October 31, 2012

WBRC Demographics for 2012

Image: 2012 WBRC Demographic Graphs

The Fiscal Year 2012 WBRC Patient Demographics are now available.  Click on the image above to enlarge the graphs.  A summary of the information on the graphs follows below:


PATIENTS SERVED BY PROGRAM
Regular
69
Computer
54
Dual
14
iProgram
15
CNVR
24
GPS
10
Power Mobility
6
Total Served
192

VISUAL DIAGNOSIS
ARMD
67
Other
31
Glaucoma
31
Diabetic Retinopathy
28
Trauma
17
RP
11
Optic Atrophy
7

GENDER STATISTICS
Male
183
Female
9

PERIOD OF SERVICE
Vietnam
85
World War II
40
Korean
19
Post-Korean
18
Post-Vietnam
15
Persian Gulf
11
OIF/OEF
2
Afghanistan
1
Pre-Korean
1

AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY BY PROGRAM (DAYS)
Regular
38
Computer
37
Dual
67
iProgram
27
CNVR
46
GPS
34
Power Mobility
38
Average Length of Stay
41

AGE RANGE OF PATIENTS SERVED
Twenties (20’s)
1 (1%)
Thirties (30’s)
5 (2%)
Forties (40’s)
9 (5%)
Fifties (50’s)
26 (14%)
Sixties (60’s)
56 (29%)
Seventies (70’s)
32 (17%)
Eighties (80’s)
48 (25%)
Nineties (90’s)
15 (8%)

October 25, 2012

Palo Alto Online Documents the 2012 White Cane Awareness Walk

Visually impaired veterans and volunteers wait to cross the street on Forest Avenue in Palo Alto during a walk to celebrate "White Cane Awareness Day" on Oct. 24, 2012. Photo by Veronica Weber/Palo Alto Online.
Palo Alto Online Magazine participated in the 2012 White Cane Awareness Day Walk by sending Veronica Weber to photograph and document the event.  They posted a short article on their website with 4 photographs of the event.  WBRC would like to express a big thank you to Palo Alto Online and all of the 2012 White Cane Awareness Day Walk participants and sponsors for making the event such a success.

CLICK HERE for the Palo Alto Online Article & Photos

CLICK HERE for the WBRC Blog Post & Photos 

October 24, 2012

2012 White Cane Walk a Success

All Photos courtesy of Dan Nakamura, WBRC CNVR Therapist

Photo: Participants cross an intersection along the Downtown Palo Alto route.
WBRC celebrated White Cane Awareness Month by hosting a walk in Palo Alto, CA this morning.  Walkers included Veterans, WBRC Staff, BVA representatives, Lions Club Volunteers, VISTA Center Staff, and Bookshare Staff.  The walkers were lead by Grand Marshal Felipe Flores, an important leader of the BVA Northern California Chapter. 
  
Photo: WBRC's Brian Higgins addresses the crowd in front of City Hall.
The walk started and ended in front of Palo Alto City Hall and encompassed several streets in downtown Palo Alto including sections of Hamilton Ave, Ramona, Emerson, University, and Bryant Street.  The walkers all wore specially printed T-Shirts and used their long canes, guide dogs, wheelchairs, walkers, and human guides to complete the route chanting and spreading awareness of the White Cane Law.   

Photo: Grand Marshal, Felipe Flores, Addresses the crowd.
The California White Cane Law requires every driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection or crosswalk to Yield the Right of Way to a pedestrian crossing in the roadway when they are accompanied by a Dog Guide or using a long cane which is white, or white with a red tip.


Photo: Palo Alto Mayor, Mr. Yiaway Yeh, addresses the crowd.
Upon returning to Palo Alto City Hall participants assembled for a closing ceremony which included a reading of the White Cane Awareness Day Proclamation from the Palo Alto Mayor's Office; speeches from the Palo Alto Mayor, Mr. Yaiway Yeh, and the Grand Marshal, Mr. Felipe Flores; presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to the Palo Alto Host Lions Club, Bookshare, the VISTA Center, the BVA, and to the Palo Alto Mayor; as well as a group picture with all of the participants.

Photo: Participants assembled for the closing ceremony.
This is the 6th year that WBRC has organized the White Cane Awareness Walk.  Thank you to everyone who participated in this event.  Below is a list of links to participating agencies:





October 19, 2012

WBRC Welcomes Four New Staff Members

Photo: Left to Right, Constance Marsh, Tony Chambers, Elizabeth Hilburn, and Julie Hogan

The WBRC is proud welcome four new staff members to the team:


Constance Marsh has accepted the position of Computer Aided Technology Instructor.  Ms. Marsh’s start date was August 31st, 2012.  Ms. Marsh graduated with a Master’s Degree in Special Education, Emphasis on Orientation and Mobility from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2012.  She is accredited by ACVREP as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist. In August of 2012, she completed a two-year Technical Career Field (TCF) Internship, which she began at the Charlie Norwood VA Hospital, in Augusta, Georgia and completed at the WBRC.  As part of the internship, Ms. Marsh was cross-trained in Visual Skills, Manual Skills, and Low Vision Orientation and Mobility. 

Tony Chambers has accepted the position of Orientation and Mobility Instructor.  Mr. Chambers’ officially started in October, 2012 after finishing a 2 year long Technical Career Field (TCF) internship at the WBRC.  As part of the TCF internship, Mr. Chambers was also cross-trained in Manual Skills.  Mr. Chambers completed an additional internship program at the WBRC in the Orientation and Mobility Department in 2009.  Mr. Chambers has a Master’s Degree from Western Michigan University in Orientation and Mobility and also completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Western Michigan University.  He is accredited by ACVREP as Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist.

Elizabeth Hilburn has accepted the position of Manual Skills Instructor.  Mrs. Hilburn’s start date was September 10th, 2012.  Mrs. Hilburn has a  Master’s Degree in Special Education with a Credential in Orientation and Mobility from California State University, Los Angeles and also completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.  She completed her Orientation and Mobility internship at WBRC in Spring of 2012.  Mrs. Hilburn is accredited by ACVREP as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist. 

Julie Hogan has accepted the position of Orientation and Mobility Instructor.  Mrs. Hogan’s start date was July 30th, 2012.  Ms. Hogan has a Master’s Degree from California State University Los Angeles in Special Education with an emphasis in Orientation and Mobility and also completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at University of California Santa Barbara.  She is accredited by ACVREP as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist.  Mrs. Hogan has over 6 years of volunteer experience serving veterans within the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and is a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary.  Mrs. Hogan completed her two-year Technical Career Field Internship at the Los Angeles VA Hospital and also an internship program at the WBRC in the Orientation and Mobility Department in 2011. 

Welcome to the WBRC Team Constance, Tony, Elizabeth, and Julie!

October 16, 2012

WBRC to Celebrate White Cane Awareness Day October 24th


  White Cane Awareness Walk 2011 participants cross an intersection
October is White Cane Awareness Month.  WBRC is celebrating White Cane Awareness by hosting a Walk in Palo Alto, CA.  Participating agencies include WBRC, BVA Northern California, the Lions Club, Bookshare, and the VISTA Center.  Please feel free to come join us on the walk to spread awareness of the White Cane Law.  Details follow below:
White Cane Awareness Walk
October 24, 2012
Downtown Palo Alto

Schedule
10:15 AM  - Assemble at Palo Alto City Hall
                       (250 Hamilton Ave)
10:30 AM - Walk Starts with Grand Marshall BVA
11:00 AM - Re-assemble at City Hall Palo Alto
                  Photo and Proclamation

All are welcome --- white cane users, yellow cane users, sighted guides, power mobility users, 4WW users, dog guide users, blindfolded sighted folks {with cane skills or a human guide} ---on an approximate half mile walk around downtown Palo Alto. 

Image: White Cane Awareness Walk Route 2012, Click on Image to Enlarge
 
For more information contact Brian Higgins at 650-906-9412

HumanWare Announces Free Map Updates for Trekker Breeze Talking GPS System

Photo: Trekker Breeze GPS Unit


Trekker Breeze Users:
Humanware has announced new updated maps for the Trekker Breeze GPS system. Veterans that have completed the WBRC GPS Mobility program and have been issued a Trekker Breeze should be aware of the new changes to the maps which will expand the functionality of the device and consider using the free updates. The updated maps include changes such as street names, new developments, and points of interest. 

 

What you need to know:

·         To obtain your new Breeze maps, log into license.humanware.com with your Breeze serial number and email address and select your chosen map region. You will receive an email with a download location and instructions for how to download and transfer your maps to your Breeze.

·         New maps contain updated street names and layouts, new and updated points of interest, along with new supported points of interest categories.

Veterans interested in learning more about the WBRC GPS Mobility program should contact their VIST Coordinator for more information.

CLICK HERE to update your Trekker Breeze GPS Maps

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Trekker Breeze GPS