Welcome to ASB’s Participant Newsletter
Welcome to Connections, ASB’s participant newsletter! This newsletter is a monthly resource for all things ASB. Read on for upcoming events, program schedules and other opportunities to explore. Feel free to forward this email along to anyone who may be interested in our programs and resources.
ASB News and Updates
Stay up-to-date with ASB’s latest announcements and updates by checking out our website and social media platforms! Find the links to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and the website below.
ASB Closed for Memorial Day
ASB will be closed on Monday, May 31, for Memorial Day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, June 1. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend!
Free Internet Access with Internet Essentials by Comcast
ASB will offer free internet access to participants through a new partnership with Comcast’s Internet Essentials Partnership Program. Qualifying participants can sign up on a rolling basis starting June 1 and receive free internet for six months.
Eligible participants must: qualify for programs such as the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI or others; live in an area where Comcast Internet service is available; have not had Comcast Internet Services in 90 days; have no outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than one year old; and meet at least one of the following vision requirements:
- Visual acuity of 20/70 or poorer in better-seeing eye that cannot be corrected or improved with regular eyeglasses
- Corresponding loss of visual fields
- Progressive sight-threatening eye diseases, such as diabetes
- Diagnosis of a degenerative eye or sight disorder
If you are interested in signing up, please contact ASB’s Participant Navigator Lexi Jones at ajones@asb.org or by calling 267-551-0561 to determine your eligibility.
Get Vaccinated with Penn Medicine at Home
Penn Medicine at Home is currently offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to participants and their caregivers in their homes. To qualify, individuals must reside in Philadelphia. Patients do not need to be on service with Penn Medicine at Home. Penn Medicine will:
- Vaccinate any willing caregivers while in the home
- Provide vaccinated individuals with a CDC vaccination card
- Report all vaccines daily to PhilaVax
If you are interested in receiving more information, please contact Lexi Jones at ajones@asb.org or at 267-483-9244. Be prepared to share your name, date of birth, phone number and address.
Philadelphia Department of Public Health Homebound Vaccination Program
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is currently providing COVID-19 vaccines to homebound individuals in their homes through its Homebound Vaccination Program. This program is intended for individuals who are normally unable to leave home unassisted or people living with disabilities who have been rarely able to leave their home within the past month.
The vaccines are free – no insurance required! Personal care attendants, family and other caregivers or residents of the individual’s household are eligible to be vaccinated under this program.
If you are interested in signing up for an in-home vaccination, you can register by visiting https://bit.ly/homeboundvaccinephl, calling 215-685-5488 (dial 711 for TRS/TTY assistance) or using the QR code below.
ASB’s Speaker Series — New June Dates
Every week ASB welcomes professionals from health care and other fields to speak about topics such as health and welfare, insurance and finances, legal assistance and much more! Review the upcoming June schedule below, and contact ASB’s Participant Navigator, Lexi Jones, at ajones@asb.org if you are interested in attending any sessions.
Topic: Accessible Technology Training for iPhone, iPod, Pod Touch, Smartphones, Tablets and Other Smart Devices
Presenter: iBlind Users Group (iBUG)
Date: June 4, 2021
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Topic: Health Insurance Assistance Program – it’s Free, Unbiased, Confidential Medicare & Counseling Through the Ageing Network
Presenter: Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Date: June 11, 2021
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Topic: READYHome Training for Emergency Preparedness
Presenter: Office of Emergency Management
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Time: 1 – 2 p.m.
Participants who attend will receive a GO-Bag that includes:
- Small first aid kit
- Portable charger
- USB flashlight
- A notebook
- Emergency planning and medical information
*Please note this session is not during the regular speaker series time.*
Topic: Health & Wellness Programs
Presenter: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Date: June 25, 2021
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
AFB Upcoming Centennial Event Lineup
Since 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has been at the forefront of creating a more inclusive world for people who are experiencing vision loss. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, AFB is hosting a series of Centennial Conversations. These curated webinars will focus on the most pressing issues and topics affecting the vision loss community, pairing prominent speakers with younger voices.
Links to the upcoming June conversations are below. We’ll be sure to share the link to the July event when it becomes available:
- Inclusion, Intersectionality, and the Future of Work—June 24, 2 p.m. EST
- Making Money Work: Including Disability in the Financial Equation—July 22, 2 p.m. EST
In case you missed AFB’s previous centennial events, you can replay the archived conversations below:
- Matthew Whitaker: The Inclusive Power of Music
- Women in Leadership: A Conversation About the Intersection of Gender and Visual Impairment
- Dinner and Music for a Historic Celebration
- Art of Inclusion: AFB100 Concert & Celebration
AFB is committed to creating inclusive events. Captions, ASL, audio description, and transcripts will be available for all #AFB100 events. If you need any other accommodations, please contact the AFB at communications@afb.org.
Stay in Touch
Have questions about ASB’s programs and resources? Looking to get more involved? Please contact ASB’s Participant Navigator, Lexi Jones, at ajones@asb.org.