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September 08, 2007
Dealing With Vision Loss
ST. LOUIS - Blind since birth, Fred Olver has devoted his life to demolishing stereotypes and breaking down barriers, and as a rehabilitation teacher, he has taught others facing vision loss to do the same. Now Olver presents a comprehensive guide for anyone directly or indirectly affected by vision loss in his new book, Dealing With Vision Loss.
Leading readers through the fears and uncertainties of vision loss, Olver offers answers and hope for individuals losing their vision, family members of those individuals, parents of visually impaired children, those who interact with the visually impaired on a regular basis and people interested in pursuing a degree to work with the visually impaired. Dealing With Vision Loss is also a vast resource of practical information, explaining how to find everything from talking watches to Braille playing cards to magnifiers.
Fueled by aging baby boomers, between 10 and 15 million Americans will suffer significant vision loss over the next 30 years, according to Olver's research. How will the social services network accommodate this influx, and how will these individuals continue to function on their own? Where will they learn the necessary skills not only to function, but also to cope?
Dealing With Vision Loss outlines training options for the visually impaired, explaining what skills are needed and why, and how and where those skills can be acquired. Large print and Braille, talking computer software, canes and guide dogs, bill paying, TV watching, newspaper reading and organizations that support the visually impaired are among the topics discussed. Parents will learn "absolutely the most important skill," according to Olver, that blind children should acquire before entering the school system. He also explains the effects public schools and schools for the blind can have on a child's development.
Dealing With Vision Loss clears a path to a fulfilling life for those confronted with the unfamiliar and sometimes overwhelming challenges associated with vision loss.
Olver received a bachelor's degree in communications and secondary education and a master's degree in blind rehabilitation teaching, both from Western Michigan University. He hopes Dealing With Vision Loss will be used as a classroom aid in teaching the philosophy necessary to develop positive training programs for the visually impaired. He lives with his daughter, Maggie, in St. Louis.
Posted by Nancy at September 8, 2007 03:54 PM