by Kathy Austin, CVA
Could any of us have imagined on New Year’s Day 2020 what our world would be like just five months later? We have been isolated from our family, friends and co-workers. We may have taken ill with COVID19 or have grieved the loss of a loved one. We may have felt lonely during these past […] Read More »
Tags: coronavirus, gratitude, nostalgia
by Kathy Austin, CVA
“It started in a dimly lit restaurant where I was dining with my brother. He gradually disappeared behind tall grasses, shrubs and soon was hidden by a weeping willow tree with a brook running by. I looked to my side, looked back, and my brother was back. The bucolic scene was gone but it […] Read More »
Tags: Charles Bonnet Syndrome
by Becky DeGeorge
Have you ever thought of keeping a journal? When I was in the fifth grade, I kept one for a while. You know the kind — a five-year diary with a little flap that closed and locked with a key. I don’t have that diary anymore, but it would be fun to be able to […] Read More »
Tags: creative writing, journaling, therapy
by Cody Froeter, CVRT
As a certified vision rehabilitation therapist, I have worked with many clients who have experienced recent vision loss. This has allowed me to witness the various ways clients cope. When I reflect on the strategies that have been most successful, one common thread appears. Maintaining mindfulness, or staying focused on the present, is an […] Read More »
Tags: coping with vision loss, Vision loss, Visually impaired
by Polly Abbott, CVRT
A lot has been written about supporting parents of visually impaired children, but not as much for parents with vision loss raising sighted children. Recently, a group of parents and a new grandmother gathered at Second Sense to talk about the challenges and rewards of raising children. Everyone agreed the children were their reason […] Read More »
by Polly Abbott, CVRT
It’s More than a Book Several vision loss support groups in the Chicago area also host Talking Book Clubs. Many occur at local libraries and are led by professional leaders. The only difference is that the participants generally are all reading audio books through the NLS Talking Book program. Recently, I had a conversation with […] Read More »
Tags: book clubs, talking books. support groups
by Kathy Austin: An Interview with Lisa, Second Sense support group member
Support groups, no matter what the nature of issue, serve many purposes. It is a chance to learn, to adjust and to heal. Lisa is one of those people who reached out and experienced the benefits of what a support group has to offer. Recently we sat down with Lisa to talk about her experiences […] Read More »
Tags: adjustment, low vision, Support groups, Vision loss
by Polly Abbott, CVRT, OMS
Feeling the Safety in Numbers There is safety in numbers and comfort in being one of a crowd. But, sometimes it is necessary to see if you can stand alone. It means facing fears of failure and putting to the test everything you have learned up to that point. Blind service agencies and support groups […] Read More »
Tags: low vision, low vision support groups
by Polly Abbott, CVRT, OMS
I have a small confession. Valentine’s Day has been a favorite holiday of mine since grade school. Once January hits, I am already planning a party that somehow never gets thrown. Wrapped up amongst thoughts of pink-iced heart-shaped sugar cookies with cinnamon heart candies on them is an appreciation for the less silly and more […] Read More »
Tags: low vision support group, low vision support groups, valentine's day
by Polly Abbott, Director of Rehabilitation Services at Second Sense
Relaxing is easier said than done. When life is stressful and challenges daunting, we need to take some time to relax and regain some energy to keep going. Stress is your body’s normal reaction to any demand for change. How you handle stress varies from person to person. Here are five reasons why you should […] Read More »
Tags: Daily living skills, Independence, Relaxation, Stress