A new report has found that there are 53,351 adults in Philadelphia, age 18 or older, living with a vision difficulty; that’s an average 4.3% of adults in Philadelphia, compared to the national rate of 2.8%. The report, “Adults with Vision Loss in Philadelphia,” defines vision difficulty as being blind or having serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses. Commissioned by VisionLink, the region’s leading provider of education and services for adults living with vision difficulty, the study was conducted by the Research and Evaluation Group at Public Health Management (PHMC) and underwritten by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation.
“We wanted to understand the prevalence of vision difficulties in Philadelphia, and we wanted to know where in the city that prevalence is concentrated,” said Karla McCaney, president and CEO of VisionLink. “The research found a strong correlation between vision impairment, poverty levels, and overlapping health, social, and functional needs. That data can inform how city agencies, nonprofit organizations, and care providers can work together to focus accessible services and solutions and help people maintain their independence,” she said.
According to study findings:
The study also found higher concentrations of adults with vision loss in clusters of neighborhoods in North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, and Southwest Philadelphia.
“For many, vision loss accompanies the onset of diseases like glaucoma or diabetes, and aging eyes can also experience vision difficulties,” said Karla McCaney, president and CEO of VisionLink. “Regardless of the cause, diminishing eyesight affects everyday life universally. People question if they can care for themselves and their families. They worry if they can still work or continue to live in their own home, and what we know at VisionLink is that there is an entire body of resources, skills, and techniques that can help people live as independently as they wish,” she said.
Earlier this year, VisionLink opened a Low Vision Resource Center within its new facility in Center City that focuses on personalized instruction and skill building for clients. The Low Vision Resource Center is a hub for vision rehabilitation therapy and hands-on demonstrations of assistive tools and technology, such as screen readers, magnifiers, smart speaker, and liquid levelers, among others.
“With one-on-one instruction, group workshops, and online classes, we help clients learn to navigate home and community safely by teaching skills to prevent falls, cook safely, handle money, manage medications, read Braille, use a white cane, and leverage smart phone apps to help with everyday tasks,” McCaney said.
In addition to direct services, McCaney said VisionLink makes informed referrals to other agencies and organizations for wraparound resources and services for clients, partners with community-based organizations and agencies for additional programming and in-community instruction, and conducts outreach to all types of entities to help enhance the accessibility of the city and region. “We’ve focused especially on Philadelphia’s healthcare, senior living, social work, and home health aide professionals, educating providers on the resources that are available for their patients,” she said.
“The risk of age-related eye diseases increase for people over 65, which means vision difficulties increase for this population, too,” said Dr. Ranjoo Prasad, OD, a low-vision optometrist and VisionLink board member. “I refer my patients to VisionLink where they learn the rehabilitative skills they need to regain their confidence completing everyday tasks like reading, cooking, and managing their home. Regaining those abilities increases their independence and improves quality of life, and that can mean everything,” she said.
To learn more about the growing population of adults with vision loss in Philadelphia, read “Adults with Vision Loss in Philadelphia” here.
About VisionLink
VisionLink is the largest provider of services to those experiencing vision loss in Greater Philadelphia. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to assisting all who are living with vision loss to achieve greater independence through excellence in education and wrap-around support services that advance necessary skills and establish meaningful community connections. VisionLink is committed to collaborating with local, regional and national partners to broaden access to resources and opportunities that enable those with vision loss to live their lives to the fullest. For more information, visit www.VisionLinkPHL.org.
According to our “Adults with Vision Loss in Philadelphia” report, 36.9% of adults with vision difficulty in Philadelphia are age 65 or over. That number is expected to grow as the region’s senior population grows, increasing the demand for care related to vision loss. Thanks to a new $50,000 grant from The Sarah Ralston Foundation, VisionLink is preparing to ramp up a “train the trainer” program to address that need. Through our Collaborative Staff Education Project, our team is developing modules for customized training of staff at senior centers and long-term care facilities. The aim is to help these direct care professionals better understand the needs of patients with vision loss, adopt practical techniques for assisting those patients, integrate accessible technologies into their practices and facilities, and understand how to promote independence and enhanced quality of life for the seniors in their care.
We first piloted this program at the Mercy Life West Senior Center in Philadelphia, and 93% of staff participants reported that the training helped them feel comfortable with basic sighted guide techniques to assist individuals with safe navigation and enhanced their understanding of communication techniques for working with people with vision loss. With the support of The Sarah Ralston Foundation, we will be working in the coming year to expand the program’s reach.
Thank you, Sarah Ralston Foundation, for your continued support!
Thank you to the Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation for a new $50,000 grant to strengthen our educational programming, community outreach efforts, and strategic business planning to support individuals with vision loss in Philadelphia, including the growing number of older adults.
“With the support of the Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation, VisionLink is poised to continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of those experiencing vision loss,” said Karla McCaney, president and CEO of VisionLink. “This funding allows us to further our mission by enhancing multiple areas of our organization, including our adaptive technology workshops, community outreach, and the opening this fall of our dedicated low vision resource center in Philadelphia. Thank you Partners for Sight!”
We are so grateful to The Sarah Ralston Foundation for naming VisionLink as one of its Spring 2024 General Operating Support Grantees. The $25,000 award recognizes and supports our ongoing work with older Philadelphians with vision loss. With this grant, we will continue to provide essential education, support services, and community resources, helping those experiencing vision loss gain important skills and connections to achieve greater independence and well-being.
“We are thankful to The Sarah Ralston Foundation for recognizing and supporting VisionLink,” said Karla McCaney, president and CEO of VisionLink. “The majority of our clients are seniors who deal with increasing vision difficulties as they age. Our team tailors programs and training to support clients’ individual goals, connect them with vital resources, and help them build a sense of community. Through the Foundation’s generosity, we can continue to expand our reach and help more seniors live confidently and as independently as they can. Thank you, Sarah Ralston Foundation, for making such a meaningful impact on our community.”
Last fall, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation’s Institute for Health Equity awarded VisionLink a grant to execute a study, commissioned by VisionLink, to research the size and demographic attributes of Philadelphia’s vision loss population.
The study, titled “Data Acquisition Program for Philadelphia’s Visually Impaired Population,” was conducted by the Research & Evaluation Group at Public Health Management Corporation and designed to help VisionLink and other local service providers better understand and serve their clients, patients and community members who are living with vision loss. The study will provide much-needed data on Philadelphia’s vision loss population, what their needs are, and how service providers can step in to fill gaps in care and support.
“VisionLink is incredibly grateful to the Independence Blue Cross Foundation for recognizing the need and funding this vital study,” said Karla McCaney, president and CEO of VisionLink. “By sharing this research with the greater Philadelphia service and funder community, together we can better address the needs of the current and growing population of adults who live with vision loss. From VisionLink’s perspective, this new research will help us further develop our educational and community programs and further inform the connections we make for our clients to area resources and agencies. There is more work to do but this study is a critical first step. Thank you, Independence Blue Cross Foundation!”
The Public Health Management Corporation study is complete. We’ll share more on the research results soon!
Thanks to a generous grant awarded to VisionLink this winter from the Rae S. Uber Trust, we are now investing $40,000 in new funding to support our ongoing effort to provide programs and assistive devices to help adults with vision loss live independently and thrive.
For eligible clients enrolled in our Vision Rehabilitation Therapy and home management programs, we will soon be providing — at no charge — tools that support the activities of daily living such as bump dots, liquid level indicators, low vision writing guide kits, color identifiers, and more. ”We are so grateful for the support and grant from the Rae S. Uber Trust to enhance our offerings and expand our skill development programs for the community we serve,” said Karla McCaney, president and CEO of VisionLink. “Our mission has always been to foster independence and improve the quality of life for our clients, and with this grant from the Rae S. Uber Trust, we can make strides in achieving these goals by putting devices directly into the hands of our clients, providing ongoing instruction and support for how to best use them, and breaking down barriers to open up a world of possibilities for adults living with vision loss. Thank you, Rae S. Uber!”
Although the holiday season is behind us, we have to thank A Philly Special Christmas for choosing VisionLink as a recipient of proceeds raised from last year’s album! The album, featuring the talents of Philadelphia Eagles—Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, and Lane Johnson—raised more than $2.5 million to benefit local organizations.
A special thank you to Merrill Reese, the radio voice of the Philadelphia Eagles, and his wife Cindy who designated VisionLink to receive $7,500 in support of the vision loss community. This gift helps to empower our mission of serving adults with vision loss and working to make Philadelphia a more accessible city. Thank you!
VisionLink, Philadelphia’s leading resource for adults with vision loss, expands its Board of Directors with two new members, Stephanie Markunas MSN, RN, OCN, administrative fellow and interim assistant director of Cancer Program Integration at the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS), and Regina Mullen, a former school psychologist who recently published a children’s book on disability and differences.
“We are so fortunate that Stephanie and Regina have joined the VisionLink Board of Directors,” said VisionLink Chief Executive Officer Karla S. McCaney. “Stephanie brings her perspective as an experienced healthcare provider, and Regina brings hers as an educator and as someone who has lived with vision loss for decades. Both are incredibly valuable to our Board and to VisionLink, overall, as we continue to implement new ways of connecting people with resources, providers, services and education in their communities and work to improve accessibility for people with vision loss in the city and region.”
Markunas is as an awarded healthcare leader with a focus on enhancing clinical operations and patient experience. As an interim assistant director at UPHS, she provides leadership and oversight to the core strategic services growth and development for the Cancer System. She also serves as an administrative fellow for UPHS, managing the administrative project planning efforts for the 2023-2028 strategic planning process of UPHS and the Perelman School of Medicine.
Markunas is a registered nurse in Pennsylvania and earned a Master of Science in nursing administration and leadership from Capella University in Minnesota. In 2021, she was the recipient of the Exemplary Professional Practice Award from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
“I am so proud to have been selected to serve on the Board of Directors for VisionLink,” said Markunas. “The mission and vision of the organization hits home with me, as I’ve witnessed my grandfather’s journey from full-sight to living as a senior citizen with vision loss. His experience, like many others, highlights the pressing need for VisionLink’s resources for the community, especially with the growing number of aging individuals in Philadelphia. VisionLink offers our aging population resources to assist them in maneuvering the changes in their vision with confidence. The wealth of resources available can significantly enhance the care we provide in Philadelphia, and I believe healthcare providers should make VisionLink their go-to partner when caring for patients facing vision loss.”
Mullen, who will join VisionLink’s Curriculum Advisory Committee and Development Committee, has more than a decade of experience working as a school psychologist in the Pennsylvania public school system. During that time, she served children from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Springfield School District, Southeast Delco School District, and Radnor Township School District, as well as Springfield Psychology. She recently published her first children’s book My Sixth Sense. The book shares anecdotal stories derived from Mullen’s own experience with vision loss, due to Stargardt disease, and encourages children to explore disability and differences through the viewpoint of a peer.
Mullen earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Temple University and a master’s degree and an educational specialist’s degree in school psychology from Florida State University.
“As someone who was diagnosed with Stargardt disease and began experiencing gradual vision loss from a young age, I understand firsthand the crucial role VisionLink plays for those within the vision loss community,” said Mullen. “Reflecting on my own experiences, I know that the journey from diagnosis and beyond can be filled with ups and downs. This is why I take great pride in joining this Board, to ensure VisionLink’s direct Vision Rehabilitation Therapy services, vast array of community resource connections, and programs for peer support are able to reach those who need it most.”
About VisionLink
VisionLink is the largest provider of services to those experiencing vision loss in Greater Philadelphia. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to assisting all who are living with vision loss to achieve greater independence through excellence in education and wrap-around support services that advance necessary skills and establish meaningful community connections. VisionLink is committed to collaborating with local, regional and national partners to broaden access to resources and opportunities that enable those with vision loss to live their lives to the fullest. For more information, visit www.VisionLinkPHL.org.