Grant Program Helps Blind and Low Vision People

The South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind (SCKCB) recently established a matching grant program available to all blind and low-vision people (legally blind) who are citizens of the United States and reside in the counties comprising the Barron River Area Development District in the state of Kentucky. The SCKCB will match up to a maximum of 50% of the total purchase price for any assistive service or device needed to help with a qualified person's daily living.

Some examples of the kinds of devices for which a matching grant might be applied for include, but are not limited to:

• Assistive travel devices like white canes, accessible GPS units, etc.
• Vision enhancing devices like, Closed Circuit TV systems, digital magnifiers, etc.
• Assistive technology like Braille or talking watches, screen reading programs for computers, talking blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring devices, talking scales, clocks, thermostats, etc.

SCKCB President, Dr. Ron Milliman, says:

"Most people have no idea the huge number of devices that are available to assist people who are blind or who have low-vision. We have talking computers, talking watches, talking calculators, talking scales, talking microwaves, home thermostats that allow us to control the heating and air conditioning units in our houses, devices that tell us what color our clothes are, and thousands more."

Milliman says jokingly: "everything in my house talks, except my talking scales lie to me and says 'just one at a time please'."

If you want to apply for a grant or if you have any questions about blindness, or if you are losing your eyesight, or know anyone who has lost, or is losing, their eyesight, or if you are a parent of a blind or sight impaired child, you are invited to attend our next quarterly meeting Tuesday, August 7, starting at 7:00. It will be held at the Disability Resources Initiative, 624 Eastwood St. here in Bowling Green.

For more information contact:

Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind

Phone: 270-782-9325

E-mail: rmilliman@sckcb.org

http://www.sckcb.org

Information provided by South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind