RDPFS Resources for Partners March 3, 2023 – Partners for Sight (2023)

by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Intern

The start of March means tax season is truly upon us. The following is a list of Internet resources to guide you in completing the necessary documentation:

-turbo taxtimean article on presentation with vision loss, updated for tax year 2022. Covers the various tax deductions for which people with vision loss may qualify, although it does not directly address affordable ways to file.

- An article ofNational Institute of Disabilitytimemore about the tax deduction for people with vision loss.

-OInternal Revenue Service (IRS)It has oneaffordable tax resources page, including links to accessible tax forms and publications. Another IRS page explains thedeductions, credits and other benefitspeople with disabilities can claim.This article from the American Council of the Blind (ACB))explains the IRS offers in a bit simpler language. It's important to note that accessible forms are not only available in PDF format, which can be challenging for screen readers, but also in HTML, plain text, e-Braille, and large print versions. Another plain language explanation is provided bythis IRS press release.

- Finally,VisionAwareIt has onetax guidebringing together various resources aimed especially at people with low vision.

We hope this information is helpful and that tax season runs as smoothly as possible for all of our readers.

by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Intern

Bird watching, particularly the auditory aspect, is a popular pastime year-round for people with vision loss. As we head into spring, here's a quick rundown of what to expect from the North American bird world in the coming months. Going into March, it isduck season. Not to hunt, but to migrate back north to their nest sites. Taking trips to places where many species of ducks congregate along with geese, gulls, eagles, and other winter birds can be a rewarding experience. In addition to being generally vocal, male ducks display elaborate courtship displays to attract females, complete with distinctive calls for each species. This is also the time whensongbirds, who spent the winter in silence, raise their voices. You can expect thrushes, cardinals, sparrows, finches, chickadees, woodpeckers and others, especially in the morning. EITHERmigratory songbirds, including sparrows, finches, and blackbirds, are also attractive. However, the true excess of songbirds migrate from mid-April in the south to late May in the north. Easily overlooked unless you know they're coming, most notable are more than 50 species of small, colorful, vocal birds calledoveralls. Showing up even in small pockets of wood, each species has its own specific songs, and you never know from one day to the next what may drop in your garden or park. Other migrants at this time include swallows, flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, tanagers, and grosbeaks. Starting in June, the singing drops drastically and you start to hear the persistentbegging callsof chicks eager to be fed by their parents. Once it becomes less noticeable, we go back to the fall migration.all about birdsincludes sounds for all our common birds. However, for those looking to learn songs more systematically, two of the best resources available to purchase are thePeterson watching earmuffsCD series andLarkwiremusic learning game

Duringlighthouse guildnew online support group “Ask TVI”, which takes place on the second Thursday of every month, onceTeacher with visual impairment (TVI)will provide information on childhood vision loss, development, early intervention, educational policies, transitions, and much more. The first discussion, on March 9, 2023 at 1 p.m. m. ET, will address the stages of visual development and common sights of vision problems in children. Know morehere in the discussion "Development of vision, from birth to 5 years".

Millions of people are now facing long-term chronic health conditions as a result of their initial infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms affect people in many ways and can affect the ability to work. “Prolonged COVID may be a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, so employers must ensure accommodation processes and practices are effective in retaining much-needed workers.” A webinar ofJob Accommodation Network (JAN)on March 9, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. m. to 3:00 p.m. m. ET will provide information on the impact of Long COVID on the workplace. The program will include discoveries of theDisability Management Employers Coalition (DMEC)on the subject, as well as tips for navigating the hosting process, “hosting solutions and practical resources from JAN and theEmployer Assistance and Disability Inclusion Resource Network (EARN).” For more information and to apply, visit the JAN pageWhat you need to know about the long-term impact of COVID in the workplace.

by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Intern

During the month of March,Social Work Month 2023We salute and thank social workers for their services and emphasize their importance for the rehabilitation of people with vision loss. The 2023 theme, “Social Work Breaks Barriers”, is a perfect summary of this. an article ofAmerican Optometry Association (AOA) summarizes the main social work services related to rehabilitation. Their sample list includes food assistance, resources for those who no longer have a driver's license, medication management and assistance programs, help with disability advocacy, mental health resources, transportation resolution to medical appointments, and much more. Social workers have also been recognized for their role in treating mental health issues that can arise among older adults and others with vision loss, according to many sources, including theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recognizing this potential problem, the AOA recommends that clinicians use screening questions to assess whether to involve a social worker, including asking the patient directly about this step. an article aboutblindness and visual impairmentofSocial Work Encyclopediadescribes the services that social workers can provide to people with vision loss from the perspective of the profession and gives potential clients an idea of ​​what to expect from them. Reinforcing the theme that “social work breaks down barriers”, theNational Association of Social Workers (NASW)has recently recognized its importance for people with vision loss, awarding itsNational Lifetime Achievement AwardforNancy D. Miller, LMSW, Executive Director and CEO ofVISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually ImpairedIn New York. NASW Executive Director Angelo McClain, Ph.D., LICSW, reflecting on the impact of social work on the lives of people with vision loss, said: “'Ms. Miller has dedicated her career to helping a community that is often marginalized and lacking in resourceful and creative ways. She showed how the profession of social work can help individuals and families overcome challenges and reach their full potential and help make our society a better place for everyone, including people who are blind or visually impaired.'” Once again, let's thank all the workers for the assistance they provide to people with vision loss.

An annual global initiative ofWorld Glaucoma Association (WGA),world glaucoma weekseeks to raise awareness about this leading cause of irreversible blindness. Vision damage caused by glaucoma can be limited with early detection and treatment. This initiative includes a series of activities worldwide that invite people affected by this condition, ophthalmologists, health professionals and the general public to "contribute to the preservation of sight". The goal is to make everyone aware of the need for regular, comprehensive eye exams to identify glaucoma as early as possible and prevent vision loss. WGA provides features that includenewslettersand social media posts (Facebook,Gore,Instagram) that can be shared and used to generate ideas for local projects. Get more information by consultingThis is World Glaucoma Week.

Applications are being accepted for a scholarship to foster the development of journalists specializing in covering disability issues.The New York Times newspaperIt's inNational Center on Disability and Journalism, a service ofArizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, are working together for the third year on this grant "to address the lack of coverage of disability issues in journalism." Fellows will receive mentoring, a peer network, and training related to coverage of disability issues. The Times is looking for candidates for its class of 2023-24 scholarships who are "strong writers and creative thinkers and eager to dedicate themselves to an intensive year-long journalism experience." This program is aimed at “journalists at the beginning of their career”. For more information and to apply, read the listinghere for Reporter Fellow, Disability. additional detailsabout The New York Times Fellowship are available here.

"Celebrating the women who tell our stories"bookmark March Theme,Women's History Month 2023. ONational Alliance for Women's Historywill be an encouraging acknowledgment of women today and throughout history who have been active in “all forms of media and storytelling” including print, radio, theater, film, blogging, podcasting, and other forms Communication. Throughout the month, this Newsletter will highlight messages and people who exemplify the theme.

A Celebration of Black Women Leaders in the Field of Blindness

To start recognitionwomen's history month, and when we mark the conclusion ofblack history month, the following are descriptions of some of the African American women who were leaders inNational Federation of the Blind (NFB). These descriptions are taken from an article onMonitorear Brailleby Denise Avant, NFB Board Member, inWomen's History Month: A Celebration of Black Women's Leaders in the National Federation of the Blind. Avant is also a member ofBlack Leaders Serving for Advancement (BLSA), a subcommittee ofFederation Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In recent years, the BLSA has held events to "highlight the leadership and leadership potential of African American members..." These leaders shared their stories at a BLSA program that welcomed Black History Month. Woman and was moderated by Avant.
-Dorothy Griffin, current president of the Georgia NFB and Metro Atlanta Chapter, “she loves helping people, she often gets calls from blind people... 'to help them get to the next level, where they want to be...'” Among her many activities, she works in media for NFB-NEWSLINE ® .
-Barbara Manuel, President of the Alabama NFB, "she loves bringing people together to work at the branch," while acting as an advocate for members who come to her when they are "mistreated or discriminated against." She balances her service with the NFB with her work as a blind operator.
-Suzanne Turner, First Vice President of the Ohio NFB, shared her story about growing into her leadership position. Early in her NFB career, she served as president of theCleveland Chapter, resigned after a year because "it was difficult for her to lead effectively..." After completing the national leadership seminars, she again became chapter president. "Telling your story shows your honesty and demonstrates your shared experiences with others."
-Sabrina Simmons, Michigan NFB Second Vice President and Detroit Chapter President, takes a "people-to-people" approach to communicating with members so you can understand "'where they come from and help them develop their talents.'"
All four of these individuals credit the many women in their lives who served as mentors and role models, from family members to elected officials and other members of the NFB, helping to "make them the leaders they are today."

world kidney day, a global initiative, aims to raise awareness of the "importance of our kidneys" to overall health and to reduce the incidence and impact of kidney disease and "its associated health problems..." The WKD 2023 theme, "Kidney health for all," calls for integrated health strategies that prioritize prevention, early detection, and management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including kidney disease, diabetes, and other diseases recognized as "the leading causes of death and disability worldwide…” Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of visual impairment and serious eye disease. The research results indicated that "the prevalence of visual impairment and major eye diseases was approximately two to seven times higher in CKD participants." The survey results also highlighted the importance of ensuring that people with CKD have access to regular eye care to detect and treat eye conditions as early as possible. For more details about the study, read theOptometry Reviewarticle that explains thatChronic kidney disease (is) related to visual impairment. Additional information and resources are also available atNational Kidney FoundationaboutKidney disease, dialysis and your eyes.

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