New HampshireAssociation for the Blind
2009 Annual Report
New Hampshire Association for the Blind…providing hope and independence.
25 Walker Street, Concord, New Hampshire 03301
603-224-4039•1-800-464-3075 (Toll Free in NH)•www.sightcenter.org
A Special Message from the Chairman and the President
People persistently hope for clear and easy solutions to difficult problems. We seem hard-wired to see things as black or white when upon closer inspection and reflection, we usually discover many shades of gray.
So it is with the most common misconceptions about blindness and vision impairment — such as thinking that a person who is “blind” must live in total darkness. While a totally blind person certainly does live in a world of no vision, a majority of those diagnosed as “legally blind” still retain some useable sight — that often can be optimized.
Loss of sight can happen at any time to anyone, young or old. It can come on gradually or suddenly, without warning. It is often extremely frightening, potentially disabling, and costly. The transition from the sighted world can lead to a new lifestyle as different as night is to day.
Print materials in black and white are widely used for publications designed for the visually impaired. The contrast created by dark text on a white background or white text on a black background is much easier to read than a mix of bright colors or colored text. You’ll note that this year’s Annual Report has been created in a black and white format to remind us of the need for bright contrast to make print more visually accessible, and as a metaphor for the contrasts between living with and without sight.
Our cover features Chelsey Duranleau, a senior at Keene State College. Chelsey, now 21, is legally blind due to Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). While she can see some colors and contrasts, such as bright white lines on black pavement, she admits that she can’t see details unless they’re about an inch from her nose.
We are happy to report this year that along with Chelsey, there are twelve other blind and visually impaired students enrolled at Keene State College. With the help of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind and the NH Services for Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI), these students have successfully progressed from high school to college. We are proud of them! We thank our well-trained and certified vision rehabilitation professionals, other specialists, and the Office of Disability Services at Keene State College, who have supported these young adults throughout their high schools and beyond.
Over the past year we have worked with a number of clients, in addition to Chelsey, born with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) who illustrate the great variety of clients we serve — even dealing with the same eye disease, a little girl as well as a middle-age woman. While one graduates into second grade, the other returns from a trip to Africa and Saudi Arabia, both confident in white cane travel. A young girl anticipates entering college in the fall and another returns for her senior year after a semester abroad. All are transitioning, growing, learning, and closer to the ultimate goal of personal independence.
As the winter snow and ice melted, spring arrived to bring together a collaborative effort between the NH Art Association and the New Hampshire Association for the Blind. A successful exhibit, Art Beyond Sight©, was held at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth. All exhibits were created to help blind patrons understand the creative process and the artists’ intent. A photograph of braille rocks by sculptor Jeff Forman, is pictured below left. The medium used was white marble and black granite. The visual is striking as is the feel of the rocks with Braille alphabet.
This year also saw the need for the Association to take appropriate steps to react responsibly to the difficult economic pressures. We acted as we had to, reducing expenses as any conscientious business must when revenues drop. Our primary goal was to continue to preserve our most critical services and include improvements and efficiencies to permit us to serve greater numbers of people within the present staff capacity. We are pleased to share our annual service statistics in this Annual Report which show that services were provided to over 2,000 persons individually and in group lessons, classes, and peer support activities.
Now as we are upgrading our strategic plan, the Association remains committed to being fully accountable and sustainable while moving forward to our second century of service for New Hampshire people who are blind and visually impaired.
As good stewards of your many generous contributions, the Association is fully focused on providing “core” services to those “most in need.”
As we experience and meet the many challenges of these uncertain times, one thing is clear.Despite the lack of easy answers, our staff, board volunteers and contributors remain devoted to our mission “to advance the independence of persons who are blind and visually impaired.” There can be nothing ambivalent about this commitment — the needs are too great. Together we really do make a difference.
Thanks to your steadfast support, the New Hampshire Association for the Blind is able to continue to meet the special needs of our family members, friends, and neighbors living with the unique and very individual challenges of vision loss.
Sincerely,
Joyce A. Meisel
Board Chair
George F. Theriault
President & CEO
Art Beyond Sight© piece by Jeff Forman. Braille rocks, created from black granite and white marble.
Cover Story:
Transitions
Left: Enter To Learn. Chelsey Duranleau at entrance to Keene State College
Transitioning from high school to college, and from college to the working world, brings universal challenges to Chelsey Duranleau and others like her, as well as their families. For parents of children just entering college, concerns might include their child’s time management skills, academic focus, decision-making, eating habits, oversleeping or not sleeping at all. A first year college student might be asking her own questions like Can I really do the work? Will I fit in? How will I find my first class? Will I like the food? Will I miss home?
The transition from college to the “real world” brings greater challenges and concerns with everyone seeming to focus on What now? What do I want to do? Will I be able to find a job? Where will I live? How will I support myself?
The “worry lists” are sometimes a study in contrasts, contradictions and surprising similarities! In college, blindness and serious visual impairment brings another layer of challenges. How do I get around campus? Has the professor listed required reading so that I can arrange for an audio format of the texts? Will kids avoid me because they’ve never been around a blind person before and are uneasy? Will my professors work with me to make needed adaptations?
Bruce Chipman, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with NH Services for Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI), remarked recently that a major hurdle for students is learning to become a “self-advocate.” Yet perhaps there is nothing more important.
During high school, a blind student’s progress is monitored with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) managed by a team of professionals, including teachers and counselors, vision rehabilitation specialists, parents and the student. In college, the IEP and all it entails, is the student’s responsibility. This is new territory. Each student needs to accept this task, make the time to meet with professors to find ways to address and accommodate their own special needs. Again, it is up to the student to make and keep appointments, find the office, ask for the help and follow through. Upon graduating, independence and self-advocacy remain critical life skills.
Please go to our website at www.sightcenter.org for more of Chelsey Duranleau’s journey with blindness. While a general public misconception exists about what the blind can do, the article on the website breaks down erroneous myths. Hers is a story of challenges, goals, perseverance, determination and triumph. With the help of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, the NH Services for Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI), and the Office of Disability Services at Keene State College, Chelsey looks forward to graduation in May and a launch into the future, doing whatever she chooses.
COVER PHOTO: CHELSEY DURANLEAU
George F. Theriault, President & CEO with Joyce A. Meisel, Board Chair.
A Year in Black& White
“Providing hope and independence for people with low vision and no vision.”
Clients Receiving Individual Services 1,530
Clients Receiving Group Services 551
Number of Groups 82
New Clients Referred 541
Program Service Hours 26,999
Clients Receiving Information Services 8,824
Education — Number of Students 82
Education — Number of School Districts 34
Total Number of Volunteers 75
Total Number of Miles Traveled by Volunteers 21,221
Total Number of Hours Served by Volunteers 2,579
Gender of Clients Served
Women 1,020 = 67%
Men 510 = 33%
Client Ages Between 70–99 1,013 = 66%
Primary Eye Conditions of Clients Served
Macular Degeneration 759 = 39%
Cataract 284 = 15%
Diabetic Retinopathy 156 = 08%
Glaucoma 214 = 11%
Retinitis Pigmentosa 32 = 02%
Other 478 = 25%
Enjoying Art Beyond Sight©
Grant Highlights
The Need for Vision Rehabilitation Services for Those in Need Continues. Thanks to those who helped.
“Thank you for all your help. The magnifiers have been a great help. Being able to write my own checks has been wonderful. Thank you again.”
— Marion, Manchester
•The Byrne Foundation — Prospect Point Project
•The Cogswell Benevolent Trust — Vision Rehabilitation Services
•The Mary Gale Foundation — Manchester Senior Services Expansion Project — Vision Rehabilitation Services
•The Gibney Family Foundation — Client Services Database
•The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Foundation — Vision Rehabilitation Services
•The Pearl Manor Fund-Mary and John Elliot Charitable Foundation — Vision Rehabilitation Services
•The Roger R. and Theresa Thompson Endowment Fund for the Benefit of Local Charities — Seacoast Volunteer Services
•The Madelaine G. Von Weber Trust — Assistive Technology
Jean Shiner from Exeter experiencingArt Beyond Sight.©
McGreal Society 2009
Bequests have sustained the mission of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind since its inception in 1912. Please consider a provision in your estate plans to leave a living legacy, a perpetual endowment, and become a member of the McGreal Society. The McGreal Society was named for William and Elizabeth Yates McGreal who each had a long history of service to the Association. The following is a list of current members:
Anonymous Friends
Ms. Norita Bernier
Mr. John E. Bowker
Annette L. Cockburn
Mrs. Nancy H. Copeland
Mrs. Harriett Ellis
Mrs. June Ellison
Persis R. Gow
Alex Hanson
Dr. Suzanne R. Horner
Mr. David Jespersen
Ms. Gayle Kimball
Ms. Jane Kirk
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lindstrom
Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Mitchell
Mrs. Anne Newbury
Mrs. Christene F. Peebles
Ms. Shelley Proulx
Miss Constance Reed
Bill and Linda Sirak
Mrs. Mary H. Smart
Mrs. Charles V. Tallman
Celia and George Theriault
Mrs. Ray G. Theriault
Ms. Eileen Zeindlhofer
Bequests & Professionals
Legacy Gifts
In the Association’s fiscal year running from September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2009, nine individuals honored us with their legacy. Their foresight and planning assures the continuation, in perpetuity, of high quality programs and services for our clients in communities throughout New Hampshire.
Anonymous
Catherine Bogardus Trust
Estate of Elizabeth M. Hoyt
Alice B. Longshore Living Trust
Lillian B. Noel Revocable Trust
Phyllis H. Patenaude
Estate of Gretchen A. Schorling
Virginia B. Smith Revocable Trust
Estate of Jeanette R. Walker
Professionals
The New Hampshire Association for the Blind appreciates working with the following professionals to complete these life-affirming gifts:
Charles A. DeGrandpre, Esq.
Thomas Hanna, Esq.
Mr. John H. Jevne
Ms. Susan J. Martin
Mr. Alan S. Michael
Ms. Carolyn L. Patenaude
William G. Scott, Esq.
Virginia S. Sheehan, Esq.
Ms. Margaret A. Tilson
David A. Ward, Esq.
Michael L. Wood, Esq.
Our grateful thanks — Planned gifts help those living with blindness and severe vision loss for many, many years to come.
— George Theriault, President/CEO
As Ann Landers said:
“Do your givin’ while you’re livin’…then you’ll be knowin’ where it’s goin.”
Kristin Hallee from Nashua and Guide Dog Posada at the Blind Awareness Walk-A-Thon, May 2009.
Major Contributors to the 2008–2009 Annual Services Fund
On behalf of the Board of Directors, the clients we serve, and their families, we’d like to thank you for your generous and continued support. The New Hampshire Association for the Blind relies on philanthropic contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, small businesses, and service clubs to help meet our mission “to advance the independence of persons who are blind and visually impaired.” Your generosity is making a difference every day as we help children and adults all over the state who suffer from blindness and low vision.
Due to space constraints, only donations of$100 or more and received from September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2009 are listed in this year’s Annual Report.
In our effort to publicly thank our donors while trying to be economically and ecologically prudent, all Memorial and Tribute gifts received from January 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009 can be viewed on our website at www.sightcenter.org.
President’s Council
$100,000+
The Mary Gale Foundation, Inc.
Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation
Pearl Manor Fund
$25,000–$49,999
The Cogswell Benevolent Trust
The Gibney Family Foundation
From Eva M. Montembeault in memory of *Gerald J. “Monty” Montembeault
$10,000–$24,999
National Eye Institute
Robert H. & Gertrude E. Sedgley Fund
Roger R. and Theresa A. Thompson Endowment Fund
Dixie Wonders Irrevocable Trust
$5,000–$9,999
Anonymous
Mr. Roger E. Bouchard — Board
Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, Inc.
Citizens Bank Foundation
Concord Lions Club, Inc.
Mae T. Drew UniTrust
United Way of the Greater Seacoast
Oleonda Jameson Trust Fund
The McIninch Foundation
NHAB Fund–Sawyer, Noyes
Walter O. and Amelia E. Nichols Fund
Mildred W. & Charles P. Page Trust
The Sim-Ayres Foundation