IMPROVING
OUTCOMES FOR NEVADA’S BLIND
AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS
She was a beloved daughter, sister, mother of three. A
wife of 30 years, a friend, a colleague. She was a former beauty queen
and a critical care nurse. And then she lost her vision. To learn to
live competently as a blind person, Angela Beller Hoffman needed to
leave
Nevada. Her legacy will be that others with severe vision loss will
learn skills to maintain independence, self-confidence, and sense of
purpose while remaining in Nevada.
 THE VISION
Create and establish a Nevada person-centered training
facility for the blind and visually impaired to prepare individuals and
families to live independently with access to services, education, and
recreation.
THE PROGRAM
Angela’s House will be an intensive, structured training
program that encourages blind and visually impaired adults to learn to be
blind through mastering blindness skill sets and adjustments.
Angela’s House is planned to meet Monday - Friday from
9am to
3pm. Daily, each participant will have orientation and mobility (cane
travel) and daily living skills training, computer training using adaptive
equipment, Braille reading and writing, self-advocacy techniques, and a
support group session for idea exchange and ongoing growth.
There will be a strong mental
health presence; it is anticipated that that professionals will be onsite to
assist in establishing individual coping strategies.
During early training,
activities will be onsite. As participants learn travel skills, they will
Each participant will receive 100 hours of training during a 4-week
session. There will move into the community to use public transportation,
visit restaurants, and attend be a strong mental health presence; it is
anticipated that professionals will be onsite to community activities.
Peer support is a major
component of Angela’s House. Program ‘graduates’ will be encouraged to
assist in training sessions, provide leadership for peer support groups and
outreach to the newly blind who might benefit from Angela’s House programs.
PLANNING EFFORTS
Recognizing the importance of collaboration between public
and private providers of service to blind and visually impaired persons,
Blindconnect convened a Stakeholders meeting in October, 2006.
Stakeholders included members of Angela’s family, representatives from
Blindconnect and other blindness nonprofits and disability-related
nonprofits, staff of State agencies, and State legislators. There are
individuals with varying degrees of vision loss involved. The
Stakeholders met to assess available services, identify gaps in services,
and begin the process of defining Angela’s House.
ANGELA'S HOUSE
STEERING COMMITTEE
Formed as an outgrowth of the Stakeholders, the Steering
Committee has developed a strategy plan with eight action steps to take
this project to its initial goal of “having an address” by March, 2008.
These action steps include: develop marketing and public relations plan,
develop and implement outreach strategies, find facility location, develop
initial program structure, create short and long-term budget, develop and
initiate fundraising plan, determine staffing needs, and diversify and
expand Board of Directors.
THE OUTCOME
This project will meet the needs of blind and visually
impaired adults who wish to regain independence and live as contributing
members of their community.
It is a large-scale public/private collaboration – the first
in the blindness community of Nevada.
The blindness skills training center will be the first in the
State of Nevada
and, as such, will immediately become a catalyst for those with vision loss,
for those who want to be part of this much-needed service, and for those who
want to commit time and resources to helping others help themselves.
BLINDCONNECT,
INC.
The organization is a 501(c)3
Nevada
nonprofit that was established in 1997 to assist adults with severe vision
loss to access services and resources. The organization’s mission is
to connect blind people to other blind persons, to available services and
resources, and to their community-at-large. Blindconnect strives
to educate about blindness, to advocate for increased services and
inclusion, and to encourage community support.
CONTACT:
Blindconnect,
Inc at
lander718@aol.com or (702) 631-9009
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Celebrating
our 10th Year Anniversary