Friday, six members went for lunch and shopping at Trader Joe’s. Member Marlyn Searle and Wendy chauffeured everyone to the Warwick location. We spent about an hour shopping, each following our own list. With the help of a Trader Joe’s store associate, we managed to find some unique items such as Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter…

Kris Magnussen from Ledge Light Health District discussed emergency preparedness for individuals who are visually impaired or blind. She covered Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), highlighting how various groups, like Transportation, Communication, Firefighting, and Public Health, keep everyone informed before and after an emergency. Members were advised to inform their town emergency manager of any disabilities.…

Twenty members enjoyed a BBQ picnic before cheering the Sea Unicorns to an exciting win on June 6. The Sea Unicorns, down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th, got a runner on base, who stole second and reached third on a hit. With runners on 1st and 3rd, an infield out followed. The next…

Today’s Lunch & Learn session was very informative! We had 18 members in attendance at the Center. Christine Telford, the regional representative for all of New England from the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind, discussed their services, modified guiding techniques, and communication strategies for working with the deafblind community. She demonstrated how to approach…

Zoom Meetings! The Center is making it easier for you to attend our Lunch & Learn events from the comfort of your home. In the upcoming months, we’re lining up a lineup of highly informative speakers from the blind community. There’s a wealth of knowledge to glean from them, and you’ll have the chance to pose…

The craft session this month offered a truly special experience for everyone involved. Colleen Hains collaborated with the Center to host this workshop as part of a grant project she was overseeing. Each participant received a vision-impaired painting kit, which included an array of tactile materials like buttons, cotton, wood, and plastic. Utilizing these materials,…

Due to popularity of this Lunch & Learn with CT National Federation for the Blind, we moved to a larger venue. Thrive55+ in Groton kindly provided space. Fifteen individuals were present, including six representatives from NFB and three joining via Zoom. NFB provided insights into their diverse range of offerings, spanning scholarships, technology grants, and…

Matt Geeza, Director of CT Library Accessible Books (CT-LAB), gave an excellent presentation on their services for individuals who are blind, have low vision, are print-challenged, or have physical disabilities, covering various reading aids like digital readers, the BARD app, and Braille books—all free with an approved application. This marked the Center’s first Zoom Lunch…

15 members, family, and friends had a ball at the Norwich Bowling Alley last month. The bowling alley is not ADA-accessible but we managed. After we all bowled 2 games, we had lunch at 36 Town Grill in Norwich. Jim Harmon popped in for a visit while he was up from Florida.

Our Lunch & Learn gatherings are becoming increasingly popular (and well-attended!) We’ve expanded to include Zoom alongside in-person attendance at the Center. This ensures accessibility for those unable to attend physically or who prefer the comfort of their own home. Through Zoom, you can engage by asking questions and sharing comments, just like you would…