BLINDED
VETERANS ASSOCIATION
Chartered By The United States Congress
FLORIDA REGIONAL GROUP
3801 Coco Grove Avenue
Miami, Florida 33133
(305) 446-8008
E mail gstocking@bellsouth.net
FRG-BVA Web site: www.frgbva.org
FRG NEWSLETTER - November 2015
FRG President's Message: A year ago, in
this space, I challenged Blinded Veterans (BVs) to write an article for this
Newsletter. It was hoped that BVs would submit articles for consideration for the
FRG Newsletter. In the past year, no articles have been submitted. I believe that writing
about experiences that have made a difference in your life would be valuable to both the
writer and the reader. I am bringing this up again in hopes that some of you will respond.
For example, I would like to see evidence in this Newsletter that the Computer Access
Training Program (CAT) is helping BVs) to triumph over their challenges. I urge BVs
in Florida, who have gone through a VA Blind Rehab Center (BRC), to share their
experiences at the BRC CATS and other training with their fellow BVs on something
that has made a meaningful difference in their life. Please write on any subject that you
can share with passion and would be meaningful to other BVs. The FRG is offering $50
to BVs in the FRG who have not previously been published in the FRG Newsletter for a
nonfiction article that is judged publishable by the FRG Newsletter editorial board.
Please keep your article to between 300 and 500 words and send it by e mail to
gstocking@bellsouth.net. I believe that such an undertaking would be a positive
accomplishment for the author, the readers, and BVs everywhere. The Blinded veterans
Association is both by and for BVs. When the FRG-BVA can draw your attention toward
compensatory skills or adaptive equipment that can help, we are at our best. If you have
something that works in your daily life, why not share it with fellow BVs? Writing
it up could worth $50 if it is judged appropriate for inclusion in this Newsletter.
Alternatively, get on the agenda upcoming luncheon, FRG Convention, or even a VIST support
group. You will discover, as others have before, that the benefits of sharing with your
fellow BVs can be a two way street. At the end of this message, I have included the
names, telephone numbers, and e mail addresses of the FRG Board. If you have questions
about the FRG-BVA contact the Board member in your area. President - Mike Taylor Fleming
Island (904) 264-0884 email met8@comcast.net; Vice President Russell Pollard, Tamarac
(954) 735-5841 e mail bvavn68@comcast.net; Secretary-Treasurer George Stocking - Miami
(305) 446-8008 email gstocking@bellsouth.net; Past President Terry King, Punta Gorda (941)
505-7747 e mail tnking18@earthlink.net; Northwest District - Mimi Robinson Tallahassee
(850) 727-0330 e mail mimir@comcast.net; Northeast -Jane Karp St. Augustine (904) 797-1389
e mail leolady@bellsouth.net; Central East- Jeff Ebbers Oviedo (407) 473-5698 e mail
jsefrgbva@gmail.com; Southwest District -James Duda - Naples (239) 450-6007 email
jamesduda52@hotmail.com; Southeast - District Jim McCoy - Sunrise (954) 748-9428 email
jmccoy70@att.net.
FRG Meeting Notice: The next Informational Meeting of the Florida Regional Group will be
held on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at "Capt'n Fishbone" Restaurant in the Shell
Factory, 2787 Tamiami Trail in North Ft. Myers. The meeting will begin with a period of
socializing at 11:30 AM, followed by lunch at noon. For lunch, you may select from the
following three entries: half Roasted Chicken, or Broiled Fish with Lemon Caper Sauce,
either with Baked Potato, or Pot Roast with Mashed Potatoes, either of the 3 with Green
Beans Almandine, Toss Salad, Rolls & Butter, Iced Tea or Coffee, and dessert. The cost
of the luncheon will be $5 per person, including tax and tip.
FRG Past President Terry King will preside at the informational meeting following lunch. A
National Legislative up-date will be presented. Representatives from the VA will be on
hand to provide information of interest to BV's and their families. FRG activities for the
coming months will be described. This is your opportunity to make suggestions and
recommendations regarding the FRG activities.
The restaurant has asked us to notify them as to the number who will be attending and the
type of luncheon desired by December 1. Please make your reservations prior to that date
by calling FRG Past President Terry King at: (941) 505-7747, e mail tnking18@earthlink.net
or Southwest district Director James Duda at: (239) 450-6007 e mail
jamesduda52@hotmail.com. You may also call Bob Walczak at (941) 875-9876 email
milwallyg@comcast.net in Port Charlotte. In Punta Gorda call Bill Stockslager at (941)
276-1561, e mail wstockslager@comcast.net; John Thomas, St. James City, (239) 283-1708;
Joseph Taylor Cape Coral (239) 823-0744; Laurie Charles Cape Coral VIST Coordinator (239)
652-1800 ex 20828. The restaurant needs the reservation information in order to prepare
properly for our meeting.
To get to Capt'n Fishbone Restaurant, go North on I 75 to Exit 143, then Go West on Bay
Shore (State Road 78) 6.3 miles to "Old" US 41. Turn right (North) about 1.5
miles to the "Shell Factory, which will be on the west side of Old US 41. Going South
on I 75, take Exit 158 and go West on Tucker's Grade a short distance to US 41. Turn left
(South) and go about 13 miles to the Shell Factory. Free Parking is available next to the
restaurant. Check with your fellow Blinded veterans, family members, and friends and make
plans to join us on Saturday, December 5 in North Ft. Myers.
Last year, a number of BV's made reservations but did not attend or cancel. Consequently
the FRG had to pay for each reservation under our guarantee. Although you only pay $5 for
the lunch, the FRG subsidizes it with an additional $14. If you make a reservation and
can't come, please cancel, so the FRG won't have to pay the $19 for each reservation we
guarantee. If you can't come, please call one of those listed above and cancel it before
December 1.
US Legislative Up-Date: In February, Glenn Minney, BVA Director of Government Relations
resigned from his position. Since then, he has been continuing, on a volunteer basis, to
work on BVA legislation by telephone, e mail and correspondence. During the interim, the
BVA National Office has been recruiting a replacement. On October 26, Melanie Brunson took
up her duties as the new BVA Director of Government Relations. MS Brunson has had
considerable experience working on legislation for blind Americans. She will continue to
work with the PVA to get Congress to pass S 171 and HR 288, the BVA-PVA measure to provide
beneficiary travel to Blind Rehabilitation Centers and Spinal Cord Injury Centers for
Blinded Veterans and Spinal Cord Injured Veterans whose income is above the income
threshold. In the House of Representatives, the key Representatives are: Chairman Jeff
Miller representing District 1 from Pensacola telephone (850) 479-1183, Gus Bilirakis
representing District 12 from the Newport Richie and Tarpon Springs area (727) 940-5860
and Corrine Brown representing District 5 from the Jacksonville area (904) 208-4998. The
Re-presentatives will listen to their constituents more quickly than voters from outside
their Districts. BVs in those areas should contact them and urge them to support HR
288.
Long Cane Mobility Device: Richard (Dick) Hoover, prior to entering the Army during WW II,
was employed as an instructor at the Maryland School for the blind. In addition to his
work assisting blind students to adjust to their blindness, he was interested in finding
new ways to promote that rehabilitation. He did research on mobility techniques and came
upon a book published in England in 1865 which described a long cane mobility technique.
The process never was implemented there. Since the Army and Air Force personnel who were
transferred to the Valley Forge Army General Hospital in Pennsylvania, Dibble AGH in
California and Navy, Marine Corps, and coastguard blinded veterans at the Philadelphia
Navy Hospital, had been relatively successful in their lives prior to suffering blindness,
Dick Hoover thought they could be taught the use of the long cane to make them more
independent. The long cane mobility technique was taught at all 3 facilities. As time has
passed, the long cane has been the accepted form of mobility device all around the world.
The long white cane is a wonderful tool for mobility, if properly employed. However, like
any other tool, the usefulness goes hand in hand with the users skills. Such canes
extend ones sense of feeling two steps ahead sensing changing conditions in the
walkers path giving the blind person the time to react accordingly. Obstacles in ones
path, changes in the surface or level, can be felt and with training and practice,
individuals learn how to recognize signals and react. Training begins with learning how to
hold and position the cane. The blind person extends their index finger along the grip and
uses the other three fingers and thumb to hold the cane. The cane is carried with the
carrying arm extended and centered on the body. The tip of the cane is moved to the
opposite side of your leading foot, when walking, that is when you put your left foot
forward, you move the cane tip to the right and when the right foot comes forward, the
cane tip is moved across to the left which gives the blind person time to act accordingly.
One of the first thing I was shown, when being instructed in the proper use of the long
white cane, was to lift up the grip when the tips gets stuck. Years ago, tips got stuck
frequently. It is not recommended for blind cane travelers to attempt to continue on their
path with a stuck tip. Failing to lift up the grip with a stuck tip can result in the
traveler being impaled. There have been many attempts to find designs and materials for
tips that do not stick, but the ceramic tip is the best I have experienced. When one is
lax in executing the proper techniques of cane travel, you can find yourself running into
obstacles that are best avoided. Generally speaking, one is rewarded when using proper
cane techniques by arriving at your destination without a lot of drama or mishap.
Conversely, there are tragic stories of blind travelers that miss or ignore signals of
hazardous conditions ahead. The long white cane has provided the least expensive solution
for blind people to protect themselves when traveling independently, since Dick Hoover
introduced the technique over 71 years ago. Long canes can be made from a variety of
materials and are available in different configurations, including long rigid, collapsible
with a stretchable cable inside, or telescopic. One might forgo the sturdiness of a rigid
cane for the convenience of a folding cane for some or all applications. The type of cane
you choose will be made better by the addition of a ceramic tip. Ceramic is clay that has
been hardened by heat. While this process has been around for a long time, modern ceramics
are strong enough to withstand conditions in a jet engine. Tips for canes for the blind
are currently being made available and as a cane user for over 40 years, I have found them
quite amazing. The ceramic tips last longer and stick less than any other tip in my
experience. Resolving ones mobility problems is important to a blind persons
success. Becoming proficient in using the tools available to move about safely are one of
the first steps one must master to obtain or regain their independence. Independence lets
you do things for yourself, in your time and in your way. If you are not as proficient and
independent in your travel as you would like to be, I encourage you to seek out help.
Resources are available through the VA for getting started or improving your technique
with the long cane, but you need to seek them out. Training at a VA Blind Rehab Center is
the best available and can assist you in improving your independence and quality of life.
Contact your VIST Coordinator to assist you with VA BRC training. Your BROS may also be
able to assist with brief refresher training. (FYI After WW II Dick Hoover completed
medical school and then worked many years as an ophthalmologist at John Hopkins in
Baltimore. He served on the BVA Advisory Council from its inception until his death.) Mike
Taylor
New Miami VAMC VIST Coordinator: The October 2015 FRG Newsletter reported the retirement
of Roberta Goldstein after 11 years as the Miami VAMC Vist Coordinator. The FRG has worked
with Paul Russo, Director of the Miami VAMC to get Roberta Goldsteins replacement as
soon as possible. We are happy to report that all of the processing for that position has
been completed and Wendy Briand, the new Miami VAMC Vist Coordinator, started work, on
November 2. Wendy Briand was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. After graduating
from high school, she earned a bachelors degree in education from Florida State
University. Then, she continued at FSU earning Masters Degrees in Blind
Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation and Mobility. Following graduation, she interned
at the West Palm Beach Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC). In 2004, following her
internship, she was employed at the West Palm Beach BRC as an O & M instructor, living
skills, and low vision instructor. In 2007, she transferred to the BRC at the Birmingham,
Alabama BRC, as a Computer Access Training (CAT) Program instructor. Since she was
certified in several disciplines, she also worked in those fields when other instructors
were on leave. Wendy Briand is married and her husband is a native Miamian. She says that
she plans to be the Miami VAMC VIST Coordinator for many years in the future. The FRG
welcomes Wendy Briand to her new position as the Miami VIST Coordinator and looks forward
to working cooperatively with her for many years.
Meeting Reminder: We look forward to meeting you at the next meeting of the FRG at Capt'n
Fishbone restaurant in North Ft. Myers on Saturday, December 5. Call one of those listed
above to make your reservations. If you make a reservation and can't come, please call and
cancel it before December 1. Come join us in North Ft. Myers on December 5 for an
interesting and enjoyable afternoon.
FRG Meeting Schedule
December 5 FRG Meeting Cap'n Fishbone Restaurant in Ft. Myers
January 9 FRG Meeting Columbia Restaurant in Tampa
February 13 FRG Meeting at the Hilton in Ocala
March 19 FRG Meeting Tropical Acres Steakhouse in Ft. Lauderdale
April 28 - May 1 FRG State Convention Plaza Ocean Club in Daytona
Newsletter Staff
Mike Taylor FRG President
George Stocking Newsletter Editor