Two WBRC Staff Members Contribute to New Book Published by AFB Press

Photos: Vision and the Brain: Understanding Cerebral Visual Impairment in Children cover (top); Title

page for Mr. Kingston’s authored chapter, Insights from Adult Neuro-Vision Rehabilitation and

Rehabilitative Considerations for Children (bottom left); and book cover with spine (bottom right).

WBRC is proud to announce that Dr. Gregory Goodrich, WBRC Research Psychologist, and Mr. John Kingston, WBRC Orientation and Mobility Supervisor, are both featured contributors in a newly published AFB Press book titled Vision and the Brain: Understanding Cerebral Visual Impairment in Children.  Dr. Goodrich provided an article on ‘The Evolution of the Definition of Legal Blindness’ and Mr. Kingston authored a chapter titled, ‘Insights from Adult Neuro-Vision Rehabilitation and Rehabilitative Considerations for Children’.


The book is currently available via the AFB Press Website.  A description of the book from the website follows below:

'Cerebral visual impairment, also known as cortical visual impairment, or CVI, has become the most common cause of visual impairment in children in the United States and the developed world.  Vision and the Brain is a unique and comprehensive sourcebook of current knowledge about CVI and best practices for working with children.  Expert contributors from many countries illuminate the complexities of vision loss related to brain injury and neurological causes and provide readers with approaches to assessment and intervention'.

CLICK HERE for a link to the book on the AFB Press Website

CLICK HERE to learn more about WBRC's CNVR Program

CLICK HERE to learn more about WBRC's Research Program

Community Resource: VISTA Center to Host Technology Users Conference in Mountain View May 16th

Vista Center for the Blind

and Visually Impaired

Hosts the

3rd Visually Impaired Persons

Technology Users Conference

(VIP TUC)

When: Saturday, May 16th, 2015

Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

(9:00 AM registration)

Where: Fenwick & West LLP

801 California Street

Mountain View, CA 94043

This FREE conference is for individuals who use a Google Android or Apple iOS Smartphone in their daily activities. Space is limited. Please pre-register. Lunch is provided with pre-registration. Also, check out the latest technology at our vendor tables.

Another Day In The Life of a Blind iPhone Power User - Presented by Walt Raineri, IOS Power User

Let’s Tango: Latest Technology to Enable Step by Step Navigation within a Building - Presented by Charles Chen, Google Engineer

Tips and Tricks for Using Technology to the Max - Presented by Gerry Boyadjieff, Access Technology Specialist, Vista Center

To Register

Space is limited! Register early by calling Vista Center at (650) 858-0202 ext. 123 or email techusergroup@vistacenter.org

Transportation and Parking

Fenwick and West LLC is accessible by:

• Caltrain (Mountain View station is just 3 blocks away)
• VTA Light Rail (Mountain View station 3 blocks away)
• VTA Buses 22 and 522 (Castro Street Stop on El Camino Real is just 3 blocks away)
• Outreach Para Transit service is door to door.

PBS Doucmentary Films at WBRC

The Western Blind Rehabilitation Center was honored to host the film crew of "Sight: The Story of Vision", a PBS feature length documentary that will present the past, present and future of sight.  The film is being produced by Koenig Films in association with SOPTV for public television broadcast and distribution.  It is expected to air in the fall of 2015 and will be accompanied by a special version designed to be shown in planetariums around the world.

 

Photo: Niki Sandlan, Blind Rehab. Service Chief Director, is interviewed by the film crew.

The film crew visited the WBRC for two full days of shooting and interviews on March 26th and 27th.  They interviewed many of the WBRC Veterans and staff members and spent time in many skill areas including Visual Skills, Manual Skills, Living Skills and Orientation and Mobility.

 

Photo: A WBRC Veteran is filmed using a CCTV to read printed materials.

They also interviewed WBRC research personel, observed the WBRC's Comprehensive Neurological Vision Rehabilitation (CNVR) speciality program including the NVT light panel and IM training, and the WBRC tandem cycling program through recreation therapy. 

 

Photo: A WBRC Veteran is filmed while training on the NVT light panel.

"Sight: The Story of Vision" later posted the following on their Facebook Page:

'We spent Thursday and Friday at the VA's Western Blind Rehabilitation Center in Palo Alto, where a team of dedicated MDs, ODs and therapists retrain vets with vision loss to live full lives...

Empowering the vets and teaching them to overcome vision loss takes place everyday at WBRC. Vets are given therapy, trained on low vision aids and physical activity including tandem bike riding...

Heroes serving heroes is the best way to describe the WBRC...

If you know a vet suffering vision loss please put them in contact with VA and the WBRC. Their lives will be changed for the better.'

CLICK HERE to view the "Sight: The Story of Vision" Website

CLICK HERE to view the "Sight: The Story of Vision" Facebook Page

CLICK HERE to view the "Sight: The Story of Vision" Trailer