After progressively losing her eyesight due to macular degeneration, 50-year-old Lisa Jackson said she hasn’t been able to
read in two years.
“Today, I learned that I am going to be able to read the newspaper because they gave me a magnifier,” Jackson said.
Jackson was among a dozen blind or vision impaired people who attended a workshop, titled “Sensational Sensory Sunday,” which
was held at First Christian Church.
The free workshop displayed a variety
of equipment, resources and services for the blind. The National
Federation of the Blind,
Lake Area chapter, was present at the event to educate blind and
sight-impaired people about what is available to assist them
in their daily lives.
“I am very thankful for the help I received today,” Jackson said.
Cathy Miller, chapter president, started to lose her eyesight when she was a child.
“It is very easy to feel like you’re alone in the world when you have low vision or when you are blind,” Miller said. “It
is very easy to feel like nobody else knows what you’re going through.”
Miller said people with low vision or blindness often isolate themselves because they feel most comfortable in their homes
where they know where everything is.
“Their lives sort of shrink. They can no longer drive or get around safely or independently,” Miller said. “For me this was
so important because when I finally discovered other blind people, it was like my whole life changed.”
She said for the Lake Area chapter, the workshop is way to give to the community in a way that it was given to them when they
needed help.
“I want to say I can see it in their eyes but I can no longer see their eyes, but there is just something I can feel deep
inside of me that knows that they found some hope,” Miller said.
Miller said items like a talking clock, a large print calendar and her iPad make her life significantly better.
“I’m very pleased that the community
responded,” said Essie Lebleu, chapter vice president. “Those that came
said they were
happy to be here, and they were thankful they were afforded the
opportunity to learn more about the blind and what is available
to them. Some people probably feel that life has passed them by
and that’s not true. You can become involved and you can become
apart of society — just give it a chance.”
Two representatives from Ruston’s Louisiana Center for the Blind and a representative from Synergy Home Health displayed vision
aids, and explained how to apply for services at no cost to the blind or persons with low vision.
“If we can give them some devices or techniques to maintain — they can stay in their homes longer without going to assisted
living,” Stacey Purgahn, with the La. Center for the Blind, said.
For more information regarding the local chapter call 479-1912 or 656-2429.