Free Friday classes to give a glimpse at the free services provided for adults and children who are visually impaired; Volunteers also needed to assist with programs, classes, and tutoring for people with low vision throughout the year

San Diego County CA— While nearly 35,000 people in San Diego County live with low vision or are completely blind, only 20 percent of San Diego County residents who are visually impaired take advantage of the free classes and programs hosted by Braille Institute San Diego. The center is a hidden gem in the University City area, and classes focus on much more than learning braille. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping people with permanent vision loss, offering free workshops and events to help them achieve greater independence despite the barriers people affected by macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, corneal edema, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and other eye conditions may face.

Dining in the Dark Workshop is Aug. 18

In August, Braille Institute San Diego will host a variety of free workshops that are open to the public, which focus on helping adults and children build skills to live well with low vision and also foster independence. These free daily living workshops help students strengthen skills as well as give the community an opportunity to learn more about sight loss through experiential opportunities. The upcoming “Dining in the Dark” workshop on Friday, August 18, gives attendees a chance to step into the shoes of someone who is visually impaired to experience how one with low vision enjoys a meal in a restaurant or at home. Whether you have standard vision or are facing vision loss, guests will learn some of the eating and dining techniques a visually impaired individual might use, and can foster understanding of the subtle and not-so-subtle differences that come with doing every day tasks when losing one’s eyesight. Admission is free for the workshop. For more information or to register for the event, visit brailleinstitute.org/sandiego or call 858-452-1111.
“Braille Institute staff and volunteers strive to empower our students, and provide them with a sense of independence through the informative workshops we offer,” said Darlene G. Miller, M.A., educational programs manager, Braille Institute San Diego. “The skills and daily life hacks we teach not only boost their confidence, but also reduces the isolation our students typically face when losing their eyesight. Braille Institute San Diego isn’t just a place for learning, but a community.”
The “Dining in the Dark” workshop as well as all classes offered by Braille Institute San Diego, are open to the public and are free of charge. For more information or to register for the Summer 2017 workshops, visit brailleinstitute.org/sandiego or call 858-452-1111.