August Construction Update

The Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) continues to watch the construction progress of B-500, the highly anticipated new home of the Polytrauma and Blind Rehabilitation services on the Palo Alto VAPAHCS Campus.  Some of the building's features will include private bedrooms and bathrooms for inpatients, 3-shared courtyards, a greenhouse, golf-putting green, bocce ball court, and half basketball court. 

Photo: B-500 as seen from front walkway area.

At 174,000 square feet, this new facility will be the largest consolidated rehabilitation center in the VA nationwide.  It will include 24 beds for the polytrauma program, 32 beds for the blind rehabilitation program, and 12 beds for the polytrauma transitional rehabilitation program.  Currently construction crews are nearing completion of both the interior and exterior of the building, with much of the landscaping installed.

Photo: Front Entrance of B-500 with landscaping and lighting.

The center will also have an outpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy clinic, and outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic, and clinical programs for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans.  Construction is anticipated to be 100% complete shortly, with the building becoming operational sometime next year.


CLICK HERE to view additional construction pictures


CLICK HERE for construction updates


CLICK HERE to read the project's news release

WBRC 2015 Annual Review Now Available

Photo: Cover of the 2015 WBRC Review Newsletter

The 2015 WBRC Review has just been published and is available online.  The 'WBRC Review' is a Fiscal Year (FY) review of the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) for stakeholders including former and current students, prospective students, family and caregivers, VA staff and volunteers, and anyone interested in learning about low vision and blind rehabilitation services available to Veterans and Active Duty Service Members through the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.  The FY 15 edition includes information about the WBRC including outcome measures and demographics as well as articles about our building construction, special programs, WBRC's new 4 week 'Matter of Balance' fall prevention inpatient program, WBRC's new faces, and how to stay up-to-date with WBRC news.  The WBRC Review will also be printed and mailed to WBRC students who attended the program during FY 15 as well as to prospective and scheduled students.  It will also be used for WBRC outreach and is available to all stake holders online on the WBRC Website and WBRC Blog.

CLICK HERE to view the PDF Version

CLICK HERE to view the TEXT only Version

CLICK HERE to view the WBRC Website

A Look Back on 2015

Photo: '2016' written in colored sparklers

WBRC would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy 2016!

There were several big events for WBRC in 2015 including watching our new home [B-500] on the Palo Alto Campus take shape and near completion, hosting a PBS documentary film crew at WBRC for two days, congratulating our staff members on their many accomplishments including contributing content to a book published by AFB Press and earning their 35 year service award, and watching our Alumni thrive.  As we prepare for 2016, let’s take a look back at 2015 via links to some of our favorite WBRC Blog posts from the year:

 

Photo: Members of the WBRC Administration during their 2015 tour of B-500.

WBRC Administration Tours New Building

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

 PBS Documentary Films at WBRC

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

 

Photo: WBRC RN Jeremy Adriano receives his 35 year service award.  Pictured left to right:
Linda Delarue, RN, Chief of Rehabilitation Nursing; Herminio J. Adriano, recipient, RN,
Assistant Nurse Manager at WBRC; Roschild Grullon, RN, Nurse Manager at WBRC;
and Elizabeth Freeman, Director of the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System.

WBRC RN Receives 35 year Service Award

WBRC Alumnus Preps for 2015 Golden Aged Games

 

Photo: White Cane Awareness Walk participants pose on the Palo Alto City Hall steps

WBRC Completes 11^th Annual White Cane Awareness Walk

Photo: WBRC Staff review the building plans during a B500 tour in 2015.

WBRC Staff Tour B-500

WBRC Announces New Technology Program Coordinator

Photo: Scott Jaffray, WBRC Technology Program Coordinator

WBRC is proud to announce that Scott Jaffray has accepted the position of Technology Program Coordinator.  He started in this new position on October 12th, 2015.  Mr. Jaffray has been an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist at the WBRC since January of 2012 and is also cross-trained in CNVR, iProgram, and Computer Access Technology.  Mr. Jaffray completed an internship program at the WBRC in the O&M Department in 2011.  Mr. Jaffray has a Master’s Degree from California State University of Los Angles in O&M and completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from California State University of Stanislaus.  He is accredited by ACVREP as Certified O&M Specialist.  Congratulations Scott!

WBRC Congratulates O&M Instructor on Guide Dog Puppy Graduate

Photo: Guide Dog Puppy in Training 'Rookie' on his first day at the WBRC

The Western Blind Rehabilitation Center would like to congratulate Ms. Lindsay Hass, WBRC Orientation and Mobility Instructor, on the recent graduation of ‘Rookie’ from Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael.  Rookie first came to the WBRC with Ms. Hass as an 8 week old male 3/4 yellow Labrador 1/4 golden retriever.  He was a ‘Guide Dog Puppy In Training’ who was raised and trained by Ms. Hass and accompanied her to work and in the community for about 18 months to become acclimated to a variety of environments, people, and situations prior to returning to Guide Dogs for the Blind for evaluation and additional training to become a Guide Dog. 

Photo: Rookie on his graduation day from Guide Dogs for the Blind

After successfully completing 8 phases of Guide Dog Training, Rookie was paired with an individual with vision loss and their ‘Team’ graduated from Guide Dogs for the Blind on October 17^th, 2015.  Rookie is the 6th Guide Dog puppy that Ms. Hass has raised for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Congratulations Lindsay and Rookie!

CLICK HERE to learn more about Puppy Raising through Guide Dogs for the Blind

CLICK HERE to learn more about Guide Dog Training at Guide Dogs for the Blind

WBRC Completes 11th Annual White Cane Awareness Walk

Photo: White Cane Awareness Walk participants pose on the Palo Alto City Hall steps

Thank you to everyone who helped plan, implement, and who participated in the 11th Annual WBRC White Cane Awareness Walk in Palo Alto, CA on October 15, 2015. The walk was a huge success with over 60 participants from the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, Lions Club, Vista Center, WBRC Alumni, and past WBRC O&M Interns. 

Photo: Walk participants cross Bryant Street in downtown Palo Alto, CA.

On October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the Congress, HR 753, was signed into law authorizing the President of the United States to proclaim October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day".  White Cane Safety Day is now celebrated all around the world.  Each year on October 15th, the President of the United States proclaims the day of White Cane Safety Day to “to recognize the contributions of Americans who are blind or have low vision”.

Photo: Walk participants parade down University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto, CA

White Cane Safety Day is annual opportunity to increase awareness about the white cane and a chance to educate the public how the white cane:

• Signifies that the pedestrian is either blind or visually impaired 
• Educates the public about “White Cane Laws” which gives the pedestrian the right of way and certain legal protections when traveling with the white cane  
• Symbolizes independence, confidence, dignity and a powerful tool for the visually impaired traveler

President Clinton in his 2000 White Cane Day proclamation said, “The white cane is a simple tool…it reminds us that the only barriers against people with disabilities are discriminatory attitudes and practices that our society has too often placed in their way".