTIVITIES
What are the benefits of being a Member or a Friend of
NAVH?
The needs of the partially seeing are different from the needs of the
totally blind. If you have limited vision you know that being referred
to agencies for the blind is frustrating.
NAVH offers those with limited vision the chance to continue to live as productively
in the sighted world as they did before their vision changed. And, for
the young who were born with, or developed limited vision, we offer an
opportunity to lead constructive, contributing lives.
But using our services requires your participation.
The number of seniors NAVH assists continues to skyrocket. A bi-coastal
seniors program has been in effect to benefit seniors with limited vision, including
those able to communicate best in Russian or Spanish. Prior to recent outreach efforts, a variety of
financial, emotional and physical reasons prevented many visually impaired
seniors from gaining access to NAVH services.
On the east coast, NAVH has allied with The Reader’s Digest Partners
for Sight Foundation to serve the greater New York area through its SightMobile
Program. A $777,400.00 three-year grant from the Foundation enables us
to bring NAVH–via a
24 passenger bus, which is wheelchair accessible--into communities where
vision services are unavailable and sorely needed. In addition to providing
transport for seniors with limited vision to experience the wide array of
low vision services at NAVH headquarters, the SightMobile is able to accommodate
a substantial display area for visual aids and large print publications,
as well as sufficient, comfortable space for consultation and guidance,
should inclement weather or traffic restrictions determine that NAVH be
brought directly to senior facilities.
As the pioneers in self-help groups, NAVH offers a bi-monthly Senior Discussion
Group at the New York headquarters and a monthly First Friday meeting at the San Francisco office, both of which continue to offer peer support
and presentations by leading low vision professionals.
In San Francisco NAVH’s Bay Area Vision
Project has facilitated, to date, programs at
twenty one communities for senior and disabled
residents. Each site is equipped with low vision
aids, large print, and appropriate lighting;
provided with an introductory lecture on eyesight
and aging for residents and staff; and offered
group meetings, classes and individual instruction
on living with limited vision. Importantly,
contact is maintained with residents and staff
to re-evaluate and determine current needs.
The NAVH Blueberry Bus provides excursions for
seniors with limited vision in the Bay area. These social
outings allay symptoms of withdrawal often associated
with limited vision. Seaside walks, museum trips,
and friendly lunches are welcome diversions
for many who would otherwise remain without
companionship and with little to dispel feelings
of isolation.
We welcome inquiries from throughout the world regarding replication
of these programs. Those in targeted areas, on both coasts, are urged
to contact NAVH about participation.
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