Page 27 - Enews December 2019 edition_Neat

The Kings & Queens

RECLAIMING THE VISION

Do you see what I see?

ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT VCB

VISIONS Center on Blindness significant caregivers in the ing on the financial and states the young single-mother.
(VCB) continues to be a place child’s life are also work responsibility for the “I like how each day was
where people of all ages with welcome. adopted space. planned out. The moment we got
legal blindness come together to  The family weeks allow there to the moment we left!”
connect and experience the free- children with vision loss to This support enables VCB to
dom of being on a campus participate in vision rehabil- continue its work of providing Ariell and Mia enjoyed many of
adapted to meet their needs and itation training with other life enriching programs at no the various program activities
to learn new ways of coping with children with vision loss. cost to our participants who are offered at VCB. Ariell got to try
their vision loss. Youths up to blind and visually impaired of all tandem-biking, while Mia got to
the age 18 attend with family Parents and families are offered ages. do sensory activities in arts and
members, while blind adults can group sessions and afforded the Please continue with your sup- crafts. The mother and daughter
attend with or without their care- opportunity to meet other fami- port and consider sponsoring a duo enjoy attending the talent
givers and family members. Best lies in similar situations to their family of three (3) participants to show, and going into the pool.
of all, services are free of charge own. The emphasis is enhancing attend one of our summer pro- “Mia had a great teacher who
and made possible in part thanks skills while encouraging family gram sessions. VISIONS costs knew her and her sensory trig-
to the generous Lions’ donations members to allow their children per participant for a 7-day sum- gers. The way she eased Mia
which help sponsor individuals with legal blindness to become mer program session is $770, into getting into the pool was
and families to attend the pro- more independent. therefore your donation of incredible and to continue that
gram. $2,310 will sponsor a full family routine every afternoon was
This past summer VCB served good for Mia, and mommy!”
The 37-acre VCB campus is a 814 new clients of all ages; a unit. Ariell recalls, once again empha-
residential rehabilitation and 12% increase from summer The following vignette is from sizing the prominence of a rou-
training center offering tempo- 2018. Of the 814 participants one of our participants that at- tine in her daughter’s life.
rary overnight vision rehabilita- served this past summer 239 tended this past summer family
tion services through its Week- reported residing in Brooklyn & weeks, which illustrates the im- After evening program, Mia is
end and Summer Programs. Queens. During the family pact VCB can make thanks to finally ready for bed. Mia falls
VCB is conveniently located in weeks a total of 59 blind chil- your support. asleep within about ten minutes,
Spring Valley, Rockland Coun- dren were served with only 24 and stays asleep all night. While
ty, a short drive away from receiving sponsorship through Normally, a day in the life of at VCB, Mia sleeps through the
night, which is a surprise to her
NYC. the New York State Commission Mia Dejesus, age 4, starts off mother. Ariell believes this due
for the Blind. The vast majority with a bowl of cheerios with to the fact that there are many
Additionally, the VCB program of VCB participants are extreme- almond milk, poured by her activities to assist her daughter
incorporates healthy living initi- ly low income and have very mother, Ariell Mateo. Ariell, age in staying stimulated throughout
atives to promote wellbeing in limited or no opportunities to 23, is a single-mother who re- the day. “And once Mia is
the areas of physical health, enjoy a respite vacation away sides in Brooklyn, NY. Mia, asleep, it gives me the chance to
socialization, achievement, and from home. who’s her only child is diag- connect with the other parents,”
mental/emotional health. nosed with multiple disabilities, Ariell says, stating that she en-
From its inception in 1951, VI- ranging from septo-optic dyspla- joys the way the program allows
 For adults and seniors, ses- SIONS Center on Blindness sia, diabetes insipidus, hypothy- her to get to know not only the
roid, and intellectual disability.
(VCB) has relied on the support
sions feature nutrition clas- of LIONS of Multiple Districts Mia also has two tubes connect- other parents but also their chil-
ses, exercise programs, and Clubs within 20-K1. This ed to her right kidney and uses a dren. “It doesn’t make me feel
Broadway theatre shows, support has been in the form of: like I’m alone.”
water skiing, demonstra- pediatric wheelchair.
tions of adaptive technolo-  Financial donations spon- “It’s a lot of work and a lot of Ariell and Mia’s story is an ex-
gies, social work counsel- soring participants sleepless nights. Mia usually can cellent way of how both partici-
ing, vision rehabilitation fall asleep in a few minutes, or pants and their families benefit
therapy, mobility training  Volunteer services during not. She can stay asleep for a from activities and resources
and so much more. Fall/Spring Lions Work couple hours. But most of the offered at VISIONS Center on
 Special sessions for unpaid weekends time, she wakes up a lot. It’s Blindness.
caregivers offer respite and rough, it’s really rough,” says
time for themselves.  In-kind donations for criti- Ariell. While at VCB, she makes
 During the month of August cal items which require sure to maintain the same routine Reported by
VCB offers two 1-week constant replacement, e.g., for her daughter: a bowl of Krystal Findley - Jones
programs dedicated to chil- pillows, sheets, OTC meds, cheerios and almond milk. Ariell
dren with legal blindness etc. stresses the importance of rou- VCB Director
and multiple disabilities.  Adopting dorms, cottages, tine in a developing child’s life.
Their families, including program areas thru Adopt- “That’s what I like about coming
siblings, and other to the program here at VCB,”
A-Building program - tak-