Blind Vet: now what?

Part 2 of Emergency Planning for Natural Disasters: Join hosts Ashley Boyer MA, CVRT and Lindsay Turner, OTR, CLVT in this episode of Blind Vet Now What they discuss essential disaster preparedness strategies, focusing on food safety, medical equipment needs, fire safety, and cold weather preparedness. They emphasize the importance of hygiene, having backup plans for medical needs, and being aware of potential hazards like landslides and sinkholes. The conversation provides practical tips for ensuring safety and well-being during various emergency situations.TakeawaysHygiene is crucial during disasters, especially handwashing.Always have clean water for washing hands and cooking.Food safety is paramount; "when in doubt, throw it out."Backup medical equipment is essential for those with health conditions.Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are vital for fire safety.Know two ways out of every room in case of fire.Prepare for cold weather with extra blankets and layers.Be aware of potential hazards like landslides and sinkholes.Mark assistive devices clearly to avoid being separated from them during evacuations.Stay informed and prepared for various types of emergencies.Who Should listen?-Veterans with low vision, legal blindness and their support systems-Anyone interested in learning more about Blind Rehab within the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) Get Involved!Like, subscribe, and rate this episode to stay updated on new releases and show your support! #NowWhat#AugustaVAHealthcareSystem #BRC #hurricaneseason #beprepared#blindness  #lowvision #Veterans #supportsystems #planforyourpetskeywords: disaster preparedness, food safety, medical equipment, fire safety, cold weather, emergency tips

Be Prepared: Emergency Planning for Natural Disasters: Join hosts Ashley Boyer MA, CVRT and Rebecca Foley, MS, CVRT, COMS on "Blind Vet: Now What?" as they discuss the importance of emergency preparedness for hurricane season. Imagine being without water, food, electricity, transportation, and phone access after a disaster - what would you do? Learn how to create a natural disaster plan and kit to sustain you and your loved ones for at least 3-7 days.Key Takeaways-Understand the importance of having a disaster plan in place before it strikes-Learn how to build an emergency kit with essentials like water, food and first aid supplies-Discover strategies for navigating disaster s with low vision and blindnessWho Should listen?-Veterans with low vision, legal blindness and their support systems-Anyone interested in learning more about Blind Rehab within the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) Get Involved!Like, subscribe, and rate this episode to stay updated on new releases and show your support! #NowWhat#AugustaVAHealthcareSystem #BRC #hurricaneseason #beprepared#blindness  #lowvision #Veterans #supportsystems #planforyourpets

You've gotten some cool new devices and technology from VA Blind Rehab Services...only now it seems like everything is talking. What do you do? Listen to this episode of Blind Vet: Now What? of course!In this episode Blind Vet: Now what? Hosts Ashley Boyer MA, CVRT and Rebecca Foley, MS, CVRT, COMS explain and discuss the difference between talking devices commonly used in Blind Rehab. It can often feel a bit overwhelming to Veterans and their support systems to have various devices talking to them. In this episode we hope to explain the following:-What is a screen reader?-What is a smart assistant?-What is dictation?-Highlight a few other commonly utilized devices that also talk. Target Audience: Veterans with low vision, legal blindness, or no remaining vision, and their support systems.Goal: To provide education, support, and guidance as individuals navigate vision loss and adapt to a new way of life.Relevance: While focused on Veterans, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in learning more about Blind Rehab within the Veterans HealthAdministration (VHA).Call to Action: Like, subscribe, and rate this episode to stay updated on new releases and show your support!#NowWhat#AugustaVAHealthcareSystem #BRC#VoiceOver#JAWS#DolphinGuideConnect#Narrator#Talkback#VoiceView

Dining with Confidence: Adaptive Eating Skills for Vision Loss In this insightful episode of "Blind Vet: Now What?", host Ashley Boyer, MA, CVRT, and special guest Kristi Parson, MA, CVRT, share practical tips and techniques for navigating mealtime with vision loss. Key Takeaways: -Safe Methods for finding your place setting -Adaptive techniques for eating salad and pasta -Essential safety tips, including why reaching above table tops should be avoided and why you ALWAYS need to identify the cutting edge of a knife before using it. -Strategies for navigating family-style dining situations Target Audience: Veterans with low vision, legal blindness, or no remaining vision, and their support systems. Goal: To provide education, support, and guidance as individuals navigate vision loss and adapt to a new way of life. Relevance: While focused on Veterans, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in learning more about Blind Rehab within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Call to Action: Like, subscribe, and rate this episode to stay updated on new releases and show your support! #NowWhat #AugustaVAHealthcareSystem #BRC #eatingskills #blindrehab

In this episode Blind Vet: Now what? Hosts Ashley Boyer MA, CVRT and Rebecca Foley, MS, CVRT, COMS delve into the next steps for Veterans who have been accepted into a Blind Rehab Center's training program. Tune in to learn about: -What is a White Cane? -What types of White Canes are there? -What is White Cane Day and when is it? -What is a White Cane Law? -How is White Cane Day typically celebrated? -What is the VA Augusta Health Care System BRC doing for White Cane Day? -How to approach/talk to someone who is low vision, legally blind or totally blind. -Debunking the idea of ‘Super Senses’ -When to provide someone with a visual impairment assistance.   Target Audience: Veterans with low vision, legal blindness, or no remaining vision, and their support systems. Goal: To provide education, support, and guidance as individuals navigate vision loss and adapt to a new way of life. Relevance: While focused on Veterans, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in learning more about Blind Rehab within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Call to Action: Like, subscribe, and rate this episode to stay updated on new releases and show your support! #NowWhat #AugustaVAHealthcareSystem #BRC #whitecaneday #whitecanesafetyday #whitecanelaw #nationalwhitecanesafetyday #Whitecaneawarenessday #blindamericansequalityday #october15th

In this episode Blind Vet: Now what? Hosts Ashley Boyer MA, CVRT and Rebecca Foley, MS, CVRT, COMS delve into the next steps for Veterans who have been accepted into a Blind Rehab Center's training program. Tune in to learn about: -Admissions packets and what to expect -Essential items to pack for your stay -Medication Management -Types of training environments at BRC's Target Audience: Veterans with low vision, legal blindness, or no remaining vision, and their support systems. Goal: To provide education, support, and guidance as individuals navigate vision loss and adapt to a new way of life. Relevance: While focused on Veterans, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in learning more about Blind Rehab within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Call to Action: Like, subscribe, and rate this episode to stay updated on new releases and show your support! #NowWhat #AugustaVAHealthcareSystem #BRC

In this episode Blind Vet: Now what? Hosts Ashley Boyer MA, CVRT and Rebecca Foley, MS, CVRT, COMS interview Wesley “Wes”  Hodgson, MA, COMS and is a VIST Coordinator in Des Moines, IA. In this episode we explore what a Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) Coordinator is and what a Veteran can expect from initial interactions with a VIST coordinator. Wesley breaks down what an Annual VIST review/exam is, including benefits review screening, and treatment planning. Wesley goes on to explain why Veteran’s participating in appointments with a VIST coordinator are vital to ensuring that they receive the care coordination that they are entitled to. Don't forget to like and subscribe to the show, so that you can be alerted to when new episodes are published! If you enjoy this episode please give it a rating. The target audience: Veterans who have low vision/legal blindness/no remaining vision and their support systems.  The impact of vision loss is felt by the individual and their support system. It is a big life change and can feel quite overwhelming at times. Our goal is to provide education and support as they navigate this new way of life. However the information discussed in the podcast is helpful for anyone wanting to learn more about Blind Rehab within VHA. #NowWhat #augustaVAhealthcaresystem #BRC  

Don't forget to like and subscribe to the show, so that you can be alerted to when new episodes are published! If you enjoy this episode please give it a rating. In this episode Blind Vet: Now what? Hosts Ashley Boyer MA, CVRT and Rebecca Foley, MS, CVRT, COMS interview Veteran Rich Skuse, MS, CATIS, CVRT who is also an instructor at the Augusta VA Blind Rehab Center. In this episode we highlight a Veteran's Journey with Vision Loss, Career Changes, Attending VA Blind Rehab, Going back to school, an Internship and then becoming a VA Blind Rehab Specialist. The target audience: Veterans who have low vision/legal blindness/no remaining vision and their support systems.  The impact of vision loss is felt by the individual and their support system. It is a big life change and can feel quite overwhelming at times. Our goal is to provide education and support as they navigate this new way of life. However the information discussed in the podcast is helpful for anyone wanting to learn more about Blind Rehab within VHA. #NowWhat #augustaVAhealthcaresystem #BRC

Don't forget to like and subscribe to the show, so that you can be alerted to when new episodes are published! If you enjoy this episode please give it a rating. In this episode Blind Vet: Now what? Host Ashley Boyer MA, CVRT interviews Whole Health Coach Percival Galloway on the basics of Whole Health within the VA. Whole Health is VA's approach to care that supports your health and well-being. Whole Health centers around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you. The target audience: Veterans who have low vision/legal blindness/no remaining vision and their support systems.  The impact of vision loss is felt by the individual and their support system. It is a big life change and can feel quite overwhelming at times. Our goal is to provide education and support as they navigate this new way of life. However the information discussed in the podcast is helpful for anyone wanting to learn more about Blind Rehab within VHA. #NowWhat

In this 2nd half of Dexter Durrante's journey that he shares with us. This episode details when he goes back to school, gets not one but two degrees, goes on to his internship and accepts his position at a VA Blind Rehab Center! Determination is a great word for this Veteran!

Don't forget to like and subscribe to the show, so that you can be alerted to when new episodes are published! In this episode Blind Vet: Now what? Host Ashley Boyer interviews Veteran Dexter Durrante Sr. to learn about his experience with Vision loss. Dexter Durrante Sr. is an U.S. Army Veteran. This is part one of his story about how he experienced vision loss, attended VA Blind Rehab and then went back to school to become an VA Blind Rehab instructor. Our Host and guest are both practicing Certified Blind Rehabilitation professionals who work in the Augusta VA Health Care System's Blind Rehab Center in Augusta, Ga. The target audience: Veterans who have low vision/legal blindness/no remaining vision and their support systems.  The impact of vision loss is felt by the individual and their support system. It is a big life change and can feel quite overwhelming at times. Our goal is to provide education and support as they navigate this new way of life. However the information discussed in the podcast is helpful for anyone wanting to learn more about Blind Rehab within VHA. #NowWhat

In this episode Blind Vet: Now what? hosts Ashley Boyer and Rebecca Foley discuss what exactly the VA Blind Rehab Continuum of care is. They also explain/de-code what various acronyms are that are used in Blind Rehab mean. Our Hosts are practicing Certified Blind Rehabilitation professionals who work in the Augusta VA Health Care System's Blind Rehab Center in Augusta, Ga. The target audience: Veterans who have low vision/legal blindness/no remaining vision and their support systems.  The impact of vision loss is felt by the individual and their support system. It is a big life change and can feel quite overwhelming at times. Our goal is to provide education and support as they navigate this new way of life. However the information discussed in the podcast is helpful for anyone wanting to learn more about Blind Rehab within VHA. Don't forget to like and subscribe to the show, so that you can be alerted to when new episodes are published!

In this very first episode of Blind Vet: Now What? hosts Ashley Boyer and Rebecca Foley explain what exactly is legal blindness and discuss low vision. If you've ever heard someone say, "oh, John/Jane is Legally Blind" and wondered what on earth that meant.  Or if you've ever been told that you or someone else isn't blind but does have low vision; this episode will hopefully clear up any confusion. Our Hosts are practicing Certified Blind Rehabilitation professionals who work in the Augusta VA Health Care System's Blind Rehab Center in Augusta, Ga. The target audience: Veterans who have low vision/legal blindness/no remaining vision and their support systems.  The impact of vision loss is felt by the individual and their support system. It is a big life change and can feel quite overwhelming at times. Our goal is to provide education and support as the Veteran and their support systems. However the information is helpful for anyone wanting to learn more about Blind Rehab within VHA. Don't forget to like and subscribe to the show, so that you can be alerted to when new episodes are published!