March 10, 2005

Where can you get help for your low vision?

Have you been diagnosed with low vision? Are you looking for help from an experienced specialist? If so, contact Kellogg's low vision specialists – Sherry H. Day, O.D., and Donna M. Wicker, O.D. – at 734.764.5106. After meeting with you and performing a low vision eye exam, they will be able to advise you on:

• Optical devices such as magnifiers, telescopes or closed-circuit televisions
  
• Techniques that will help you make the most of your remaining vision
  
• Changes in your home environment to help you in daily activities
  
• Other special devices, such as large-print cookbooks and talking watches

If you're already seeing a low vision specialist but would like to know of other helpful resources, Kellogg recommends the following organizations:

University of Michigan Geriatrics Center – Turner Geriatric Clinic
The UM Geriatrics Center - Turner Geriatric Clinic's goal is to help adults over the age of 60 lead healthier and more satisfying lives. The Turner Geriatric Clinic has provided quality patient care, health and wellness promotion activities, learning programs and community resource information for over twenty-five years. The physicians are board-certified in geriatrics, and the experienced staff includes nurses, pharmacists, and social workers who have special training and an interest in working with older adults.

Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, Inc.
Center providing a wide range of disability-related information services including a list of affordable, accessible or barrier-free housing, a resource library, a video/film library, and a Speakers Bureau made up of people with personal experience with disability.

Ann Arbor Host Lions Club
Service club dedicated to providing aid to the visually impaired in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Assistive Media
Non-profit organization that provides copyrighted-approved, high caliber audio literary works free-of-charge to the worldwide disability community via the Internet.

Leader Dogs for the Blind
The largest dog guide training school in the United States.

Low Vision Resource Guide - Services, Products and Technology for the Visually Impaired
Alphabetical listing of businesses and agencies providing products and services for individuals with vision loss (includes a subject index).

Michigan Commission for the Blind
State agency that serves approximately 4,500 blind persons each year through its programs: Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Independent Living Services, Deaf Blind Services, Youth Low Vision Services, the Business Enterprise Program, and the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center.

Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Michigan affiliate of the American Council of the Blind

The Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled
Library providing books and magazines in alternative formats (recorded cassette, large print and Braille) and descriptive videos; offers programs including book clubs, memoir writing courses, and free computer training for consumers in Washtenaw, Livingston and Jackson counties.

Low vision describes a level of vision that is 20/70 or worse and cannot be corrected fully with conventional glasses. Unlike a person who is blind, a person with low vision still has some useful sight left. Low vision usually interferes with the performance of daily activities, such as reading or driving. Although it can occur at any stage in life, it primarily affects the elderly. It is not, however, a natural part of the eye's aging process. Most people develop low vision because of eye diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa. Although there are no cures for these eye diseases and the low vision they cause, early treatment can be effective.

Contact: Aimee S. Bergquist, 734.763.4660, aimeesb@umich.edu.