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%)

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 

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:

VAPAHCS Western Blind Rehabilitation Center

The Blinded Veteran's Association (BVA) Northern CA

Palo Alto Host Lions Club

Bookshare

The VISTA Center

Palo Alto Mayor, Mr. Yiaway Yeh, and his staff

The Palo Alto Weekly On-line Magazine

The City of Palo Alto

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 31^st, 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 10^th, 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 30^th, 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!

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

CLICK HERE to learn more about the White Cane Law

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