Free Training and Visual Aids for Native Americans with Impaired Vision

Sign Up Now for Project NATIVE’s Okmulgee Workshop

 

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Free workshops offering meaningful life skills and visual aid training to Native Americans with impaired vision are scheduled for March in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The workshop is being hosted by Muscogee (Creek) Nation at the Elder Nutrition Center building. The workshop series includes three consecutive Saturdays, March 22, 29 and April 5 (each from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).  To be eligible participants must be a citizen of a federally recognized tribe, over 18 years old and have visited an eye doctor within the last year with a low vision diagnosis.

“I am now reading things that I haven’t read in years!” said Project NATIVE participant Betty Boney.  The program demonstrates a variety of magnification devices and special lighting that can help some low vision people to see enough to read or sew.

The workshops introduce participants to current low tech and high tech equipment to help those with impaired vision see and read. The workshops are free and lunch will be provided. After attending all three days of workshops, Project NATIVE works with participants to select equipment to meet their needs and purchases it at no cost to the participant (order limit is based on budget available).

“This is another great opportunity for our patients within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to benefit by us uniting healthcare resources”, said LCDR Seneca Smith, Secretary of Health, MCN Department of Health.

The five workshop components cover information such as how to navigate safely in unfamiliar surroundings, how to stand up for yourself, cooking safely, keeping active through recreation, and demonstrations of devices such as TV glasses and sunglasses, lighted magnifiers, and electronic readers.

“People, especially older people, in the United States are losing eyesight at the rate of one person every seven minutes [according to Research to Prevent Blindness],” stated Project NATIVE Director Lillian Young, Ed.D.  “Native Americans are particularly impacted since there is a high correlation between the incidence of diabetes and loss of eyesight. This program is a great start at providing direct services to those with impaired vision, helping them get started with technology and equipment geared specifically for them. We also want to create awareness and sensitivity among family members, service agencies, businesses and the general public about the common issues people with low vision face every day. ”

The information and low vision devices presented in the workshops help participants remain productive and independent, which is a central goal of Project NATIVE. The unique program, the first of its kind to focus on Native Americans, is made available through the American Indian Resource Center in Tahlequah and funded through a grant from the Administration for Native Americans, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If you know of someone who is visually impaired and may be interested in Project NATIVE, please ask them to call 918-456-5581 for information. Applications for the Okmulgee workshop are available at the Senior Nutrition Center and by calling Project NATIVE. The staff at Project NATIVE is happy to answer questions and help with the application.