The Sierra Vista Low-Vision Support Group, an organization of about 30 active members, is headed by facilitator Bill Hall. What started out several years ago as a class sponsored by the Tucson Association for the Blind has since evolved into a venue for the visually impaired.
“The class was held once a week and focused on how to cope with vision loss,” Hall said. “I was not involved with the class, but it was so popular that when it was over, those who attended it wanted to continue to meet.”
  
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The support group meets every Tuesday morning at Oscar Yrun Community Center, where members discuss an array of topics that include changes in legislation, Medicare funding, local resources for the visually impaired, as well as personal challenges and triumphs.
At a recent session, Hall gives the group an update regarding possible changes in paper currency, a makeover that, if implemented, would help the blind identify different currency denominations.
“A federal court in Washington, D.C., recently ruled that our existing currency is discriminatory against blind people,” Hall said. “The Treasury Department has been asked to consider making changes in paper currency so it can be easily identified by the blind and visually impaired.”
At it now stands, a blind person can’t determine differences in paper currency without the help of a sighted person.
A few months ago, the support group agreed on a possible solution and sent the recommendation to the U.S. Department of Treasury for its consideration. The proposal, the brain-child of one of the group’s blind members, Mark Blier, calls for a radio-frequency-identification chip that would be imbedded in existing currency. It would require a talking money identifier, similar to digital talking book players already being used by the blind.
In a response addressed to Hall, the Treasury Department thanked him for the recommendation. The response also outlined steps the Department has taken in its effort to research possible solutions.
“This is just one of the issues we’re following,” said Hall, who credits Blier for the proposal. “Mark has tremendous computer skills and a solid technological background. We often rely on him when it comes to some of the computer and special equipment questions we have.”
While legislative issues and local resources are part of the support group’s focus, there is a lighter side to the meetings. Members plan outings to restaurants, share jokes and talk about different activities they’re involved in.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Penny Crane read an article she had written. Featured in the November issue of “The Braille Forum,” a publication by The American Council of the Blind, the article is about Crane’s tour of Schimpff’s Confectionery, a family-owned candy-making operation that has been in business since 1891. She visited Schimpff’s in July while attending The American Council of the Blind’s 2008 Convention in Louisville, Ken.
While severely near-sighted, Crane is one of the support group’s more fortunate members, in that her visual impairment does not prevent her from reading or performing a number of close-up tasks.
“There are varying levels of visual impairments within our group,” Hall said. “We have four members who are totally blind, of which one has a caretaker. Most of us, though, have age-related impairments due to conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, detached retina and cataracts.”
Hector Hernandez, who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (severe tunnel vision) in 1990, is almost totally blind. He relies on his guide dog, Heisman, for daily walks and to get around in traffic and crowds. Now 56, Hernandez spent 16 years in the military before being forced to leave the service as his vision deteriorated.
“It was hard for me to accept the fact that I was losing my vision,” Hernandez said. “Because I’m a veteran, I’m fortunate in that I qualify for different benefits through the veterans administration. This includes anything from computers, to GPS systems and visual aides, which has been a huge help for me.”
Hernandez also traveled to Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, Calif., where he and Heisman were teamed up and trained together. The two have been a team for 18 months now.
Blier is one of the more outspoken members of the support group. Diagnosed with retrolental fibroplasia as an infant, Blier recalls being able to distinguish light and could tell when there was snow on the ground through his childhood. But at 13, he went completely blind.
Blier tried using guide dogs twice, but for different reasons, prefers walking with a cane.
“I have better contact with my environment than anyone I know,” said Blier, who is 56. He credits his parents — George and Norma Blier — for teaching him independence. “I was taught to use everything I have. You learn to use what you do have, and stop complaining about what you don’t have.”
Blier says his main function with the support group is to “Help Bill (Hall) with the computer side of the program.”
Referring to himself as the group’s innovator, energy spark and butt-kicker, Blier says, “Bottom line, I’m harder on myself first.”
There are two group members with no visual impairments. One is Janice St. John, who volunteers her time taking notes at the meetings and serves as the reader. Her presence is something the members deeply appreciate.
“She rarely misses a meeting,” Hall said. “We appreciate her very much.”
As the support group follows a myriad of issues on behalf of the visually impaired, an item high on its list is an appeal to Medicare to fund some of the technology and special equipment needed for independent lifestyles.
“They’re doing so much with this technology, but it’s expensive,” Hall said. “Because electronic magnification equipment and other technology used by the visually impaired isn’t considered durable medical equipment, Medicare won’t cover these items.”
The support group will continue to advocate for changes needed to help acquire the funding.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
ABOUT THE GROUP
The Sierra Vista Low Vision Support Group meets at the Oscar Yrun Community Center at 10 a.m. every Tuesday. Meetings last about 90 minutes.
For information, contact Bill Hall by phone at 458-6441 or by e-mail at snigs2@juno.com.
REFERENCE POINTS
The following information is from a quick reference guide provided by the Low Vision Support Group:
• Talking Books, Magazines and Descriptive Video information — The National Library Service has a program that provides these items through the state library in Phoenix. Those interested will first need to sign up at the local library through Debra Chatham, 458-4239.
• Free Talking Newspapers — This service requires a completed registration by calling the following numbers. Sunsounds, which requires a special radio, can be reached by calling (520) 296-2400. Newsline, which is read over the phone by a voice synthesizer, can be contacted by calling (800) 255-5578.
• Free directory assistance is offered to the visually impaired when they register for the service. Call Bill Hall at 458-6441 for a registration form.
• Low vision in-home rehabilitation can be arranged by contacting Mimi Marsh, 364-1291, Ext. 2234. Marsh, who works for the Department of Economic Security, assists in coping with vision loss. Mercedes Maharis, also a DES employee, provides assistance to low vision members of the community with computer problems.
• The Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired can be reached by calling (520) 795-1331. The Web site is www.saavi.us. A Tucson-based facility, the address is 3767 E. Grant Road.
• Veterans Administration Blind Rehabilitation offers a program to all veterans who are legally blind. This is a resident program that provides specialized training and technology needed to cope with vision loss. Contact David Clark at (800) 470-8262, Ext. 5608.
