All clients coming into the center will receive the services or assistance they need. Currently the only services charged for are the low vision exams and visual aids, but no one will be denied service whether or not they have the ability to pay. Every effort is made to assist all clients without any restrictions. The Center has a loan program for some items of equipment, books, and tapes. Please contact us for more information.

Those who are not able to work or who do not feel able to participate in the normal activities of daily life because of vision loss can receive Independent Living Services from the Edith Bishel Center. Our Independent Living Skills Teacher can assess a person's needs and provide counseling to help with adjustment to his or her vision loss. She can provide information about eye conditions that affect vision, supply information about national, state, or community resources, and can help a person gain skills to live independently or live a fuller life, such as reading and management, the ability to get from place to place, or how to more effectively use any remaining vision.

When you call us we will make out a referral form and give it to our Independent Living Skills Teacher, Sheila Turner. She will call to make an appointment with you and can then come to your home to mark your appliances so you can operate them safely, see what magnification you need, and explain all of the free services available to you. She can also instruct you on using a white cane so you can safely cross streets.

Our Independent Living Program helps people return to the full lives they had before vision loss and to do those things they had given up as a result.

Large print software and JAWS (Job Access With Speech) demonstrations and computer classes are available at our four-station computer technology training lab. Our Independent Living Program has been expanded to help any of the clients that want computer technology training receive individual one-on-one training from our instructor with the latest computer software and equipment for the blind and visually impaired. Instruction is designed to respond not only to their age and special needs, but also to their skill level. It is also designed to help them if they have other barriers to overcome, such as language or economics (since many cannot afford a customized computer). Having a computer with proper software at home to practice with is now our current priority.

Made possible by a grant from the Lions Club International Foundation and The Lions of District 19F, the Lions Low Vision Clinic at the Edith Bishel Center has been providing full low vision testing and evaluation for the blind and visually impaired since 1998. Local optometrists provide the examinations and can offer personalized help with specific recommendations for visual aids or assistance.

The Edith Bishel Center stocks a wide variety of magnification and visual aids, including:

• hand held magnifiers
• illuminated magnifiers
• binocular and monocular eye glasses
• spectacle magnifiers
• television screen enlargers
• CCTV print enlarger units
• computer monitor magnifiers
• large format and talking telephones, watches, remote controls, clocks, and more

Please come in to browse our selection and find out what is available to fit your needs.

Our Lending Library includes:

• Large print books
• Books on tape
• Descriptive videos
• Braille books

Our Library can also do your Braille printing.

Visit our Schedule of Events to find out more about upcoming Coping Socials and support activities happening at the Center.