Vison Loss Resources

The Assistive Technology team recently had a meeting where we met with Shelbie from Vision Loss Resources to learn more about their services. Shelbie has made some larger business cards with fairly large print on them so people can contact her with more information on VLR services. We put some near our Large Print books at GLCL and also one on the Older Adult shelf in Nicholson Commons.

Here are some notes I took during our meeting:

Visit with Shelbie from Vision Loss Resources (used to be MN Society for the Blind, over 100 years old).

1. Shelbie showed us different magnification devices they have to offer clients.
2. Vision Loss Resources helps people with coping with vision loss, home visits, independence classes-using canes, computer/app resources, support groups, etc.
3. Causes of vision loss: glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts.
4. Shelbie also showed us some glare glasses-these can be useful for people with vision loss to help cut down on glare. May want to consider for library. 
5. Ways to make buildings friendlier for people with vision loss: contrast, patterns on floors, tables can be hard for a person with low vision, a solid color table is okay, glass tables are hard because of the glare. Lighting-direct lighting is good, sometimes having a goose neck lamp can help direct light on to something for people. Some magnification devices aren't powerful enough for some with vision loss, may need something stronger.   Shelbie mentioned she could look into whether any grants around to help us purchase some equipment, supplies. 
6. Signage: with flyers, it is good to have clear bold fonts, nothing too ornate, larger letters
7. Zoomtext can help people with vision loss. CCTV-with contrast options helps. 
8. Work arounds: wrote barcode with label marker in larger font and put on name line on back of card to help person see barcode
9. Minneapolis office of VLR offers more classes, St. Paul office offers more events, can come to speak to groups about resources, apps, other topics. Discussed maybe having library go to DigiDaze (Rondo) to show Assistive Technology resources and maybe ask someone like VLR to present as well. 

Handout on coping with vision loss available here.

--Erin Z.-R. @GLCL