Twenty-seven Center members braved the cold for a meal at Groton Townhouse on January 16. We shared jokes, stories, and even the healthiest appetites were sent home with snacks and dessert for the following day. One of the revelations of the night was when we learned that we all enjoy a slice of cake or…

Michael McCulloch, Founderof iBUG Today (Blind Users Group) visited with 17 Center members to talk about how their nonprofit formed and the training, social activities, and mentoring they offer. Michael, a former NASA engineer who began to lose his sight in his late 20’s, was impressed with the accessibility features that the iPhone offered and…

A lively group of 10 members gathered to create beautiful marbled holiday ornaments using acrylic paints. The process required patience, as members carefully poured paint into the small opening of each ornament and swirled it inside to achieve full coverage. Each ornament turned out uniquely, showcasing individual creativity. Several members were inspired to try recreating…

Mark Arenson, Director of Social Emotional Support at Hadley, joined us via Zoom to share the wide range of free programs offered by Hadley. These include technology training, daily living skills, recreation, workforce preparation, braille, and support for adjusting to vision loss. The 12 attendees were impressed by the variety of resources available through Hadley,…

We gobbled ‘til we wobbled at the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, graciously hosted by the Ledyard Lions at the Gales Ferry Firehouse. Their only request was for each of us to bring a nonperishable food item to support the local food pantry. As always, the dinner was delicious with heaping plates of turkey with all the…

Christine Telford from the Helen Keller National Center spoke about the origins of haptics, a form of non-verbal communication that uses touch to convey information. This method is primarily used by individuals who are deafblind. Christine demonstrated how structured tactile signals, or touch cues, are applied to different parts of the body to communicate emotions,…

Wendy’s dedication and resourcefulness never cease to amaze! Upon learning about local inventor David Holmes from Waterford, who is developing technology to replicate vision with a camera, Wendy immediately tracked him down. What followed was serendipitous! She invited David to speak at our Macular Degeneration Support Group, where he shared his ideas and sought input…

Members of the Center enjoyed a relaxing hike at Knox Preserve, guided by the Avalonia Land Conservancy. Located in Stonington, Knox Preserve offers a scenic mix of grassy meadows and woodland trails, with paths of packed earth that wind along the picturesque Quiambog Cove. Along the way, hikers found several spots to access the shoreline…

Last Thursday night, 35 members and guests gathered for a fun dinner at Captain Scott’s. We managed to dodge the rain, but the wind definitely made its presence known! It was so breezy, we had to hang onto our French fries and clam strips. Despite the gusts, the food was fantastic—and luckily, the seagulls kept…

Members enjoyed a creatively inspiring morning at the Hartford Artisans Weaving Center, where a unique artisan program teaches weaving to people who are blind, visually impaired, or 55 and older. The level of craftsmanship was remarkable! With the help of over 40 volunteers, the looms are set up to create beautiful items like rugs, shawls,…