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Kathy's coronavirus garden

Looking Back at the Pandemic: What Are You Grateful For?

June 15, 2020 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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Willow tree with branches hanging into a brook.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome: Seeing Images That Are Not There

January 15, 2020 | 1 Comment

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 »

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Woman flipping though pages in her journal

Journaling Therapy: How Do You Feed Yourself?

October 2, 2018 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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Being Mindful of the Matter: Coping with Recent Vision Loss

July 2, 2018 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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Father and mother holding their daughter's hand

Navigating as a Blind Parent in a Sighted World

November 1, 2017 | 1 Comment

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 »

An iPhone on top of a Book

Book Clubs: More than Just a New Book to Read

September 15, 2017 | 1 Comment

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 »

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Lisa

What Can a Support Group Do for You?

July 15, 2016 | 2 Comments

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 »

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Silhoutte of a woman with arms outstretched at sunset

Breaking Free from the Flock: When Is It Time to Stop Going to the Support Group?

May 31, 2016 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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Couple shaping hands into a heart

Love, Belonging, and Commitment: Not Just for Your Valentine

February 3, 2016 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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Relax, Take it Easy

July 21, 2014 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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