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Kan-SAIL
Can Help Older Blind Increase Independent Living Skills
by Bill Loebel, Program Coordinator, Kan-SAIL |
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Kansas Seniors
Achieving Independent Living (Kan-SAIL) is a program of Kansas Services
for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It began in June of 1995. Its
purpose is to provide services to increase the independent living
skills and improve the quality of life of older persons experiencing
severe vision impairment or blindness. Kan-SAIL is specifically interested
in finding and serving culturally diverse populations including African-American,
Hispanic, Native American and Asian. Kan-SAIL provides instruction in adaptive techniques of housekeeping, cooking, sewing, and other activities of daily living. Staff can help with development of support groups to provide information, socialization and recreation opportunities. Individuals can receive instruction in the home. Standards of economic need must be applied in determining if equipment or supplies can be loaned. Kan-SAIL is available to come to local communities statewide. The staff can provide information about vision impairment and blindness to community organizations. They can show techniques and devices that may help someone with impaired vision or blindness to adjust to their disability. To qualify for instruction by Kan-SAIL, an individual must be at least 55 years of age and experiencing severe vision loss. Severe vision loss means one is not able to read standard print with best correction. Standard print is the size seen in such publications as newspapers and magazines. Best correction means when wearing glasses or contact lenses prescribed by a doctor. Agencies, care givers, and friends of persons with impaired vision can request help from Kan-SAIL by calling toll free 1-800-547-5789. Topeka residents can call the Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired at 296-3311. Future sites for low vision workshops are: May, Horton; June, Great Bend; July, Winfield; August, Topeka; and September, Marysville. The workshops usually occur during the third full week of the month, but may vary from that slightly if a facility is not available that week. |
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Contact our Web Designer at Frances.Smith@srs.ks.gov
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