Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington®

The Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA) helps those with vision loss connect with activities specifically adapted for people with vision impairment. These inclusive activities include goalball, running groups, tandem bicycle rides, beep baseball and beep kickball, hiking, and yoga.

For more information on how you can join with your fellow athletes, visit gomwaba.org.

Thanks to our donors, POB is excited to announce the arrival of our new OCT machine from Topcon Healthcare. This cutting-edge technology will allow us to screen more people and detect vision problems earlier, helping our neighbors save their sight. Today's training session with our staff and volunteers ensured we're ready to serve our community better. Come see this innovative tech at an event soon!

The National Parks Service is making the outdoors accessible to everyone by providing a free, lifetime pass for people with permanent disabilities. The "America the Beautiful Access Pass" gives you free admittance to more than 2,000 sites including local getaways that include Great Falls Park and Shenandoah National Park.

For more information on this great deal, call (888) 275-8747.

Want to do your best Ovechkin-like moves past the blue line and score like Gretsky on a breakaway? Or do you want to stand in goal and kick save like Roy and Brodeur? Here’s your chance to get on the ice and join a winning team. The Washington Blind Hockey Club is your gateway to athleticism while building a new community that extends well beyond the rink. This league holds weekly ice skating practice in Arlington, VA. No prior skating experience is required, and the practice time, skating instruction, rental skates, and hockey equipment are free for participants.

For more information on making fun memories with new people, email [email protected].

Aira is your new guide to your next knowledge-bound adventure in knowledge at the Smithsonian Institute. All visitors living with a vision impairment can access Aira. This technology uses smartphone cameras to get free on-demand verbal descriptions of everything from individual objects to exhibitions from sighted agents. The Aira technology is available at all Smithsonian museums in DC, and the National Zoo. Visual descriptions and/or sighted guide tours are available at all Smithsonian museums.

For more information, visit - si.edu/visit/accessibility.

Making waves while staying active is the best gift for your overall health and fitness this time of year. The DC Dragon Boat Club's Out of Sight Dragons, a dragon boat racing team of the blind and visually impaired. The best part is that you do not need to have prior experience or bring your own equipment. The group practices at The Wharf along the Washington Channel in DC.

For more information about this summer fun on the water, email [email protected].

The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington is excited to announce that we're expanding our team! We are currently hiring for the following positions:

Optometrist (PT) 👓
Accounting Assistant (PT) 📊
Human Resources Coordinator (PT) 👥
Optical Assistant (FT) 👁️

If you're passionate about making a positive impact on the community and helping others, we'd love to hear from you! At POB, you'll work alongside dedicated professionals committed to improving and preserving sight.

🌐 Apply today and be part of a team that's changing lives!
🔗 https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Prevention-of-Blindness-Society/jobs

PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS SOCIETY Jobs and Careers | Indeed.com 4 PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS SOCIETY jobs. Apply to the latest jobs near you. Learn about salary, employee reviews, interviews, benefits, and work-life balance

POB READS welcomes you to our online book club forum for all with vision challenges where you will have the opportunity to discuss literature–both fiction and nonfiction–with our diverse group of attendees. POB READS meets virtually on the first Friday of every other month at 11 a.m.

To sign up, visit pobreads.org or call (301) 951-4444.

We recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the renovation of our headquarters at the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington! 🎉

Caren Forsten, our CEO, explained this multi-million dollar investment is dedicated to ensuring that healthy vision is accessible to all, regardless of income. She introduced POB’s Low Vision Hub, a state-of-the-art facility designed to promote independence for people with vision loss. This new hub represents our dedication to providing top-quality care and support to those who need it most.

Catherine Cohen, POB Board Member, shared our bold vision for the future. This renovation will allow us to serve more individuals with flexible space, offer new eye health programming, and model best practices for accommodating vision impairments. It’s about creating a space that embodies accessibility, innovation, and community care.

A special thank you to Michelle Blake-Smith, Chief Operating Officer of DC Health, for joining us and providing opening remarks! DC Health continually demonstrates their dedication to improving the health and well-being of our community.

Together, we are building a brighter, clearer future for everyone we serve. 🌟👁️💙
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The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington is pleased to announce the appointment of the following board members, effective July 1, 2024.

Please join us in welcoming:
- Catherine Cohen, Strategies for Innovative Policy Solutions
- Beth Glassman
- Tara Kavadias
- Michael Spigler, American Kidney Fund

To view a complete list of the 2024-2025 Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington Board of Trustees, visit https://www.youreyes.org/about-us/.

Thank you to the Capitol Hill BID for joining us for our Groundbreaking Ceremony today!

It is estimated that nearly 10% of men experience color vision problems compared to the 1% of women who see an absence of color from their sight. June is Men’s Health Month. POB wants you to know that scheduling regular eye exams can help reduce color blindness and help detect other possible vision impairments. Summer is here and now is the perfect time to ensure you can see all the colors around you.

Did you know that the average speed of a squash ball hit during a game is over 130 mph? This is why wearing sports goggles is a must to protect your eyes once you step onto the court. Most men need to take this advice to heart sustaining traumatic eye injuries nearly three times more often than women. June is Men’s Health Month and POB wants you to know that about 25% of eye injuries occur while playing sports and wearing protective eyewear can prevent 90% of eye injuries. Be safe on the court wherever you play to win this summer.

Wednesday, June 26, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
National Library Service (NLS) Update
Low Vision Town Hall (Virtual Event)
Guest Speaker: Jason Yasser, NLS Deputy Director
Learn about the history and workings of the Talking Books Program, book selection, eligibility, enrollment, online resources, and additional services like the music programs and iBill project.

To register, call (301) 951-4444.

Listen and watch replays of recent webinars and other POB events at: www.youreyes.org/replays.

Tuesday, June 18, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Useful Smartphones Apps (Virtual Event)
Tech Talk Tuesdays
Guest Speaker: Rachel Schreiman
Rachel will demonstrate apps to enhance daily living and independence. Bring questions!

Hosted by Prevention of Blindness Society

To register for an event, call (301) 951-4444 at 24 Hours prior to the event.

Listen and watch replays of recent webinars and other POB events at: www.youreyes.org/replays.

Maintaining an active lifestyle that integrates exercise and a healthy diet works in tandem to help produce thriving outcomes for your body and sight. June is Men’s Health Month. POB wants you to get actively involved in your personal health for this month and every day in the future.

The 2022 National Health Interview Survey reported that 21.67 million American men over 18 reported vision loss. June is Men's Health Month. Scheduling eye exams with your doctor helps you stay ahead of the unforeseeable changes to your vision as you age.

Wednesday, June 12, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Low Vision Support Group Meeting
Leisure World Lions Group
Join us and bring your questions, thoughts, and challenges. All are invited, whether you have low vision or not.

To RSVP, call Larry at (908) 770-9111
Leisure World Club House II Edmondson Room
3300 N Leisure World Blvd, Silver Spring MD

Whether hammering a nail to hang a picture or building an additional room to your dream house, wearing protective safety goggles ensures you are not among the 25% of men who sustain eye injuries during home repairs. June is Men’s Health Month. POB urges you to have protective, worksite standard eyewear to view your wonderful project…or see what you need to call a professional contractor to finish.

Tuesday, June 11, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Stargardt's Summer Social Event (Virtual Event)
Stargardt's Network
Summer is here - let's celebrate! All are welcome.
Hosted by Prevention of Blindness Society

To register for an event, call (301) 951-4444 at 24 Hours prior to the event.

Listen and watch replays of recent webinars and other POB events at: www.youreyes.org/replays.

Welcome to June! POB has many great vision health events that will help you start the summer in the right direction.

Tuesday, June 11, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Stargardt's Summer Social Event (Virtual Event)
Stargardt's Network
Summer is here - let's celebrate! All are welcome.
Hosted by Prevention of Blindness Society

Wednesday, June 12, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Low Vision Support Group Meeting
Leisure World Lions Group
Join us and bring your questions, thoughts, and challenges. All are invited, whether you have low vision or not.

To RSVP, call Larry at (908) 770-9111
Leisure World Club House II Edmondson Room
3300 N Leisure World Blvd, Silver Spring MD

Tuesday, June 18, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Useful Smartphone Apps (Virtual Event)
Tech Talk Tuesdays
Guest Speaker: Rachel Schreiman
Rachel will demonstrate apps to enhance daily living and independence. Bring questions!
Hosted by Prevention of Blindness Society

Wednesday, June 26, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
National Library Service (NLS) Update
Low Vision Town Hall (Virtual Event)
Guest Speaker: Jason Yasser, NLS Deputy Director
Learn about the history and workings of the Talking Books Program, book selection, eligibility, enrollment, online resources, and additional services like the music programs and iBill project.
To register, call (301) 951-4444.

To register for an event, call (301) 951-4444 at 24 Hours prior to the event.

Listen and watch replays of recent webinars and other POB events at: www.youreyes.org/replays.

The Friday before is ! Caren, POB’s Chief Executive Officer, is known for sporting her vivid frames and making sure to wear her sunglasses on bright days. Along with temporarily losing vision and seeing bright or dark spots, staring directly into the sun can also result in temporary-to-permanent color blindness. Be sure to wear your sunglasses like Caren and never look up to see the sun that’s coloring your beautiful summer day. Thanks to everyone who followed along with our summer sunglasses scrapbook today!

Check out for more vision health information.