Spectrios Institute for Low Vision

A heartfelt thank you to Wheaton Illinois Lions Club for honoring Spectrios Institute for Low Vision at the Annual Grant Recipient Luncheon on June 18, 2024. We are truly grateful for your support in our mission to empower children and adults with vision loss. Your generosity helps us provide prescriptive tools, technology, rehabilitative training, and inspiration to optimize their visual capabilities and independence, regardless of income. Together, as partners, we are making a real difference in serving the low vision community. 🙏💛

With heartfelt gratitude, we thank you for your presence and support at our Score for Sight Gala held on April 20, 2024. Your generous contributions have profoundly impacted our mission, empowering children and adults with vision loss. The gala was successful in bringing hope to those with irreversible vision loss because of donors like you.

Congratulations to the 2024 award winners, recognized at the event:

Partners with Vision Award:
Dr. Richard G. Gieser, MD

Dr. Eleanor Faye Award:
Dr. Amjad Z. Ahmad, MD

Clarence Troyer Volunteer of the Year Award:
Hannah Dickson

The Gala might be over, but the need remains! You still have an opportunity to give and help the team at Spectrios make a grand impact. We depend on your donation to ensure low vision care is available to everyone with vision loss today and in the years to come.

Donate here: https://spectrios.org/giving/

👏🏆 Congratulations are in order for our very own Katrina Stratton, M.S., OTR/L, who was honored with the 2024 Cynthia Hughes Harris Fieldwork Educator Award from Rush University for demonstrating excellence and dedication to fieldwork education.

Spectrios Institute is thrilled to partner with Rush University Occupational Therapy Program, and we couldn't be prouder of Katrina for inspiring the next generation of OTs.

Katrina’s work with our patients is invaluable, and her dedication to making life with low vision easier shines through every day. We're so grateful to have her as part of the Spectrios family. Congratulations, Katrina!

We are currently seeking a Front Desk Administrator to serve as the welcoming face of our clinic, managing daily front desk responsibilities and providing administrative and patient services. If you thrive on making others feel valued and welcomed, we want to hear from you!

Join our team and play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional experiences for our patients and guests. Visit https://spectrios.org/about-us/careers/ to learn more and apply.

Save the Date: Monday, September 23, 2024

Spectrios Annual Golf Classic will be held at Prairie Landing Golf Club. Join us and our Honorary Chairman, former Major League Baseball center fielder, Darrin Jackson, in support of our mission.

Details to come. In the meantime if you have questions, are interested in being a hole sponsor, or otherwise want to get involved, please reach out!

📢 TOMORROW: Join us for a special support group moderated by Leah Gerlach M.S., C.R.C., as she retires from her volunteer role. Leah has been a tremendous asset to Spectrios Institute, volunteering her time to lead our group discussions with compassion and expertise! We invite you to join us as we express our gratitude for her invaluable contributions over the years. 💛

📅 Date: Wednesday, May 15
🕥 Time: 7:00 pm CT
🔍Topic: Q&A Chat Group & Farewell to Leah
🖱️ Sign up here to receive the Zoom Meeting details: https://spectrios.org/support

If you've been part of this monthly chat, please share how it's helped you. Take our survey to help us keep it valuable for all: https://bit.ly/4bfnARW

Are you a high school graduate or soon-to-be graduate with low vision who’s feeling uncertain about transitioning to a university or trade school, joining the workforce, or moving out on your own?

🎓💪 This Transition Conference was designed for you!

Don’t let low vision hold you back from achieving your dreams. The "Grandma Martyl" Life After High School Transition Conference will introduce you to resources, help you gain self-advocacy skills, and connect you with a supportive community as you learn how to navigate college or the workforce with low vision.

Join us virtually for a lineup of expert speakers, get empowered to overcome challenges, and achieve your dreams.

🗓️ Date: June 17-21, 2024
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT
🌐 Location: Zoom (Virtual Conference)

This conference is free to attend as it has been funded by a generous grant from the Reinsdorf Family, in memory of "Grandma" Martyl Reinsdorf.

Don't miss out on this life-changing event. Learn more and reserve your spot today!

https://spectrios.org/tc/

May is Mental Health Awareness month. At Spectrios, we understand the anger, frustration, and hopelessness that often comes with vision loss. 🧠💙👁️

Sharing a great article that explores the physical and mental health effects of vision loss and how to cope.

Spectrios is always here if you need help! Give us a call, or join us in one of our support groups to find additional low vision resources and community.

How Vision Loss Can Affect Your Mental Health Losing your vision can be a devastating experience. Learn how losing your vision can impact your mental and physical health and how you can cope.

🌞🎉 Summer fun, learning and connection await 6th to 12th graders with low vision at our "Grandma Martyl" Low Vision Summer Camp! Join us for an incredible week of adventure where you'll discover cool access tech, learn essential self-advocacy skills, go on field trips, and create lasting memories with new friends!

Registration is now open, so don't miss out on this life-changing event. The fee is $50 (which helps cover lunch, snacks, ticketed activities) and scholarships are available too! Learn more and reserve your spot today at https://spectrios.org/summer-day-camp/

GRANDMA MARTYL LOW VISION SUMMER CAMP
🗓️ July 15 – 19, 2024
⏰ 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Spectrios Institute for Low Vision, Wheaton, IL

🌸 This Mother’s Day, express your love for mom in a way she can truly appreciate! Here are 18 accessible greeting cards tailored for moms with low vision! Let’s celebrate inclusivity and thoughtfulness -- from high-contrast designs to large print options, there's something for every mom with low vision.

Explore the curated list by writer here:

https://reviewed.usatoday.com/accessibility/features/mothers-day-card-ideas-moms-blind-braille-visually-impaired

18 accessible Mother’s Day cards for moms with low vision Powerful messages she will see and feel

With the incredible support of our partners, we've made a difference in the lives of 10,000 K-12 students with low vision through our "Grandma Martyl" youth summer camps and "Seeing is Believing" program. Last night, we had the honor of celebrating one such partner, The Chicago White Sox at Beyond The Diamond. We proudly stand with the Chicago White Sox Charities in their mission of making Chicago a better place to live, work, and play.

With spring in full swing and the sun beginning to peek from behind the clouds, it's the perfect time to get out into the garden and start planting. If you or someone close to you has vision loss, you can unlock nature's beauty beyond sight by designing a sensory garden focused on ALL the senses.

Join our ZOOM Support Group on Friday, May 3, for an insightful discussion with Mariam Murphy, Inclusion Coordinator and Educator at The Morton Arboretum, to learn more about sensory gardening!

📅 Date: Friday, May 3
🕥 Time: 10:30 am CT
🔍 Topic: Sensory Gardening
🖱️ Sign up here to receive the Zoom Meeting details: https://spectrios.org/support

The Wheaton Lions hosted Lion Dr. Tracy Williams, Executive Director of Spectrios Institute for Low Vision and the team optometrist for the White Sox, as the featured speaker this week. Spectrios is a gift to the low vision community and is dedicated to helping individuals with low vision lead full, productive lives. They offer a full spectrum of care treating the head, heart and eyes.

Learn more at: www.spectrios.org

Pictured: Lions Dr. Tracy Williams, Joel Riley, Wheaton Lions President, and Teresa Crafton.

The Lowdown on Low Vision Recent Census Bureau data shows a population of approximately 71 million baby boomers . What does that have to do with low vision you may ask? Approximately 40 million people worldwide have some sort of...

Wow, what a phenomenon! 🌕🌑 Huge thanks to everyone who purchased Solar Eclipse Glasses from us, helping raise funds for our mission and making today's viewing possible. We hope you enjoyed the show!

Share your pictures below and let's keep the eclipse vibes going!

SUPPORT GROUP -- Please join us for a discussion with guest speaker Marc Arneson Director of Community at Hadley who will share how Hadley can help you discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult with vision loss, as well as connect within a community of others experiencing vision loss.

Hadley provides both practical and social/emotional support to older adults adjusting to vision loss, empowering them to adapt and thrive -- join us to learn more!

📅 Date: Friday, April 5
🕥 Time: 10:30 am CT
🔍 Topic: Hadley Vision Resources

🖱️ Sign up here to receive the Zoom Meeting details: https://spectrios.org/support

Please help us welcome Catherine Kerr-Niermann, O.D., MS, FAAO to the Spectrios Family!

Dr. Niermann recently joined Spectrios after a decade of low vision experience in academia, hospital settings, and private practice. While at her tenure as an Assistant Professor at the Illinois College of Optometry, she earned “Teacher of the Year” in 2023. Last year, Dr. Niermann was named in the inaugural Berkeley Optometry and Vision Science “40 Under 40” award. Dr. Niermann completed her doctorate at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee and her residency in low vision at the University of California-Berkeley. She went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Health Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Niermann aims to bring energetic, informative, and evidence-based approaches to low vision rehabilitation for people of all ages. She will be seeing patients at Spectrios' House of Hope, as well as working with children in our Seeing is Believing program, and we couldn't be more delighted to welcome her to the team!

Pictured: Dr. Niermann (left) co-presenting with Dr. R. Tracy Williams (right) the Keynote "Vision Beyond Sight: An Integrated Approach of Head, Heart, and Eyes" at the 2024 IAER Conference.

Our Access Technology team invites you to a Zoom meet-up TOMORROW! Gain insights and support from our faciliator Mark Chalmers who understands first hand the challenges of living with vision loss. Come identify the tools that can transform your daily life!

Don't miss out on this chance for community, support, and knowledge sharing!

📅 Date: Wednesday, March 13
⏰ Time: 7:00 pm CT
🔗 Sign up here to receive the Zoom Meeting details: https://spectrios.org/support

Happy Birthday to the late "Grandma Martyl" Reinsdorf, a remarkable humanitarian and cherished member of the Spectrios Family.

Martyl was an active member of her community, helping distribute the coloring books she designed (and toys) to hospitals, orphanages and shelters across the world. Her dedication to spreading joy and comfort to those in need is a testament to her compassionate spirit.

Martyl's legacy of kindness and creativity continues to brighten the lives of countless children. We are proud to continue to provide, in her memory, coloring books to students in our Seeing is Believing (SIB) in-school low vision clinics.

It is truly heartwarming to bring a smile to every student as they receive their coloring book. Excitement and joy fill their face when they start opening their Grandma Martyl package with puppets, sensory items, markers, and fun pages to color. This makes their experience at the low vision clinic more comfortable and welcoming for each student!

Though she may no longer be with us, her impact lives on.

Happy Birthday Grandma Martyl!

Feeling apprehensive about traveling alone with a vision impairment? You're not alone. Many of our patients seek to build confidence and independence in this area.

Discover the inspiring journey of our Access Technology Manager, Mark Chalmers, as he recounts his first solo trip and shares firsthand insights from his experiences as a visually impaired traveler.

Plus, join our Support Group this Friday, March 1st at 10:30 am CT for a special presentation by guest speaker Sue Bramhall of Mind's Eye Travel, offering valuable insights into accessible travel for visually impaired individuals!

Read the blog here:
https://spectrios.org/empowering-independence-navigating-travel-with-vision-loss/

Sign up for the support group by registering your email here:
https://spectrios.org/support-group-signup/

Empowering Independence: Navigating Travel with Vision Loss Empowering Independence: Navigating Travel with Vision LossFebruary 28, 2024Living with Low Vision0I recently had the opportunity to attend the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) conference in Orlando, Florida. The event was filled with informative seminars, engaging exhibitors, and li...

It's Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month — let's shine a spotlight on the power of awareness in combating AMD and its impact on low vision. Our very own Dr. R Tracy Williams, OD, FAAO, Executive Director of Spectrios Institute, recently sat down with Optometry Times to discuss the crucial significance of early patient referrals and how raising awareness and early intervention can improve the progression of low vision.

Don't miss out on the stellar phenomenon of the year! 🌘👓

On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible across North America, including here in Illinois. It's a rare event that reminds us of the wonders of the universe.

Remember, when witnessing any solar eclipse, it's crucial to use proper solar viewing equipment. Regular sunglasses are NOT safe for eclipse viewing, as they do not provide adequate protection, and irreversible eye damage can occur in seconds.

Certified solar viewing glasses are the safest way to observe an eclipse!

Your eye safety is our number one priority! That's why we're thrilled to offer ISO-certified-safe eclipse glasses at our Deicke House of Hope!

Pick up a pair of eclipse glasses for a cash donation of $1.00 per pair from the front desk at Spectrios. Let's make sure you're fully prepared to enjoy this remarkable celestial event!

Who else caught Google's Super Bowl ad featuring a blind man who is able to capture important moments in his relationship thanks to his Pixel smartphone and the Guided Frame feature?

We're continually inspired by the ways technology can transform the lives of individuals with blindness and low vision.

What a beautiful demonstration of technology's ability to break barriers and uplift communities.

Let's continue to celebrate advancements that prioritize inclusivity and accessibility for all!

Javier in Frame | Google Pixel SB Commercial 2024 Guided Frame on Pixel 8 uses Google AI to make it easier for people with blindness or low vision to capture photos and share daily life. Blind director Adam ...

Prevent Blindness has declared February as Age-related Macular Degeneration and Low Vision Awareness Month and we're joining forces to spread awareness!

Our Executive Director, R. Tracy Williams, O.D., FAAO, recently spoke to Prevent Blindness President and CEO about low vision and the support tools available for rehabilitation. Check out that video to empower yourself with knowledge here!

👀 Visit our website at spectrios.org to learn more about our mission to empower children and adults with vision loss.

👉 Find free educational resources at PreventBlindness.org/amd or lowvision.preventblindness.org

Focus on Eye Health - Low Vision Prevent Blindness President and CEO discusses low vision and low vision rehabilitation with R. Tracy Williams, O.D., FAAO, Executive Director of the Spectrio...

We're excited to have Loretta Roberts from En-Vision America, Inc. as our guest speaker at February's Low Vision Support Group.

She'll be diving into the transformative role of technology in enhancing accessibility and independence for those with visual impairments. Join us to explore assistive devices, such as En-Vision America’s Script Talk—a Talking Prescription Label solution designed specifically for the visually impaired—available at thousands of participating pharmacies throughout the U.S. and Canada.

This is a FREE support group that meets on Zoom: Join us to connect with a compassionate community and empower yourself!

🗓 Friday, February 2
⏰ 10:30 am CT
🆓 Free to attend

Sign up here to receive Zoom Meeting log-in details emailed to you: https://spectrios.org/support/

WE ARE HIRING! 🔍 Check out this job opportunity: Children’s Programs Coordinator.

Spectrios is on a mission to bring hope and independence to those with vision loss. As a key player in our dynamic team, you'll contribute directly to this impactful mission.

If you have experience in program coordination, a passion for mission-driven work and want to impact the lives of children with visual impairments we want to hear from you!

Learn more about this opportunity and apply now here: https://spectrios.org/about-us/careers/

Due to inclement weather, the clinic is closed today. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Stay safe and warm!

Looking for support in navigating the hurdles of vision loss? We extend an invitation to join our upcoming group chat.

Facilitated by Leah Gerlach, M.S., C.R.C., a seasoned rehabilitation counselor in the low vision field, this session offers personal insights and professional guidance from someone who understands the journey firsthand.

Join us on Wednesday, January 17th, for an opportunity to connect with fellow individuals facing the challenges of low vision. Gain valuable insights and answers to your rehabilitative journey questions.

📅 Date: Wednesday, January 17
⏰ Time: 7:00 pm CT
🗣 Topic: Chat Group
🔗 Secure your spot and receive Zoom Meeting details here: https://spectrios.org/support/

Make a note – this group convenes every third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm CT. Mark your calendar for an ongoing supportive community!

We believe that vision loss shouldn't hinder productivity or independence. Our core principle stands strong: every individual with visual impairments deserves support and empowerment.

Check out this empowering article that resonates with our mission!

🔗 Read (or Listen) to this article here: https://www.biopticcoder.com/am-i-disabled-enough-navigating-the-imposter-syndrome-in-advocating-for-yourself/

It's about embracing opportunities and paving the way for a more inclusive world. After all, vision impairment shouldn't define anyone.

Am I Disabled Enough? Explore the journey of self-advocacy and overcoming imposter syndrome for individuals with visual impairments, emphasizing the importance of utilizing available resources and accommodations to succeed professionally.

SUPPORT GROUP -- We're kicking off the new year with our first Support Group hosted by Mark Chalmers, a tech instructor & patient at Spectrios. At this meeting, our special guest, Sloan Morris, founder of Innovative Vision Products, Inc., will be sharing insights on how assistive technology empowers us to conquer daily challenges.

Sloan's personal journey with vision loss due to juvenile macular degeneration fuels his dedication to helping others overcome similar hurdles.

Join us to explore technology-based aids for individuals with low vision. Discover an array of options leveraging eyes, ears, and fingers.

📅 Date: Friday, January 5
🕥 Time: 10:30 am CT
🔍 Topic: Using tech-based aids to overcome daily obstacles

🖱️ Sign up here to receive the Zoom Meeting details: https://spectrios.org/support