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,…

We had a fabulous turnout for the CT Tech Act Project Lunch & Learn at the Groton Senior Center! Program Manager Muriel Aparo introduced devices available for those who are DeafBlind, as well as grants and discounted loans for them. Seventeen members, two ASL interpreters, and one participant via Zoom listened intently to our speaker.…

What a perfect day for a picnic! With a cool, comfortable breeze off the ocean, about 60 new and returning members attended this year’s event. Chef Lusk prepared an Italian macaroni salad, coleslaw with vinaigrette dressing and fantastic vegetarian baked beans. Hamburgers and hotdogs, grilled to perfection, were served by the chef and sous chef,…

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.…