VisionLink Program Schedule: April- June 2023

Participants can email VisionLink’s Participant Navigator at Rebecca at 215-627-0600 extension 840 or email rebecca.zemaitis@visionlinkphl.org.

Educational Programming

Please call 215-627-0600 and dial extension 827 to sign up for Educational groups.

iPhone Instruction

Remote iPhone Instruction is offered in a small group setting in four-week sessions. You will learn the basic skills for using your phone with Voiceover and gestures.  

Students will be scheduled either for Monday and Thursday, Tuesday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday lessons. Lesson times, start dates, and end dates will be set directly with the instructor. Before instruction, you will have a pre-evaluation to ensure you are placed in the appropriate class for your skill level.

iOS VoiceOver Accessible App Workshops

A variety of iPhone App Workshops will be offered throughout the year in a small group setting. All interested VisionLink participants are welcome to attend. No iPhone experience is necessary, just an interest in using an iPhone with apps that can help you navigate through life.

Please Note: There will be a student app workshop break on April 25, 26 and 27, 2023. All App Workshop classes will resume the following week. This break is only for the iPhone App workshops. All other Vision Link activities will continue as scheduled.

  • Participant’s choice! App Q&A: Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. April 4, thru May 9
    • Want to learn about different apps? Looking for a quick app overview? Have iPhone app questions? Then, this workshop is for you. 
  • Instacart: Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. April 6, thru May 11
    • Have groceries from supermarkets, drugstores, and convenience stores in your area delivered right to your front door!
  • Moovit: Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. April 4, thru May 9,
    • Map a public transit trip, get real-time arrival times, and be alerted to your upcoming stop when using the Moovit app.

Have questions? Please call VisionLink Access Technology Instructor Andrew Godwin at 215-627-0600 and dial extension 816 or email him at andrew.godwin@visionlinkphl.org.

iPhone Application Instruction

VisionLink will hold iPhone Application Instruction focusing on 11 different application topics. Instruction for each application topic will take place on Mondays from 3 – 4:30 p.m. and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. from April to mid-June. Review the dates and descriptions of the workshops below. 

  • Reminders Application – Monday, April 3 and Friday, April 7
    • Learn to set notifications for important tasks, to-do items, and errands in the Reminders application.
  • Voice Memos Application – Monday, April 10 and Friday, April 14
    • Learn to use the Voice Memos application on your iPhone to record your voice with instructions, steps, guidelines, or other information.
  • Notes Application – Monday, April 17 and Friday, May 21
    • Keep important names, numbers, passwords, or anything else you need to write down in your Notes application on your iPhone.
  • Calendar Application – Monday, May 1 and Friday, May 5
    • Stay organized by learning how to add, delete, and change events and appointments in the Calendar application.
  • Weather Application – Monday, May 8 and Friday, May 12
    • Learn to use the iPhone Weather application to check the weather for the day and the week ahead. You can also learn to check the weather in different parts of the country and around the world.
  • Podcasts Application – Monday, May 15 and Friday, May 19
    • A great alternative to old fashion radio, the Podcast application lets you listen to anything from educational to entertaining shows.
  • Health Application – Monday, May 22 and Friday, May 26
    • Learn to keep track of your health information, such as blood pressure readings, weight, calories consumed, steps walked, or medication lists in the Health application.
  • Camera & Photos Applications – Monday, May 29 and Friday, June 2
    • Learn to use the Camera and Photos applications to take pictures, help you find photos you have taken, and provide you with information about your environment.
  • Maps & GPS Applications – Monday, June 5 and Friday, June 9
    • This workshop teaches you how to pinpoint where you are, how to get directions, or look at a high-level view of an area with the built-in Maps and GPS applications on your iPhone.
  • Native Application Review and Q&A – Monday, June 12 and Friday, June 16
    • Looking for a general review of iPhone applications? Join this session to get all of your application questions answered.

The Zoom address linked here can be used to join the sessions.
Meeting ID: 291 957 1856
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,2919571856# US (New York)
+16469313860,,2919571856# US

Register for any of these sessions by calling Rebecca Zemaitis at 215-627-0600 ext. 840 or emailing rebecca.zemaitis@visionlinkphl.org.

Four-Part Workshop Series: Creating a Smart Home – The Basics

VisionLink’s virtual four-part workshop series, Creating a Smart Home – The Basics, will be held on Wednesdays in April 2023. These one-hour sessions cover the basics of creating your own smart home suited for your needs. No previous experience or knowledge of home devices or artificial intelligence (AI) is necessary. The schedule for the series is listed below.

  • Wednesday, April 5, 2023 –  12:30 p.m.
    • The series will start with an introductory conversation about assorted brands of AI to decide which device best suits your needs. This will include the advantages and disadvantages of Apple HomePods, Google Home devices, and Amazon Alexa devices.
  • Wednesday, April 12,  2023 –  12:30 p.m.
    • During week two, we will cover setting up devices and applications, including the Amazon Alexa application, Kasa Smart, TP-Link, and Vesync.
  • Wednesday, April 19, 2023 – 12:30 p.m.
    • This session will focus on the iHome AutoVac Eclipse, a ring-alarm system, and First Alert Wireless Interconnected, a talking smoke and carbon monoxide detector.
  • Wednesday, April 26, 2023 – 12:30 p.m.
    • The last part of the series will explore a smart home’s automation function and controls, including controlling the lights, fans, air conditioners, oven, humidifier, grill, and more.

The Zoom address linked here can be used to join the workshop sessions.
Meeting ID: 562 889 2906 
One tap mobile 
+16468769923,,5628892906# US (New York) 
+13017158592,,5628892906# US (Germantown) 

If you have any questions, you can call 215-627-0600 or email tech@visionlinkphl.org. 

Orientation and Mobility

Orientation and Mobility is now providing in-person instruction. This class will teach you to travel efficiently, safely, and independently – according to your individual goals and ability. Lesson times, start dates, and end dates will be set directly with the instructor. We are currently ensuring that those participants who initially expressed an interest in the program over the last two years will be contacted.  Meanwhile, you are welcome to add your name to the waitlist.

Home Management

Home management workshops are group sessions where participants will discuss strategies and learn techniques to live more independently. Each workshop will focus on a specific topic area of home management. We are currently ensuring that those participants who initially expressed an interest in the program over the last two years will be contacted. We will let you know as soon as we can accept new participants for this program. Meanwhile, you are welcome to add your name to the waiting list.

Computer Instruction

Computer instruction teaches the basic skills for using a computer with JAWS or works to sharpen skills in the advanced class. When the class begins, we will ensure that those participants who initially expressed an interest in the program over the last two years will be contacted. We will let you know as soon as we can accept new participants for this program. Meanwhile, you are welcome to add your name to the waiting list. Please note: You need to have access to a computer at the time the class begins.

Community-Based Programming

Please call 215-627-0600 and dial extension 824 to sign up for Community-Baed Programming groups.

Mondays

  • New Participant Orientation (Meets on June 5 and 12) from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: The group meets four times over the course of two weeks, with a new group forming every other month.

Tuesdays

  • Diabetes Information and Support Group (meets weekly from Jan. 24 – Apr. 25) from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Led by Thomas Jefferson University staff and pharmacy students, this group will help you learn about ways to manage your diabetes, how this disease affects your body, and how to eat sensibly and still enjoy what you are eating.

Wednesdays

  • Men’s Peer Support Group (meets weekly from May 31 to July 26) from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Having difficulty talking with friends and family about vision loss? Join this weekly group to share your thoughts and experiences with peers.
  • New Participant Orientation (meets on June 7 and 14) from 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.: The group meets four times over the course of two weeks, with a new group forming every other month.

Thursdays

  • Women’s Peer Support Group (meets weekly in small groups from June 1 to July 6) from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Join this group to discuss issues facing women who are blind or experiencing vision loss.
  • Intro to Opera (Meets once a month)
    • Intro to Opera: “La Bohème” (Sets & Props) May 4 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m
      • Get ready for Opera Philadelphia’s upcoming production of “La bohème” in the Academy of Music with a virtual preview highlighting the sets and props from the production.
    • Intro to Opera: “La Bohème” (Costumes)Thursday, April 6 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
      • Prepare for Opera Philadelphia’s upcoming production of “La bohème” in the Academy of Music with a special visit to the costume shop.

Fridays

  • Speaker Series (meets on the fourth Friday of every month) from 10:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.: VisionLink welcomes professionals from health and other fields to speak to our participants about topics such as health and welfare, finance, legal assistance, and much more!
  • Resource Sharing Call (meets on the first Friday of every month) from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.: Join VisionLink staff to learn about new programs, resources available, and special announcements. Bring any new resources you have learned about to the call as well to share with other participants.