Information and Resources for Support Group Leaders
""Vision Exchange 2011 was chock full of benefits for me. I gained expert perspective on the practice of vision care and treatment of common age-related eye diseases, critical contacts and information about benefits valuable to members in my support group, and applicable insight into the reasons why group members respond differently to their impairments and the other members in the group," offered Rose Karasti, LCSW, who leads a low vision support group for North Shore Senior Center. "
Vision Exchange
Vision Exchange is a listserv for leaders of vision loss support groups in the Chicago and suburban area. It is a forum where leaders can advertise their group meetings, ask for advice on any aspect of running a vision loss support group, find resources, and connect with other leaders to share ideas and motivation needed to run a successful group. To join send an email request to polly@guildfortheblind.org.
Once a year (usually the first Friday in June) the Vision Exchange listserv members meet at a community location for a day of professional development and networking. Please contact Polly Abbott, Director of Rehabilitation Services at Guild for the Blind for more information at 312-236-8569 or polly@guildfortheblind.org.
How Can I Start a Vision Loss Support Group?
Perhaps you work some place where you notice a great many people struggling to cope and adapt to vision loss, and you want to start a support group to fill the need you've identified. If you have never run a support group before, you can learn how by taking the free Hadley School for the Blind course: Self-Help Groups. Hadley is also a wonderful resource for your clients and their families.
At Guild, we have helped to start many area support groups. We also offer a variety of support groups at our downtown Chicago office. We can provide ongoing support for you in terms of programming and speakers of interest to vision loss support groups.
Description of the Guild's Vision Loss Support Groups
Ten Topic Ideas for Your Vision Loss Support Group
