c.b.r.c. torch - edward hines, jr. va hospital torch winter 2017.pdf · c.b.r.c. torch . winter...

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C.B.R.C. TORCH Winter 2017 A publication of the Central Blind Rehabilitation Center Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital Mission The mission of the Hines Blind Rehabilitation Center is to provide High-Quality Blind Rehabilitation Service through the provision of a broad range of programs. “A Blind Center is where faith is strongest that blind people deserve hope, respect and freedom. These are accorded first, followed by the means of achieving them. Our civilization permits wholesome living when blind and here one learns how.” Russell C. Williams WWII Veteran First Chief of the Hines VA Blind Rehabilitation Center 1948 PROUDLY SERVING THE CENTRAL AREA REGION

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Page 1: C.B.R.C. TORCH - Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital TORCH WINTER 2017.pdf · C.B.R.C. TORCH . Winter 2017 . A publication of the . Central Blind Rehabilitation Center . Edward Hines Jr

C.B.R.C. TORCH

Winter 2017

A publication of the Central Blind Rehabilitation Center

Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital

Mission

The mission of the Hines

Blind Rehabilitation Center

is to provide High-Quality

Blind Rehabilitation Service

through the provision of a

broad range of programs.

“A Blind Center is where

faith is strongest that blind

people deserve hope,

respect and freedom. These

are accorded first, followed

by the means of achieving

them. Our civilization

permits wholesome living

when blind and here one learns how.”

Russell C. Williams

WWII Veteran

First Chief of the Hines VA

Blind Rehabilitation Center

1948

PROUDLY SERVING THE CENTRAL AREA REGION

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CBRC TORCH NEWSLETTER TEAM The following Blind Center Staff members are responsible for bringing you the TORCH Newsletter: Sarah Appler, Visual Skills Meet the Staff Sean Johnson, Manual Skills Shop Talk with Sean Susan Knauff , Visual Skills Eye Conditions Jamie Ogarek, Manual Skills Resource Room Emily Traylor, Computer Access Training Technology Today Melissa Winter, RT Recreation at the Blind Rehab Center Mike Dugan, Computer Access Training Accessibility Review Ann Suchie, Communications Specialist /Editor Blind Rehab Center Administration Denise Van Koevering Chief, Blind Rehabilitation Service Table of Contents

In our efforts to improve the accessibility of the TORCH, visually impaired friendly features have been implemented. The Table of Contents below allows e-readers to float the curser over the list of articles and use the commands “control and click” to quickly link to the article within the publication without having to scroll along line for line, page for page until you locate it. • Chiefs_Message • Performance_Improvement • Mosaic_Dedication_at_The_BRC • Meet_The_Staff • Recreation_Therapy_at_the_BRC • CHOW_Call • Eye_Conditions • Shop_Talk_with_Sean • Mobility_Winter_Travel_Tips • Technology_Today • Veteran_Spotlight • RESOURCES • Message_from_The_HBCA • Tales_From_Andy • Know_Your_VIST • Contact_Us • CBRC_TORCH_Produced_By

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Chief’s Message

Warm greetings from Hines VA Blind Rehabilitation Center! The holiday season proved to be a busy but happy time.

Veterans Day Events at the Blind Rehabilitation Center this year were numerous. A number of Service Organizations visited to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions Veterans have made to our Nation. Events were sponsored by Hometown Murray VFW, Addison VFW, Berwyn-Cicero VietNow, Yorkville American Legion and Amvets. We continue to be ever grateful for our community partners who share in our mission in caring for Veterans.

On November 16, 2016, the Blind Rehabilitation Center held an unveiling / dedication ceremony for a Mosaic of our National Blind Rehabilitation logo, that was designed by a Hines VA Blind Center Veteran back in the 1980’s. A number of staff, including former Chief, Jerry Schutter, and Hines Director’s office representatives were in attendance, along with our inpatient Veterans and staff for this momentous occasion. (See article on page 4 for details.)

The 2016 holiday season was kicked off with Thanksgiving once again hosted by the Angelini family. What a spread! Special Thanks is extended to the Angelini Family for continuing

the tradition started by Melody many years ago.

Christmas and New Year’s was enjoyed by the Veterans with many activities sponsored by Service Organizations.

We ended 2016 with excellent patient care outcomes. We met our wait time goal for admissions, and we exceeded National benchmarks for patient satisfaction at 97% inpatient satisfaction. Additionally, we saw an increase in visitors to our Center by 25% from 2015, and we remain committed to education, awareness and advocacy of Blind Rehabilitation within and outside the health-care community.

As a result of the rural health initiative started in 2014, we have successfully made the Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS) position a permanent part of our Blind Rehabilitation team. This position will greatly enhance services to rural areas as well as meet unique needs of Veterans in their home environment when warranted.

We hit the ground running in 2017 with a new set of goals, see our Performance Improvement article on page 3 for all the details.

We wish all of our readers a year of peace, hope and prosperity. Hope to see you at the H.B.C.A. Reunion in June.

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Performance Improvement With the start of a new year, we look to new goals on our continued quest for quality and excellent service delivery. Our goals for 2017 include some old stand-by’s that are required by various levels of management, but, are none-the-less important. We have included some new and innovative goals that incorporate forward thinking for a 21st Century Blind Rehabilitation Center. The following five areas will be the focus for our 2017 Service Goals:

• Access • All Employee Survey • Satisfaction • Virtual Care • Safety

Access We will strive to decrease the wait time for admission to 60 days or less. With a target of 50% of our patient admissions within this parameter, this will be no small task. All Employee Survey Results Maintain our ‘high performing’ Service status by identifying areas of improvement through the National All Employee Survey results and developing action plans to improve any areas that show opportunities for improvement.

Satisfaction Continue as a ‘high performing’ Service by identifying areas of improvement for consumer Satisfaction through the National uSPEQ Survey results. Virtual Care Increase the use of Virtual Care practices through Telehealth modalities by exploring new uses for this 21st Century method of health care. Our goal is to incorporate at least five new uses of this modality. Safety Maintain 90%threshold for hand hygiene with direct patient care practices. In addition to these Service goals, all of our department skill areas are working up new improvement projects and initiatives to increase efficiency, maintain quality, and use time and resources effectively. It’s going to be a busy year.

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Mosaic Dedication at the Hines VA Blind Rehabilitation Center

On November 16, 2016, the Blind Center experienced a proud moment in its history. On this day, an event was coordinated to acknowledge the beautiful work done by a number of Veterans, staff, and a representative from the Chicago Mosaic School.

A mosaic sculpture was erected on the west wall of the front entry way of the Blind Rehabilitation Center building. This mosaic represents an artistic rendition of the National Blind Rehabilitation logo originally created by Kurt Litzhuhn, a blinded Veteran who participated in the Blind Rehabilitation program at Hines VA back in the 1980’s. He created a wood carving that he gifted the Blind Center, that can be found displayed in our lobby in a glass case. This carving went on to become not only the Hines VA Blind Center official logo, but, was adopted as the official National VA Blind Rehabilitation logo now used nationwide to represent VA Blind Rehabilitation Services.

The logo symbolizes many of the things the Blind Rehabilitation Center represents.

The proud eagle stands out in the center of the round plaque surrounded by symbols. These symbols represent the branches of the service as well as some special meanings.

The Canes represent help to walk in peace.

The Shield protects us from evil and harm.

The anchor gives security and represents the Navy and Marines.

The Rifle will deter our enemy, ensure safety, and represents the Army.

The Star is our hope to light our way to contentment and represents the Army Air Corp.

The Mighty Eagle is our government which shall protect us from all enemies abroad.

The Mosaic project began approximately four years ago for the purpose of creating a TACTUAL representation of our National VA Blind Rehabilitation logo. This artistic creation is now permanently affixed to our Blind Center building for enjoyment and display for posterity.

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Meet the Staff The Winter issue proudly introduces our Administrative Team. This group supports administrative operations in a variety of ways in behind-the-scenes activities. Allow us to introduce to you this dynamic group. Karen Dahlheimer is our Admissions Coordinator and has worked her entire 30 year career at the Hines Blind Rehab Center. Karen spent her first 18 years teaching Orientation & Mobility and the past 11 years as the Admissions Coordinator. Karen attended Central Michigan University for her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Western Michigan University for her Master’s degree in Blind Rehabilitation. Karen is the one Veterans first speak to on the phone when they are planning to come to the Blind Center for a Blind Rehabilitation Program. Karen Domrese is a Program Support Assistant to our Assistant Chief, Chuck Brancheau. Karen started at the Blind Rehab Center in May 2015. Prior to joining us, Karen worked at Hines in non-VA medical care and has seven total years of government service. She has also worked for the Social Security Administration. Karen supports both staff and patients indirectly by managing timekeeping tasks and supports prosthetics distribution for

the Low Vision Clinic, where she ships prescription eye glasses to Veterans in our regional geography.

Ann Suchie is our Communications Specialist and Outreach Coordinator. Ann has 31 years of government service including many positions within Blind Rehabilitation, VISN 12, and throughout the Hines hospital network. Ann attended Northwestern Business College. Ann’s position is unique in that she serves as the only Communications Specialist for Reasonable Accommodations in Blind Rehabilitation Service. She supports Outreach initiatives, including serving as the Editor of the CBRC TORCH. Darlene Voustros is the Administraive Assistant to our Chief, Denise Van Koevering. Darlene has worked at the Blind Rehabilitation Center for 22 years of her 26 years in government service. She began her career as an administraive clerk in the Hines VA Outpatient Clinic and has been at the Blind Rehab Center since 1994. She assists our Chief as well as our Supervisory Staff with a wide variety of administrataive functions. You may have talked to her on the phone when you called to reach our Chief. Mike Westberg is our other Program Support Assistant. Mike joined the Blind Rehab Center in 2011 and has a total of seven years of government service including two in the Marine Corps. Prior to joining the Blind Rehab Center, Mike worked at a

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custom photo lab in the Chicago area. He attended Southern Illinois University. Mike provides support in prosthetics and equipment inventory. He’s the one who makes sure our Staff and Veterans have the equipment they need to train on and to take home at the end of their program.

Blind Rehabilitation Center Administrative Team From left; Mike Westberg, Ann Suchie, Karen Domrese, Darlene Voustros, Karen Dahlheimer Recreation Therapy at the Blind Rehabilitation Center ‘Tis the season for lots of holiday events at the Blind Rehabilitation Center. November is one of our busiest months. This year, we had 21 events take place for the Veterans to choose to participate in, primarily with themes for Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving. The Berwyn/ Cicero VietNow group hosted the Veterans for dinner and dancing. The Yorkville American Legion invited the Veterans out for pancake breakfast. The Legion then held an

Unserviceable Flag Ceremony. Some Veterans participated in that ritual. The American Red Cross also visited the Center with groups from US Bank, AGL Worldwide Logistics, and IDEX Corp. who sponsored lunches for the Veterans. Additionally, Veterans were showered with t-shirts from Hewlett Packard and a supply of personal care items from numerous organizations. The Veterans greatly appreciated the outreach from many of our community organizations who enjoy saying “Thank You” to them for

their service. Another momentous event the Blind Center never before witnessed was the Cubs winning the World Series! The Veterans watched the game either in their rooms or as a group in the dining room and enjoyed treats purchased from the Hines Blind Center Alumni Association. Fare included ballpark favorites like popcorn, Cracker Jacks, sunflower seeds, cotton candy, peanuts in the shell, and Big Chew League Bubble Gum. We found one Veteran posed as a vendor at the park, calling down the halls as you would at the game. The Cubs fight song “Go Cubs Go” rang through the halls. What a great time was had by all celebrating the north side win!

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CHOW Call This issue’s CHOW Call recipes were submitted by Veterans who participated in the Blind Rehabilitation Program. Coach’s Lasagna Surprise Submitted By: Deanna “Coach” Callender 1 box of Lasagna noodles 2 jars of Hunts spaghetti sauce 2 Spaghetti seasoning packet 1 Large bag of mozzarella cheese 2 bag of Pepperoni slices Dry Italian seasoning

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 2. Boil noodles in a large pot; follow

directions on your specific box of pasta. 3. Rinse and cool noodles, pat dry then set

aside. 4. Combine spaghetti sauce, Italian

seasoning, and dry season packet (to taste) in a pot. Cook over low heat until it boils

5. Remove from heat and let cool. 6. Spray a 13x 9 pan with oil spray. 7. Line bottom of pan with noodles

overlapping. 8. Add layer of sauce mixture. 9. Add layer of pepperoni. 10. Add a layer of cheese 11. Repeat steps until all ingredients are gone

ending with noodles topped with cheese. 12. Cover the pan with foil. 13. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes until

cheese is golden brown.

Brownie Fluff Submitted By: Jeanie Murphy 1 Box Brownies 1 Box of White Chocolate or Vanilla pudding 1 Cup of cold milk 1 12 oz. container of whipped topping 1 tsp of vanilla *Option – For a Mocha flavor, you can add 2 teaspoons of prepared coffee (or more, depending on your taste) Prepare & bake brownies according to directions. While brownies are baking, mix the pudding mix along with the milk & vanilla. The mixture will become thick. Fold in whipped topping, about 1 cup at a time Using about 8 oz. of the topping. After brownies have cooled for about 6-7 minutes, using a spoon, remove from the pan and cut into small chucks/squares. Place one layer of square chunks on the bottom of your serving bowl. Then add a few spoonful’s of whipped topping on top of the brownies. Repeat layers of brownies and whipped topping until all brownies are used. As you finish up, use your desired amount of whipped topping on top. Enjoy!

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Eye Conditions; Explaining Vision Loss Often times, individuals who are considered legally blind have difficulty explaining to family/friends that they can see certain things, but not others. On the other hand, it is common for family and friends to have difficulty understanding why the legally blind person can see some things, but not others, or see better at certain times of the day. Educating oneself in how to explain to family/friends and educating them on the vision loss can help reduce frustration and increase understanding on both sides. Some things to consider and answer before trying to explain one’s vision loss: 1. What causes my vision loss? Be

knowledgeable about your eye condition.

2. Think of ways you can describe your vision loss to others.

3. Think of situations in which you have the most difficulty and share that with family and friends. For example, traveling through crowded areas, reading regular-sized print, traveling at night, reading signs, watching television, handwriting, or completing hobbies.

4. If you can have your family/friends

simulate your vision, even for a little bit, this can help them understand more. For example, use a paper towel roll held up to one eye as they close the other eye to simulate a peripheral field loss. Or for central loss, have them place their thumb in front of one eye as they close the other eye, and stare at their thumbnail – they can still see around their thumb in the periphery, but they cannot see directly in front of them with their central vision.

5. Remind your family/friends to not assume that you need help and to always ask first. Or remind them that you will ask them if you need assistance.

6. Using your long, white cane is one of the best ways for family/friends to realize or be reminded that you have a visual impairment. Often times, it is not obvious that someone has a visual impairment. Even family/friends who know that someone is visually impaired “forget” because the visually impaired person may function quite well, or their eyes do not look like they are impaired from the outside.

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Shop Talk with Sean

Setting Up Your Home

Workspace for Success For those of us who love to work with our hands, hobbies of all types can be quite fulfilling activities of leisure, stress relief, or to fight off the winter blues. Whether you are woodworking, leatherworking, crocheting, or playing music, it is important to set up your home workspace in a way that will maximize your success and minimize your frustration. While there are many considerations for each type of hobby and workspace, three key considerations may be space, lighting and organization. Space Finding a good physical space to conduct your hobby is important. This space may be a garage, a basement, an office, or even the dining room table. Consider the amount of space that you will need for your specific hobby. For example, woodworking may be best conducted in the garage to allow for dust and good ventilation of fumes. Crocheting may be done sitting at the dining room table or on the sofa. To get the most enjoyment out of your hobby, set up your physical space in a way that works for you. Try to rid the area of distractions and clutter. Make sure you have all of the necessary supplies, including any optical devices. Turn off the television and focus on the task at hand.

Lighting Depending on your visual condition, you may have specific lighting needs. Many individuals benefit from additional lighting on the task they are working on rather than overhead lighting alone. In this case, using a task light (desk lamp) may be beneficial. For some, using natural sunlight is ideal, and their workspace may be best positioned near a window or even outside. Some may benefit from minimal to no lighting if lighting creates glare, eye fatigue or headaches. Most individuals know what works for them. Spend the time setting up proper lighting in your workspace to achieve success. Cleanliness and Organization Hobbies often require a variety of supplies and tools. Keeping these supplies and tools organized and accessible is important to your success. Designate a cabinet, shelf, or toolbox to store the supplies you need. As you work, put each tool back in its place once you are finished so that you can find it the next time you need it. Clean up as you go to avoid a messy and cluttered workspace. If working with small parts and pieces, work over a tray with a lip to keep items from rolling away and ending up on the floor. Whether organization and cleanliness come natural or not, work hard towards maintaining these things while working on your hobby to ensure success.

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Mobility Winter Travel Tips Brought to you by our Former Assistant Chief, Gala Brooks, COMS So, you grab your cane and decide to take a walk in that winter wonderland of beautiful freshly fallen snow. Before exiting the door, you may want to consider the following: Wet, slushy roads distort traffic sounds. Sounds are amplified and may seem farther away than the reality. Sounds become muffled on packed snow. Snow banks decrease street sounds. Snow mounds may block the sidewalk at street corners and driveways and you may need to climb through or over it to cross the street. Often, paths are formed through the snow bank and can help find the place to cross the street. Ground surfaces change when frozen; makes it tough to tell the difference between grass and pavement. Landmarks can be obscured. Warning tiles at street corners may be undetectable by packed snow. Tactual information may be different due to freezing and thawing. You may be less visible to drivers because your cane may blend with the white snow. Glare may be a huge problem and use of low vision aids difficult with cold gloved fingers. So having considered the above, you still feel like it’s a great day for a challenge, here are a few winter travel tips:

• Wear bright clothing to increase your visibility and good footwear to improve your stability.

• Have a cell phone with you. • A support cane may add to your

balance. • Plan ahead and get as much

information as you can about the weather conditions…1” or 6” of snow, windy, ice under the snow.

• Be alert, aware of your route, landmarks and surroundings.

• Allow extra time and slow your pace. It may not be important to know you are on the sidewalk but it is important to follow orientation principles of keeping track of the parallel street.

• You may have to walk in the street, shore-lining the snowbank.

• Approaching traffic may necessitate stepping into the snowbank until it passes.

• Step back from the street to avoid being splashed by vehicles.

• You may need to poke the cane tip into the ground to locate the sidewalk.

• Constant contact or a bouncy touch technique may prove more suitable to snow travel. Vary the width of the arc and use a reverse arc (low in the middle and high on the sides). Move arm wide rather than just the wrist; a light touch may help to keep the cane from sticking in the snow.

• Use alternative methods of transportation (taxi, Uber, etc.).

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Technology Today What’s an Uber? Uber Technologies Inc. is an American worldwide online transportation network company that connects people who want to drive with people who want a ride. In the simplest terms, Uber is a service that provides transportation from one place to another. It is not available in all cities or even in every state, and rural areas may have limited or no access to an Uber driver. Do you need a lift? Taxi is no longer the only ride in town. Call Uber. If this sounds like a service you would be interested in, a few simple steps can get you started. However, a smart phone is required, either Android or iPhone. First, go to the App Store and download the free Uber application (app). You will need to register with Uber Technologies. This requires giving your name, address and cell phone number. The final step requires taking a picture of your credit card. This part may require some sighted assistance. Once these steps are done and your credit card is verified (this will usually happen within minutes) you are ready to call for your first Uber ride. Steps to request a ride include the following:

First open the app. Your location should appear in the location box at the top of the screen. Be advised that although it is generally accurate, at times it may not pin you at exactly the right address. If that happens, you can manually enter an address, or, if you are at a business, enter the name of the business. The box below the location box is a space to enter your destination. Next, select the set pick up location bar in the center of the screen. There is an option to share a ride with another traveler, going in the same direction, or, you can choose to ride alone. The ride sharing option is usually slightly less expensive. You may be prompted to select the number of people in your party. Once these steps are completed you will get a notification that a car is on its way, an estimated time of arrival, the first name of the driver, make of car and license plate number. You can text or call the driver at this point if you would like to notify them to look for you. At the end of your Uber experience you have the opportunity to rate your driver through the app, but remember, the driver can also rate you! This app is accessible using Voiceover or Zoom technology and is available in Spanish. For more information on how to use Voiceover with Uber, visit the Uber help center at https://help.uber.com .

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This service is different from a traditional taxi in several ways. • You don’t schedule your ride in

advance. However, some states are trialing the option to schedule ahead at this time.

• Uber drivers do not have a “medallion” which licenses them under a central governing body. Although the drivers are subject to a background check, Uber thinks of itself as a tech company that connects people who want to drive with people who want a ride.

• You cannot stand at the corner and whistle or flag down an Uber driver. You contact Uber through a free app downloaded onto your smartphone.

• Uber uses Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for tracking its rides. The system is aware of who picked you up and where you are going. This provides a certain level of protection for both driver and passenger. You must allow location access while using this app.

• Uber drivers drive their own personal cars.

• A credit card is attached to your Uber account so money is not exchanged at the conclusion of your ride. Tips are optional but not expected.

How Uber pricing differs from traditional taxis can get a little confusing. Up to 4 passengers can

use an Uber ride before there is a change in pricing but the company does have “surge pricing” which means that when the demand for drivers is higher, so are the prices. You will be notified through the app at the time of your request if surge pricing is in effect. You have the opportunity to decline the ride. Uber has a base rate per ride, a rate per minute and a rate per mile. The app allows you to select from (3) levels of rides: • UberX- the least expensive ride • UberXL-will seat up to 6 people

with a higher fare • Uber Black- a luxurious,

commercially licensed and insured vehicle.

Expect variance in these options depending on your location! Sources: http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-vs-taxi-pricing-by-city-2014-10 http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tech-transport/5-ways-uber-really-different-from-regular-taxi5.htm http://www.ridesharingdriver.com/whats-the-difference-between-uberx-xl-uberplus-and-black-car/ https://help.uber.com

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Veteran Spotlight We are pleased to feature a Veteran who experienced tragedy and

overcame unbelievable obstacles in his pursuit of independence. We are glad to know that we assisted in some small way to achieve this goal with him. Every Veteran’s journey to the Hines Blind Rehabilitation Center has its own twists and turns. Some soldiers are injured in battle and others are injured long after being enlisted in the service. With each situation, Veterans come to Hines VA Hospital with aspirations to return home better than they arrived. The Hines Blind Rehabilitation Center was honored to have helped Mr. Donald Jones with his pursuit towards a more independent lifestyle. Don, 24 at the time, was involved in a tragic car fire accident. His family was devastated by this incident as he had many months of surgeries and rehabilitation treatments to follow. As a result of this accident, Don was in the hospital for 5 months and received numerous skin graft treatments, 2 prosthetic arms and, a new attitude on life. Daily activities such as eating, dressing and even computer access became more difficult to do than ever

before. Each day, Don persists onward towards a better life for himself and his family, with a smile on his face. Mr. Jones came to the Hines Blind Rehabilitation Center to learn how to use a hands-free computer system to regain some independence with basic internet searching, email and letter composition. In addition to his training in computers, he participated in Manual Skills where he learned how to create beautiful leatherwork, wood working projects, and clay projects. His experience at Hines, resulted in regaining independence with his computer tasks and more. Mr. Don Jones served as an example in maintaining a positive attitude despite difficulties. He was able to achieve more than he bargained for and the Blind Center was honored to serve him.

Photo Above; Don Jones at graduation from the Hines Blind Center Program

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RESOURCES

Talking Books/National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) Talking Books (NLS) is one of the most used and loved resources available for the blind and visually impaired. NLS offers fairly newly published books, magazines, and music. One way to receive talking books (upon completion of application) is to request to utilize a talking book player which has a USB slot for cartridges. A more popular option is to download your choice to a computer, mobile device or Braille display. If you love to read, this is a great avenue to access a lot of information in a format that works for you. To get started, if you haven’t already, visit the link below. Talking Books/NLS Website to order books digitally nlsbard.loc.gov www.loc.gov/nls/pdf/application.pdf There are several ways to access specific reading materials. One way is to contact your state’s Talking Book library hub and request a certain book or selection of books to be sent to your home for your Talking Book machine. If you desire the book quickly, simply download the book to

your computer, mobile device for iOS (refer to link below for help to utilize this app), Andriod smartphone, tablet, Amazon Kindle, or even for your Braille display. Every state has its own regulations for how many books can be issued at a time. There are some tricks to quickly get to your choice of book when you utilize the website to download to your device. In the "search the collection" field, enter as many words of the title as you can. This can be a long process because all the words entered must appear in the title. A better technique would be to search the exact title. Some users will contact their local Talking Books library with the name of the title, receive a five-digit numeral code for that book from the librarian, place that in the “search the collection” field and go directly to that book. Other users want to listen to their favorite authors; therefore, simply type the author's name in quotation marks in the "search the collection" field. Put last name first, separated by a comma and a space such as: "Shakespeare, William." If you need assistance learning to operate your BARD mobile app for iOS, check out Hadley’s website for details. www.hadley.edu/InstructionalVideos.asp

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Message from the Hines Blind Center Alumni (HBCA) Happy New Year! Our HBCA Board has been busy getting ready for our events in 2017! The HBCA bylaws have been revised to simplify requirements for membership. Now the only requirement to becoming an HBCA member is that the member is a Hines Blind Rehabilitation Center graduate who has completed a registration form and submitted it to the HBCA. There are no dues required. Our business model is to accept donations. We can accept donations on our website, www.hinesalumni.org through Paypal. Of course, we still accept checks via our address: PO Box 58, Hines, IL 60141. Donations support veterans’ extra-curricular outings while they attend training and alumni at our biennial business meeting and reunion. Have you been to our new Website? www.hinesalumni.org is where you will find up to date information about our 2017 events, including our election of officers and our business meeting and reunion, scheduled for June 14-17. Make sure that we have your current email address so we can send you e-alerts. Go to the website to register or send your email address to [email protected].

During the first quarter of 2017, please check your US mail for mailings regarding HBCA board member nominations and elections. In Spring, you will receive a mailing detailing the business meeting and alumni reunion which will occur from June 14-17. So start planning and be sure to save the date! This year, attendance and registration is open to all, and donations are encouraged. Rick Olsen and Kevin Jackson are continuing their monthly technology phone conferences in 2017. Rick facilitates the idevice call on the first Tuesday of the month. Kevin facilitates the computer call on the first Thursday of the month. For more info, contact Rick, [email protected] or Kevin, [email protected] . A final thought…if you find that you need something to do during the long winter, we are always looking for volunteers to continue our dialogue. We need phone volunteers, volunteers at Hines to represent the HBCA, we need fundraisers, members to the board, and any suggestions you may have are needed and welcome. This is your organization. Call me anytime, Terry Kebbel 575-323-4611.

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Tales from Andy

Brought to you by our virtual guide dog, “Andy.” Hope the following Jokes and Quotes bring a smile to your face or a chuckle to your day. Enjoy!

Jokes

• A husband and wife were

driving through Louisiana. As they approached Natchitoches, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back and forth, and then they stopped for lunch. At the counter, the husband asked the waitress, “Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are, nice and slowly?” She leaned over the counter and said, “Burrr-gerrr Kiing.”

• A Veteran explained. “When I lost my rifle, the Army charged me $85. That’s why in the Navy, the captain goes down with the ship.”

• While in Kuwait, shortly before deploying to Iraq, a Major General told his command that they should expect to cross “into Iraq in less than 24 hours.” He then opened the floor to questions. A Lieutenant stood up and asked, “Is that 24 hours our time or 24 hours their time?”

• The military has a long, proud tradition of pranking recruits. One sergeant ordered a private to bring back a five-gallon can of dehydrated water. (AKA; an empty water can).

Quotes

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.” “The task ahead of you is never as great as the power behind you.” “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” “When you can’t change the direction of the wind- adjust your sails.” “Set a goal that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning.”

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Know your VIST (Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinators) The Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinators, better known as (VIST) are your case managers for Blind Rehabilitation care and services and your first contact when you need to enroll or apply for a program. Whether it be your first admission to the Blind Center, a special program to meet unique needs, or a refresher program, these representatives are key. The following is a current updated list for the Central area Region who refer Veterans to the Hines Central Blind Rehabilitation Center. VIST Coordinator LOCATION PHONE Gregory Manuel Lexington, KY (859) 281-3916 Julie Kennedy Louisville, KY (502) 287-4000 x5898

Brian Joos Cincinnati, OH (513) 475-6397

Karla Riste Dayton, OH (937) 268-6511 X3514

Julie Wenger Chillicothe, OH (740) 773-1141 X6135

Matthew Page Columbus OPC (614) 257-5325

Beth Levine Youngstown OPC (330) 740-9200 X1580

Marianne Ryan Cleveland, OH (216) 791-3800 X4240

Jennifer Troyer Detroit, MI (313) 576-4888

Bill Bernhard Battle Creek, MI (269) 223-6607

Richard Alden Ann Arbor, MI (734) 845-3064

Deanna Austin Indianapolis, IN (317) 988-2576

Jeff Stroud Danville, IL (217) 554-5406

Jeff Stroud Peoria, IL (309) 497-0790

NovaLea Welch FT Wayne, IN (260) 426-5431 x72650

Leland Lewis Saginaw, MI (989) 497-2500 X11852

Helen Witt (Acting) North Chicago, IL (224) 610-5402

Pat Zeinstra Hines, IL (708) 202-2351

Melinda Dunlap Jesse Brown (Chicago, IL) (312) 569-7531

Leon Haith Milwaukee, WI (414) 384-2000 X41832

Kurt Brunner Madison, WI (608) 256-1901

Patricia Staller Iron Mountain, MI (906) 774-3300 X34515

Gina Chmelka Tomah, WI 608-372-3971 x66440

Kevin Jacques ST. Louis, MO (314) 652-4100 X54121

Paul Clary-Archuleta Kansas City, MO (816) 861-4700 x56924

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Erin Shaw Poplar Bluff, MO 573-686-4151X52151

Dawn M. Clouse Leavenworth, KS (913) 682-2000 x52657

Betty Howerton Marion, IL (618) 997-5311 X54815

Bob Hamilton Wichita, KS (316) 651-3682

Lauren Swift Columbia, MO (573) 814-6458

Anna Perry Sioux Falls, MI (605) 333-6891

Jennifer Points Minneapolis, MN (612) 467-1814

Lois Thesing St Cloud, MN (320) 255-6480 X6192 Wesley Hodgson Des Moines, IA (515) 699-5410

Jean Butler Omaha, NE (402) 995-3188

Keith Queen Iowa City, IA (319) 338-0581 x6889

Jody Schommer Fargo, ND (701) 232-3241 X3056

Galen Britain Black Hills, SD (605) 745-2000 X92558 Contact Us: For comments, questions, address updates, or readers who wish to be added to the e-mail distribution of this publication, please contact us at the address, phone, or e-mail below: [email protected] C.B.R.C. Torch PO Box 5000 (124) Hines, IL 60141-5000 (708) 202-3668 Produced By: The Central Blind Rehabilitation Center, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. You can view online at the following link: http://www.hines.va.gov/services/blindrehab.asp Contents are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the

U.S. Government or Department of Veterans Affairs. Links may take you outside of the Department of VA web-site. Links will open in a new window. VA does not endorse nor is responsible for the content of the linked websites.

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