Support Group for People with Visual Impairments Celebrates 2nd Anniversary Sept 15

CLAREMORE, Okla. − The Claremore Support Group for People with Visual Impairments will celebrate the organization’s two-year anniversary ginning at 10 a.m. on Wed., Sept. 15, at the Claremore Community Center, 2301 N. Sioux.

The public, including people with vision impairments and those are interested in working with this group, are encouraged to attend the free meeting.

Visual Services, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), sponsors the monthly support group meetings, which are regularly held on the third Wednesday at the same time and location.

The speaker on Sept. 15 will be Debi Trout, an Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind from the Visual Services division in the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).

Ms. Trout is a retired special education teacher from Dover, who is also an adjunct professor for Langston University in Oklahoma City.

“I love my job now and find it rewarding to improve independent travel skills for my clients,” Ms. Trout said.

As part of the meeting, support group members and Ms. Trout will finalize plans for White Cane Safety Awareness Day on Fri., Oct. 15. The public will be invited to stroll around downtown Claremore with support group members who can demonstrate the proper use of white canes and explain about the travel safety needs of citizens with vision impairments. More information about the event time and location will be available soon.

Under Oklahoma law, only blind people may carry white canes, or white canes tipped with red, which are universally recognized as mobility aids for people with vision impairments.

Visual Services provides vocational rehabilitation, employment assistance and services that enable Oklahomans with vision loss to regain or maintain maximum independence and self-sufficiency. The division also operates the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, which provides free audio books to individuals who are not able to use standard print.

For more information about the Claremore Support Group for the Visually Impaired or Visual Services programs, contact Sue Speer at 918-342-5462 or Charley Tipps or rehabilitation technician Melissa Partee at 918-551-4900.

(###)