Summer Fall 2012 Viewpoint pdf - Cincinnati Association for the ...

Viewpoint
Summer/Fall 2012 Newsletter

A MEMO FROM JOHN MITCHELL
In a recent email exchange with a colleague regarding me questioning a
major change to an annual event I was provided with the following quote
from the noted poet, Allen Cohen, “It takes a lot of courage to release
the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there
is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more
security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is
life, and in change there is power.” After reading the email I immediately
realized my mistake in suggesting that we continue doing the same
thing just because that’s what had always been done. It is important to
continually question our actions, try new ideas and thinking and to keep
things fresh and growing in the interest of continuous improvement. You
must regularly prune the tree to keep it healthy and help it grow.
In the last 18 months, we have been asking ourselves some critical questions on how we do our
work at CABVI. The following new initiatives are all in process to allow CABVI to further improve
our effectiveness.
In March of 2011 CABVI began work with three faculty members in Xavier University’s Industrial
Psychology Department to undertake an Efficiency Assessment of our work processes to see what
improvements we can make across all departments of the agency. This is a classic example of
getting an unbiased, external review of what we do each day to serve clients and meet customer
needs. The process which is still underway will provide some sound recommendations based on
an unbiased observation of the work we do. Our belief is that through identifying opportunities to
streamline, we will be able to better serve clients and customers.
Also in March of 2011, our Industries Program began its pursuit of ISO 2008:9001 certification.
Starting in April, initial work was done with a consultant that assisted us in developing a level of
understanding about the rigorous requirements of the International Standards Organization (ISO)
for the documentation process that is needed to ultimately undergo and pass an audit of our quality
assurance systems. I’m very pleased to share that after more than 15 months of work, on July 2,
2012, we received the great news that CABVI passed our primary audit and we now proudly add
this certification to our list of credentials. This is just the beginning of the work required to maintain
this certification, but we are on a new path as we take the needed actions to maintain our newly
redesigned quality systems in the Industries Program.
In September of 2011, CABVI participated in specialized training and review provided by the
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) to help the agency move towards creating a Quality Work
Environment. Once again we are being challenged by new ideas and thinking about the way we
operate and in some cases “have always done it”. Through this process, we reviewed CABVI’s
organization against over 90 criteria all designed to assist agencies like CABVI to develop improved
ways of enhancing employee development and engagement in the agency. Once again, this effort
is in process and will require that we do many things differently than we have in the past.
On February 9 of this year CABVI signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Clovernook
Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. This partnership will undoubtedly bring about change in
the way we deliver services to the community and meet the needs of both organizations. Meetings
to discuss and arrive at new models, new ways of doing things are being held to allow us to use our
collective resources to provide improved services to the community.
As you can see, CABVI has many initiatives underway to help us systematically question what we
are doing, try new things and ultimately allow us to improve and grow. These are exciting times for
this agency as we prune the tree to keep it healthy and help it grow. Plan to hear on these efforts.
1

AGENCY NEWS
RRS RECEIvES INTERNATIONAL AWARdS
Radio Reading Services (RRS) received the following awards at the 2012 International Association
of Audio Information Services conference held in Houston, Texas in May.
2011 Program of the Year Thematic Production Award for Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa
Claus
Read by John Morris Russell. Recorded by Mark deWitt. Produced by Mark deWitt and John
Morris Russell.
2011 Program of the Year Non-Reading Entertainment for Community Connections
Read by Amy Weis. Written by Kim Shinkle-McCurdy. Recorded by Mark deWitt. Produced by
Kole Ross.
Honorable Mention (We were just one point away from winning!)
Program of the Year – Magazines Shows under 30 Minutes for People Magazine
Read by Jackie Ewing. Recorded by Mark deWitt.
MuSIC FROM THE HEART
CABVI’s Annual Music Recital was held on Saturday, June 2 nd with twenty-two performances by
groups and individuals. The teenage music group even performed an original song that they wrote
called “Mobility Blues.” “For children who are blind or visually impaired, music can be a learning tool
that is also fun,” says Paige Elwafi, one of CABVI’s board certified music therapists. “The Annual
Recital provides an opportunity for children to showcase their abilities with the enthusiastic support
of family and friends.”
CABVI’s Early Childhood and Youth Services Music Program is designed to stimulate the
development of children who are blind, visually impaired and multiply disabled. The Music Program
provides home-based early intervention services as well as groups and individual music therapy
sessions. Music therapy is
the use of music to address
non-musical goals. A music
therapist works to create
a relationship with the
individual. Music can help
in development, learning,
and interaction. Individuals
from birth to adulthood can
benefit from music therapy.
Mark DeWitt, John Morris Russell, and
John Mitchell
Kole Ross, Kim Shinkle-McCurdy
and Amy Weiss
Jackie Ewing
The Charles H. Dater
Foundation provides ongoing
support for the Music
Program and is also the
sponsor for the Annual
Recital. The Louise Taft
Semple Foundation also
provided support for CABVI’s
Music Program in 2012.
Nick Buscani plays the hand bells along with Paige Elwafi, music
therapist, at CABVI’s Annual Music Recital.
2 3

CAbvI’S FITNESS GROuP
In January, CABVI joined a nationwide project sponsored by the United States Association of
Blind Athletes called the USABA/WellPoint National Fitness Challenge. There were 8 enthusiastic
teens and their families that participated in this program, along with several CABVI staff including
Adrianne Ongolea, social worker, brendan devine, orientation & mobility specialist for school
aged students, and our social work intern, Taylor Kappes.
The teens worked on their own fitness program at home, along with other outside activities planned
by the group, including a visit to a fitness center, bowling, rock climbing, yoga, and walking to a local
park for a healthy picnic to learn about nutrition. The program ran January through May.
In June, Brendan
Devine and two CABVI
client students who
participated in the
Fitness Challenge
attended a USABA camp
in Colorado Springs.
They were part of a
group of 22 students
from around the country
who were chosen to
participate in the event,
which was sponsored
by the WellPoint
Foundation.
Pictured from left to right are Vince Porter, Adrianne Ongolea, Cassandra
Proud, Quincy Williams, Tayler Kappes, BJ Allen, and Brendan Devine.
WORKSHOPS HELd AT CAbvI
CABVI recently partnered with Larry Lewis from Flying Blind,
LLC, an Ohio-based company that specializes in adaptive
technology training, to provide hands-on instruction to 17 local
teachers and other professionals who support visually impaired
students using Apple devices to assist with classroom tasks.
Judy Schermer, Rehabilitation/ILP
Manager, demonstrates some of the
latest technology for adaptive daily
living at one of four stations during the
recent All Hands On Tech Workshop
that was held at CABVI on June 14th.
Twenty-four clients participated in this
half-day workshop.
On July 27th CABVI’s Access Technology Service
(ATS) presented the Cincinnati Technology Fair.
Representatives from Freedom Scientific, HumanWare,
GW Micro, Enhanced Vision and Universal Low Vision
Aids demonstrated dozens of products and explained
their newest devices. ATS staff answered questions
and demonstrated the latest portable devices including
the Kindle, iPhone 4, iPad3, and Android 2 & Samsung
Haven Smart phones. Approximately 45 individuals
attended.
4 5

CAbvI WELCOMES NEW STAFF
CABVI has recently hired dick binstadt as a part-time driver providing
transportation for people with vision loss to come to CABVI for services,
if they are unable to find their own transportation. Dick is also a CABVI
volunteer driver, providing transportation for some staff members who
are blind to provide services in the community. Dick continues to work
as a professional commercial photographer
under the name Binstadt/Studio 3.
dEPARTMENT PROFILE: ONE ON ONE vOLuNTEER SERvICE
CABVI One on One volunteers assist people who are blind, visually impaired, or print impaired
in a wide variety of ways. One on One volunteers may choose to visit clients in their homes once
a week to read mail and assist with printed paperwork. Volunteers sometimes help write checks
to pay bills. Some clients need assistance to label grocery items in the pantry with large print or
Braille labels. Other clients request a volunteer to act as a friendly visitor, someone who can talk
with them for a while or go for a walk.
deb Cook has joined CABVI as Payroll
People with vision loss have many needs around transportation since they are unable to drive.
One on One volunteers can provide transportation to clients who need to go to the grocery store
Administrator/Accounting Clerk. Prior to
or medical appointments. Volunteer drivers may also provide transportation to CABVI staff who are
Dick Binstadt
joining the CABVI team, Deb served as a
bookkeeper, receptionist, and secretary
for Peck, Hannaford, and Briggs Service
visually impaired, ensuring that they are able to provide services to clients in their homes or work
places in the community.
Corporation beginning in 1990. In 1999, Deb expanded her role to Office
One on One
Coordinator with the same company.
volunteers also
help with special
ben Hauser has joined CABVI as Printed Tapes Operator in the
events throughout
Industries Program. Ben brings 14 years of experience in electronics Deb Cook
the year such as
repair and
the Annual Music
flexographic press
Recital and the
operation.
Children’s Holiday
Party. If you would
CABVI also
like to become
welcomes bessie
a One on One
Feldman, Inflight
volunteer, please
Assembler, and
contact Jennifer
Jaquie Perry, Inflight
Holladay, One
Assembler, to our
Industries Program.
Ben Hauser
Bessie Feldman
Jaquie Perry
on One Volunteer
Coordinator, at
(513) 487-4237.
Deanna Lewis (left) meets with her new One on One volunteer, Olivia
Odera, and Jennifer Holladay, One on One Volunteer Coordinator.
6 7

CLIENT PROFILE vOLuNTEER NEWS
Larry McGonegle’s positive attitude has carried him through many things in life, beginning with his
vision loss. He was a freshman in high school when he was diagnosed with diabetes in September,
1975. He has since had a pancreas transplant. Larry considers himself lucky to have a fair amount
of usable vision, although he has diabetic retinopathy along with other eye conditions.
Resilient, upbeat and full of good energy, Larry
participated in CABVI’s “Know You Can” 5K for the
8 th time this year. It was his first year walking with his
wife, Cathy. As he says, “I used to run before I had
low vision but now a fast walk is just fine.” He is happy
to participate in this 5K event that benefits CABVI’s
services since he has been “more than satisfied with
CABVI in every way.”
Over the years, Larry has received CABVI’s low
vision, access technology and orientation and mobility
services to help him adapt to vision loss. He especially
enjoys using his monocular vision aid for distance
to see sporting events. He also received computer
training, working with Word, databases, and Talking
Typing software to increase his typing skills. He even
offers his time as a CABVI volunteer, helping with
administrative projects.
Larry says that he would recommend CABVI’s services
to anyone with vision loss. “My greatest benefit was
the support groups,” he says. “They helped me with
getting over my fear of riding the bus. That has made
all the difference in my ability to be independent.”
Radio Reading Services (RRS)
broadcast volunteers, Joe bonner, don
Galvin and Marty Selzer have been
reading together on-air for nearly eight
years. Their friendship has obviously
evolved during this time together, with
the common bond of humor keeping
them light-hearted and at ease with
each other. They read the Editorial
and Business pages of the Cincinnati
Enquirer every Wednesday morning at
8:00 a.m.
Marty Selzer, Joe Bonner and Don Galvin
As Don explains, “This is my opportunity to share the gift of being able to read for people who can’t.
As someone who has experienced eye problems, I am especially glad to be able to help other
people.” Don has been volunteering since 1999.
Marty, who has been volunteering since 1988, adds that CABVI is a pleasant place to volunteer.
She is especially impressed with the positive attitudes of the people she meets at CABVI who have
vision loss. She remembers a saying that “Words come alive through reading out loud, something
to behold” and this makes her feel good about reading on the radio.
Joe, who began volunteering in 2004, comments that coming in to CABVI early morning at the
same time as many of the employees who are blind has given him an opportunity to notice that
people seem “happy to work here and eager to get to work. It’s always a pleasure to be in the
company of so many wonderful people.”
If you or someone you know would like to volunteer, please contact Stephanie Togneri, CABVI’s
Manager of Volunteer Services at (513) 487-4217.
8 9

dEvELOPMENT NEWS
COMMITTEd TO QuALITY – MAKING A PLANNEd GIFT
dan braun certainly recognizes a high quality organization
when he sees it. As Senior Vice President of Value Improvement
Initiatives for Cintas Corporation, Dan has been a hands-on part
of creating quality since he began as a plant manager running a
general laundry for Cintas 22 years ago.
When Dan joined CABVI as a board member in 2005, he was
especially impressed with CABVI as “a first class organization.
The primary thing is the people who take care of the clients and
deliver top quality services.” In 2006, he was appointed chair
of the Personnel/Industries Program Committee and he also
serves on the Compensation Subcommittee.
Dan found his involvement so rewarding that he chose to make
a planned gift to CABVI through his will. As he explains, “These
organizations thrive on contributions to deliver services that are
made possible only through community support.”
Dan Braun
Dan is impressed with CABVI’s Industries Program that makes products and employs people in a
way that creates more support for people with vision loss. He is glad to be a part of an organization
with strong leadership techniques and employee surveys to gain feedback toward continued
improvement.
He encourages other people to consider a planned gift toward CABVI’s future by saying, “In addition
to making annual contributions, my planned gift helps me know that whether or not I am here, the
organization’s good work will continue.”
If you have made arrangements for a planned gift, please let us know so that we can recognize you
as a member of our Visionary Society in our Annual Report and on the CABVI donor wall. Planned
gifts include bequests, life insurance policies and beneficiary designations on retirement plans
Please call Kathy Gottschlich at 513-487-4233 for more information.
Suggested wording to remember CABVI in your will or estate plan: “I give to the Cincinnati
Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired the sum of dollars ($ ). This
bequest is unrestricted and the Board of Trustees or other governing body may use and
expend the same for the benefit of the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually
Impaired in any manner it deems appropriate.”
vISIONS 2012 CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and The Cincinnati/Northern
Kentucky Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a nonprofit focused on sight-saving
research, hosted the Visions 2012
Charity Golf Classic at Summit Hills
Country Club in Crestview Hills, Ky. on
June 4th. The golf classic benefitted
CABVI’s Early Childhood Intervention
Services and the efforts of the
Foundation Fighting Blindness to find a
cure for Retinal Degenerative Diseases.
John Mitchell, CABVI’s Executive
Director, says, “CABVI was honored to
be asked to partner with the Foundation
on this benefit outing. The partnership
makes great sense.”
John Mitchell, Rick Sawyer and Mark Chadwick
10 11

12
13th ANNuAL CAbvI’s “KNOW YOu CAN” 5K
The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI’s) “Know You Can” 5K was
held on Sunday, August 12 th at Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum.
As one of Cincinnati’s largest inclusive 5K events, more than 360 participants included walkers,
runners, people who use wheelchairs, and people with vision loss who use sighted guides. The
Kids’ Fun Run made it a great family event for people with young children.
Benefits from the 5K provide support for CABVI’s services to help people who are blind or visually
impaired in the Greater Cincinnati maintain independence with vision loss.
We greatly appreciate the support of our 5K sponsors:
Gold Sponors: OXO International and Shurtape Technologies
Silver Sponsors: Barnes, Dennig & Co.; Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions; Frost, Brown, Todd
LLC and UPS
bronze Sponsors: Aflac; Burrows Paper Corporation; Cincinnati alumnae chapter of Delta
Gamma Fraternity; Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati Host Lions Club; Federal Supply; HORAN;
Intertape Polymer Group;
Kemba Credit Union; Kohl’s
for Kids; Messer Construction;
Miami Valley Paper Tube
Company; Milford Printers;
Spring Grove Cemetery
& Arboretum; Sunrise
Advertising; Taft, Stettinius
& Hollister LLP; Vorys, Sater,
Seymour and Pease; Zeta
Sigma Chapter of Delta
Gamma at Northern Kentucky
University
Runners take their places at the starting line.
LISTENERS’ CORNER
The Listeners’ Corner is news and helpful tips for the listeners of Radio Reading
Services (RRS) radio broadcasts, Ohio Telephone Reader, Personalized Talking Print
service (PTP) and One on One clients. Services and equipment offered through RRS
programs are free of charge to people who are blind or visually or print impaired. For
more information about RRS programs, please contact Sheryl Rottenberger at (513)
487-4245.
RRS bROAdCASTS
RRS broadcasts are now available through CABVI’s website. Just click on the RRS page and
then click on the RRS internet service area link to begin. New podcasts of select shows are also
available, such as “The Catholic Telegraph,” “The Science World,” The Kid Zone,” “Shopping
Around Town,” “Sales and Savings,” and “All About Animals.”
PTP TIPS
Mental Floss magazine has been added to the Magazine Table of Contents mailbox 5400. Lisa
Gazda mailbox 3081 reads the bi-monthly table of contents and requested articles. Viewpoint, this
CABVI newsletter, can be heard in mailbox 5280. The PTP directory is always available in mailbox
5555. The directory provides a complete list of the general mailboxes by name and mailbox
number.
LOCAL ARTS AudIO dESCRIbEd PERFORMANCES
The Aronoff Broadway Series audio describes one performance per show. Please call in advance.
The Cincinnati Opera describes all shows. The May Festival describes all Music Hall concerts.
Playhouse in the Park provides an audio description for Marx Theatre performances at the 4 p.m.
performance on the third Saturday of the show. The Covedale Theater has descriptions of shows
on the first Saturday of the performance. The Cincinnati Ballet provides audio description for some
full-length shows. Please call in advance. Some of the larger theatres have audio description of
movies. Please call a theatre near you for performance times.

2045 Gilbert Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Address Service Requested
Viewpoint is a publication of the Cincinnati
Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired,
a not-for-profit organization offering blind and
visually impaired people the opportunity to
seek independence. CABVI depends upon
various sources, including gifts from the
community and bequests made through a
will, for financial support. For information or
assistance:
513-221-8558
Toll free: 1-888-687-3935
www.cincyblind.org
Email: info@cincyblind.org
If you wish to be removed from our mailing
list, please call 513-221-8558 and ask for the
Viewpoint editor.
Member, National Industries for the Blind
• Accredited Member, National Accreditation
Council for Agencies Serving People with
Blindness or Visual Impairment • Member,
National Association for the Employment of
People Who Are Blind • Member, VisionServe
Alliance • Member, Association for Education
and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired • Member, Ohio Radio Reading
Services • Member, International Association
of Audio Information Services
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service
Provider • An Affirmative Action Employer
ISO 2008:9001 Certified
Viewpoint is available in Braille, large print, CD
and at www.cincyblind.org.
buLLETIN bOARd
NONPROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE
PAId
CINCINNATI OHIO
PERMIT NO 6334
The 2012 volunteer Appreciation Event will be held at The
Syndicate, 18 East 5th Street, Newport, Kentucky, from 1:00 to
4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 29.
CABVI’s Holiday Open House is scheduled for Thursday,
December 6 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
IMPORTANT NOTICE – Telephone solicitation campaigns
claiming to benefit persons who are blind are being conducted in
our community by other organizations. CABVI is not involved in
these solicitations, does not condone the methods used, and does
not accept money raised through these campaigns. If you have
questions about a telephone solicitation call, contact your state’s
Division of Consumer Protection.