A Look Back on 2012

Image: 2013 written in multi-colored sparklers on a black background [via]

WBRC would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy 2013.

There were several big events for WBRC in 2012 including settling into our temporary home in Menlo Park, the demolition of our old building, and the beginning construction of our permanent home in Palo Alto.   As we prepare for 2013, lets take a look back at 2012.

The following are links to some of our favorite WBRC Blog posts from 2012:

Photo: Niki Sandlan, Service Chief for Blind Rehabilitation Services, and John Kingston, CNVR Supervisor, standing in front of the NVT Light Panel with Mr. Kingston's framed certification as an 'NVT Trainer'.  This is the first NVT Trainer certification obtained by a clinician in the United States.  Photograph by Brian Higgins.

WBRC Staff First Clinician in the U.S. Qualified as an 'NVT Trainer'

Photos of the WBRC Open House

WBRC Hosts Open House 

Picture: The front entrance of building 48 after demolition begins.

Building 48 Demolition Begins 

John Kingston, WBRC CNVR Coordinator, presents on the CNVR Program.

WBRC Hosts Northern California Regional Meeting 

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.

2012 White Cane Walk a Success

Aerial view of the beginning construction of the foundation

Construction Begins on New Polytrauma and Blind Center

Additionally; the WBRC will be closed for business on: 
Tuesday January 1st  

The WBRC RN station may be reached by calling:
(650) 493-5000
select 1, then select 2, then enter 24623
-or-
select 1, then select 2, then enter 24823

You may also leave a message at the WBRC Direct Line at:
(650) 614-9952

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 

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

WBRC Hosts Northern California Regional Meeting

John Kingston, WBRC CNVR Coordinator, presents on the CNVR Program.

The Western Blind Rehabilitation Center hosted a Northern California Regional Meeting for VA Blind Rehabilitation Service staff members August 1st and 2nd, 2012.  Participants included VIST Coordinators, Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists (BROS), National Program Consultants, Advanced Low Vision Clinic staff, and WBRC therapists and administrators.  Blind Rehabilitation Service staff members also participated by a V-Tel video conference system from as far as Washington DC and Hawaii.

Constance Marsh, WBRC TCF Intern, in conversation with a visiting BROS.

The two day conference style meeting included presentations, in services, work groups, and brain storming sessions.  Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist participated in several hands-on in-services with devices such as the Milestone, Sarah OCR, and iPhone/iPad.  Session presentations included specialty programs, CNVR, Research and Outcomes.  The meeting also fostered increased communication throughout the Blind Rehabilitation Service, including sharing best practices and developing ideas for future service delivery to the blind and low vision Veteran community.

CLICK HERE to learn more about VA Blind Rehabilitation Services

New Issue of WBRC Newsletter Available Via Web

Image: Front Page of the WBRC Annual Review

The WBRC Annual Review 2011-2012 Newsletter is now available on the web in both a PDF and Text Only format.  This issue of the WBRC Newsletter reviews the 2011-2012 fiscal year including the WBRC's move to Menlo Park, Alumni and Staff News, 2011 WBRC Demographics, articles by WBRC Staff, and more.  The newsletter will be archived on this blog on the right hand side menu under 'WBRC NEWSLETTERS'.    

CLICK HERE for the LINK to the WBRC Annual Review 2011-2012 Newsletter in PDF Format

CLICK HERE for the LINK to the WBRC Annual Review 2011-2012 Newsletter in Text Only Format

Printed copies of this newsletter will be available in the coming weeks.  E-Mail summer.beasley-hoffman@va.gov or call the main WBRC line at (650) 614-9952 to be added to our mailing list or request a copy (while supplies last).