Good Works Wednesday
A newsletter celebrating ASB progress, programs and people
At Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, we work every day to help individuals build skills and gain access to the information, experiences and resources they need to live the lives they wish to lead. We are an agency for anyone, anywhere on the vision loss continuum and offer education, training, community-based enrichment opportunities and referrals to help them achieve their individual goals.
Happy Holiday Season!
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving this past week. As we head into December, we want to wish everyone a happy holiday season this month! Check out the upcoming programs for December below and share them with any of the participants you work with who may be interested.
ASB’s Speaker Series – December Dates
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 schedule below. If any of the participants you work with are interested in any of these sessions, they can contact ASB’s Director of Participant Engagement and Outreach, Lexi Jones, at ajones@asb.org to register.
Topic: Cholesterol – Keeping it Under Control
Date: December 3, 2021
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Topic: Diabetes – It’s a Family Matter
Date: December 17, 2021
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
STARTING TUESDAY: iPhone App Workshop
ASB’s December iPhone App Workshop series will start Tuesday, December 7 and run through Thursday, December 23, 2021. These eight remote learning workshops will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for one hour per week for three weeks. All interested ASB participants are welcome to attend, from the advanced user to participants with no iPhone experience. Explore the workshop schedule below!
If any of the participants you work with are interested in enrolling in any of the iPhone App Workshops, they can email ASB’s Access Technology Instructor, Andrew Godwin, at agodwin@asb.org or call 215-627-0600 at extension 816 to sign up.
Be My Eyes and AIRA: Tuesdays at 9 a.m. from December 7 – 21, 2021. Participants will learn how to access sighted assistance anytime, anywhere for any task imaginable!
Amazon Alexa App and Echo Device Q&A: Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. from December 7 – 21, 2021. Do participants you work with have Alexa app or Echo device questions? Do they want to become more proficient at navigating and using the Alexa app to control their Echo device or activate skills such as Voice Arcade? If so, then this workshop is for them!
Game World App: Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. from December 7 – 21, 2021. Participants will learn how to play online word, card and dice games with friends.
Instacart: Wednesdays at 10 a.m. from December 8 – 22, 2021. Participants will learn how to shop online and have groceries delivered right to their front door!
Participant’s Choice App Q&A Workshop: Wednesdays at 11:15 a.m. December 8 – 22, 2021. Do any of the participants you work with want to learn about different apps? Are they looking for a quick app overview? Do they have iPhone app questions? Then, this workshop is perfect.
Seeing AI and TapTapSee: Thursdays at 9 a.m. from December 9 – 23, 2021.
Participants will learn how to independently read mail, print documents, scan product barcodes, use facial recognition, identify money and more!
App Widget Workshop: Thursdays at 10:15 a.m. from December 9 – 23, 2021. Participants will learn what an app widget is, how they can benefit from it and how to add one to their home screen.
iPhone Camera: Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. from December 9 – 23, 2021. Learn how to use VoiceOver to take pictures and videos with the iPhone camera app.
DECEMBER 14: ASB Sensitivity Training
ASB is offering another training session on Tuesday, December 14 at 10 a.m. to assist professionals who work with or provide services to people living with vision loss. The training will discuss questions such as:
- How do I know if someone needs help crossing the street?
- When should I offer assistance versus getting out of the way?
- Is it okay to pet a guide dog?
- Are my services or programs accommodating to participants living with vision loss?
- What else can I do to enhance my services?
The session will include general information about blindness and vision loss, preferred language and practical tools to better work with friends, family or clients who are blind or experiencing vision loss. There will be time to ask questions and engage in activities to help illustrate real-world examples. Bring your desire to learn, and we’ll help guide you to a better understanding. More information is listed below.
- When: The second Tuesday of each month, at 10 a.m.
- Next Session: December 14, at 10 a.m.
- Where: Online via Zoom (meeting link and call-in number to be sent upon registration)
- Cost: This training is free
To register for this upcoming training or for information about scheduling individualized training for an organization, please contact Community Training Specialist Lynn Heitz at LHeitz@asb.org or leave a message at 215-627-0600 extension 824.
ASB is sharing the events below as a courtesy to ASB participants. These are non-ASB events. Please be mindful of any requirements, including COVID-19 requirements, that may apply.
FRIDAY: Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind
FREE Blindness and Diabetes Webinar
On December 3 from 12 – 4 p.m., participants can join Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind to discuss blindness and diabetes with expert presenters. This FREE, live webinar will include presentations from health care providers, diabetes experts and leaders in the blind community. Review the full agenda below.
- Welcome at 12:00 p.m.
- Diabetes and Nutrition at 12:15 p.m. – Abbie Chesterson
- Diabetic Retinopathy at 12:45 p.m. – Dr. Denise Gallagher, MD
- Real-World Solutions to Diabetes at 1:15 p.m. – Kim Ladd
- Diabetes Policy and Insurance Coverage at 1:45 p.m. – Sherry Pablo
- 10-Minute Break at 2:15 p.m.
- Medication and Devices at 2:30 p.m. – Dr. Jason Barrett, PharmD
Participants can register here and visit www.AccessiblePharmacy.com or call 215-799-9900 for more information. If any of the participants you work with are unable to attend, they can still register to receive access to the webinar audio and video in their inbox!
FREE Transportation to Vaccine Appointments
The City of Philadelphia is coordinating with Lyft and SEPTA CCT to provide FREE rides to COVID-19 vaccination appointments for Philadelphia residents 65 and older and those with access or functional needs. If any of the participants you work with are eligible and interested in this resource, they can reach out to the Ride Access Hotline at 215-586-306 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.