Good Works Wednesday: June 2, 2021

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.

NOW ENROLLING: 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 (IEPP). Qualifying participants can sign up on a rolling basis 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.

Participants can determine their eligibility by contacting ASB’s Participant Navigator Lexi Jones at ajones@asb.org or by calling 267-551-0561.

TODAY: Comcast Internet Essentials Partnership Program Q&A 

ASB will host a Comcast IEPP Q&A on Zoom for interested participants today, June 2, at 10:30 a.m. If any of the participants you work with have questions about the program and want to sign up for the Q&A session, they can contact ASB’s Participant Navigator Lexi Jones at ajones@asb.org or by calling 267-551-0561. Another Q&A session will be held in July for any interested participants who are unavailable to attend today’s session.

FRIDAY: ASB’s Speaker Series

Every week ASB welcomes professionals from health care and other fields to speak with participants about topics such as health and welfare, insurance and finances, legal assistance and much more!

This week, participants can join us on Friday, June 4, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. for a session on Accessible Technology Training for iPhone, iPod, Pod Touch, Smartphones, Tablets and Other Smart Devices with iBlind Users Group (iBUG).

If any of the participants you work with are interested in signing up for this session, please contact our Participant Navigator, Lexi Jones, at ajones@asb.org or by calling 267-551-0561.

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.

PCA’s Health Promotion Unit Invites ASB to Upcoming Health and Wellness Programs

PCA’s Health Promotion Unit is inviting ASB participants to two upcoming health and wellness programs coming this summer. Both of these programs are available for FREE to seniors 60 and older who live in Philadelphia County. Find more information about the programs below.

Chronic Pain Self-Management Program:

When: Meeting weekly every Wednesday from June 23 to July 28
Time: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Zoom
What: In the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program, participants will learn tips and strategies to take charge of their chronic pain, deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation, poor sleep and learn how to become more involved in everyday activities. 

If any of the participants you work with are interested in registering, they can contact Lauren Jirinec, health promotion specialist at Lauren.Jirinec@pcacares.org or (215)765-9000 ext. 5119.

Diabetes Self-Management Program: 

When: Meeting weekly every Tuesday from July 6 to August 10
Time: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Zoom
What: In the Diabetes Self-Management Program, participants will learn about making a healthy eating plan, managing blood sugar levels, balancing eating, physical activity and medications to prevent problems as well as managing diabetic-specific problems.

If any of the participants you work with are interested in registering, they can contact Stephen Merrill, health promotion nurse supervisor at Stephen.Merrill@pcacares.org or (215)765-9000 ext. 5123.

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 any of the participants you work with are interested in receiving more information, please contact Lexi Jones at ajones@asb.org or at 267-483-9244. Participants should be prepared to share their 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 any of the participants you work with are interested in signing up for an in-home vaccination, they can visit https://bit.ly/homeboundvaccinephl, call 215-685-5488 (dial 711 for TRS/TTY assistance) or use the QR code below.

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 May and June conversations are below. We’ll be sure to share the link to the July event when it becomes available:

In case any of the participants you work with missed AFB’s previous centennial events, they can replay the archived conversations below:

For additional information about 100 years of AFB and the ongoing series of Centennial Conversations, participants can visit afb.org/100. If any of the participants you work with require additional accommodations, they can contact the AFB at communications@afb.org.