Viewpoint 2015 Winter Newsletter
A Memo from John Mitchell
I want to share with you exciting news for CABVI and our Community. At our
quarterly Board of Trustees meeting on October 28th, CABVI’s Board approved new
Mission and Vision Statements for CABVI that will guide CABVI’s future direction to
ensure that our services, employment and overall community impact continue to
improve in the years ahead. The process to revise these statements began with a
Board retreat in October 2014. At that offsite retreat, CABVI’s Mission and Vision
were reviewed and evaluated to determine if the current statements will meet future
needs of CABVI and its ability to effectively serve people who are blind or visually
impaired in our Community.
From that retreat, small work groups of the Board were formed to evaluate our
Mission and Vision. In drafting these new statements, the following basic definitions
were used:
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A Mission is what an organization does; its purpose.
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A Vision is what an organization is trying to achieve; the social change brought
about by the organization’s work.
After several months of discussion and refinement, the Board approved the following:
CABVI’s Mission:
“Empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with opportunities to seek
independence”
CABVI’s Vision:
“Ensuring full lives and community inclusion”
With these new guiding principles, CABVI is now well positioned to further our impact
on our community and the lives of people who are faced with the challenge of
significant vision loss. With the help of people like you and many others in our
community we are fully prepared to make a real difference in peoples’ lives.
As 2015 draws to a close, I am reminded that none of this would be possible without
the generous gifts of time and financial support that CABVI receives from so many of
you who support our work in the Greater Cincinnati community and I want to sincerely
thank you for your help and your involvement with CABVI. On behalf of CABVI’s
Board, staff, and volunteers we extend our very best wishes to you and yours for a
joyful holiday season and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
(A portrait-style photo of John Mitchell appears with this article.)
Section: Staff Photos
2015 Gilbert Avenue Staff Photo
First row: Paul Smith, Janet Papin, Jennifer Holladay and Miss Nora, Sheryl
Rottenberger, Todd Farmer, Paula Jordan and Boston, Jennifer Brock, Whitney
Saunders, Patsy Baughn, Kelly Wills. Second Row: Larry Budde, Paige Elwafi, Belinda
White, Cindy Kreis, Pam Muirheid, Sue Bernhard, Peggy Segal, Mary Sutton, Kara
Foster, James Belser, Lori Lindsly, Third row: Jeremy Marcum, Gina Carroll, Carie
Schultz, Anthony DeGregorio, Tami Bovard, John Mitchell, Mike Wigle, Rachel
Doellman, Samantha Greive, Gary Ensing, Tim Schmidt, Larry Klug. Fourth row: Judy
Schermer, Carla Schatzman, Rob Volker, D. Nordling, Anne Hissett, Anthony Steele,
Jennifer DuBois, Greg Gardner, Fifth row: Judy Hale, Stefanie Richardson, Adrianne
Ongolea, Donna Durham, Kelley Young, Vicki Lorenz, Ginny Backscheider, Margie
Riddle, Kristen Imbus, Sheila Boggs. Sixth row: Mandy VanCleave, Terry Skiba, Bill
Neyer, Chuck Geiger, Dennis Logan, Keith Sanker, Sue Guagenti, Deb Cook, Clara
Hulse. Not Pictured: Mark Dewitt, Jeanne Horton, Jennifer Ortiz, Meridith Owensby,
Amy Scrivner, Michelle Woods
(A portrait-style photo of Gilbert Avenue staff appears with this article.)
Contract Management Support Staff
Jim Barber, Olivia Walter and Artemis, Elden Givens, Ebrima Sidibeh, Ron Gillespie,
Der Miller, Renee Ellis, Alicé Ferguson, Kat Schulz, Valerie Despins, Christine Rouleau,
Jim Debus, Drew Ferrall. Not pictured: Hannah DeFelice.
(A portrait-style photo of Contract Management Support Staff appears with this article.)
Base Supply Center Staff
First row: Mary Wilson, Carole Orlando, Dana Easterwood. Second row: Chad Hyder,
Andy Dobrovolc, Anthony Taste, Aaron Engle. (A portrait-style photo of Base Supply
Center Staff appears with this article.)
Section: Agency News
CABVI is accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision
Services (NAC) and has continually met NAC standards for vision rehabilitation
services, responsible management, and public accountability since the inception of NAC
in 1969. In September, after a 9 month self review and on-site review process, CABVI
completed it’s 5 year re-accreditation review from NAC and received a 5 year reaccreditation. (A photo of the NAC logo appears with this article.)
Many of us own iPads, but did you know they can open up a whole new world of
resources for students who are blind or visually impaired? With the help of presenters
from Humanware, CABVI hosted an Access Technology Workshop on September 17th
to help teachers of the visually impaired (TVI’s) learn about the classroom benefits of
using iPads with refreshable Braille devices. Applications that can be accessed on
iPads and other iOS devices provide students with opportunities to read, write,
research, and more. The iOS operating system in these devices make them accessible
right out of the box. The teachers learned the commands for navigating the iOS home
screen, note taking, book reading, and messaging apps through gestures, synthetic
speech, and magnification. Seven participants used electronic braille devices, such as
BrailleNote and Brailliant throughout the day. Pictured is a presenter from Humanware
helping teachers of the visually impaired improve their access technology skills. (A
portrait-style photo appears with this article.)
CABVI’s Donor Appreciation Luncheon was held in The Commons at CABVI on
Wednesday, November 11th. Approximately 40 people attended, including individuals
who are major gift donors as well as representatives from local foundations who provide
generous support for CABVI vision rehabilitation services. (A portrait-style photo
appears with this article.)
Thanks to a generous grant from the Anthem Foundation, the United States Association
of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to be a part of the National Fitness Challenge for
the fourth year. The goal of the program is to raise the physical activity levels of each
participant to the level recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). CABVI is participating again in this year’s program which will
integrate the use of technology and social media to help the participants set goals,
create team environments, and encourage leadership. USABA will provide each
participant with a Fitbit wearable which provides a universal way to measure the number
of steps taken. The Fitbit lets users set daily goals and track progress. Research has
consistently shown that individuals who participate in regular physical activity to improve
their health have higher energy levels, a lower risk of health-related diseases, improved
psychological health, and lower rates of depression and anxiety. For more information
go to www.usaba.org. (A photo of the USABA logo appears with this article.)
Blind Equality Day with White Cane Walk On Thursday, October 22nd, over 80 walkers
from CABVI, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Greater
Cincinnati Chapter of the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) gathered at City Hall
to celebrate the equality of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Deborah Kendrick welcomed the group in front of Cincinnati City Hall along with John
Mitchell, CEO of CABVI. Cincinnati City Council Member Kevin Flynn presented the
Mayoral Proclamation. The group then walked from City Hall to Fountain Square,
carrying signs to raise awareness. The walk ended at Fountain Square with another
brief ceremony emphasizing the abilities of people with vision loss to travel safely with a
white cane. (A portrait-style photo appears with this article.)
Section: CABVI Welcomes New Employees
Business Development
Belinda White, Communication Center Coordinator
Anthony Steel, Communication Center Coordinator
Community Relations
Amy Scrivner, Director of Development & Community Relations
Samantha Greive, Social Media Development Coordinator
Stefanie Richardson, Development & Community Relations Assistant
Margie Riddle, Receptionist
Industries Program
Dwight Crawford, Inflight Assembler
Thomas Dickhoner, Inflight Assembler
Laura Grady, Inflight Assembler
Larry McGonegle, Inflight Assembler
Britanny Washington, Inflight Assembler
Contract Management Service
James Barber, CMS Supervisor
Valerie Despins, CMS Clerk
Elden Givens, CMS Clerk
Ebrima Sidibeh, Contract Closeout Specialist
Program Services
Adrianne Ongolea, Social Service Manager
Kristen Imbus, Early Intervention Vision Specialist
Jennifer Ortiz, Part Time Music Specialist
Finance and Administration
Chuck Geiger, Recruiter & Employment Specialist
Base Supply Center- Office Runway
Mary Wilson, Sales Associate/BSC
Section: Volunteer News
CABVI Annual Volunteer Recognition Event
On Sunday, October 25th, Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
(CABVI) recognized ten volunteers for the number of hours served, honored six
volunteers with special awards, and gave tokens of appreciation to volunteers who
reached a service milestone. John Mitchell welcomed and honored the volunteers. The
keynote message was presented by Andrew Dahmann, CET Senior Television
Producer, and Mary MacDowell, CET Events Manager.
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Receiving special awards:
Mary Anne Duchin of Bellevue, KY; The Samuel S. Sheffield Award, In
Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service.
Jo-Ann Albers of West Chester; The Caroline Fleming Fibbe Award, In
Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service for Radio Reading Services of
Greater Cincinnati.
Dennis Pratte of Hyde Park; The Jim Moser Award, In Recognition for
Outstanding Volunteer Service as a Broadcast Reader.
Linda Morehead of Hebron, KY; The Ron Ott Award, In Recognition for
Outstanding Volunteer Service as a Personalized Talking Print Reader.
Eddalee Hochwalt-Naumann of West Chester; The Paul Silverglade Youth
Volunteer Award, In Recognition for Outstanding Service as a Youth Volunteer.
Gerald Jackson of Westwood; The One on One Award, In Recognition for
Outstanding Volunteer Service as a One on One Volunteer.
Bob Wylly of Liberty Township was recognized for over 550 hours of volunteer service
in the past 12 months.
We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of so many dedicated and
compassionate volunteers,” said John Mitchell, “These awards recognize individuals
who are making CABVI great!”
Volunteers serve from their home, in the community and at CABVI. Since January,
volunteers have logged more than 29,000 hours serving individuals in their homes or in
community facilities. They have provided access to printed information by reading over
16,000 hours in our studio location or from their own personal phones. To learn more
about volunteering opportunities with CABVI, please call (513) 221-8558 or visit
www.cincyblind.org. (Four portrait-style photos appear with this article of Guest
Speaker, Andrew Dahmann, CET Senior Television Producer, Janet Papin and
Honoree Linda Morehead, Jennifer Holladay and Honoree Gerald Jackson, and Guest
Speaker, Mary MacDowell, CET Action Auction Manager.)
Section: Client Profile
Leonard Watson came to CABVI in 2014 after his wife, Jo Ann did some research to
help him find ways to adapt to vision loss. Leonard had lost much of his vision in his
right eye during a spontaneous detachment of his retina while riding in a golf cart in
2000. Glaucoma caused more vision loss in his left eye until he was no longer able to
drive. He talked to the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) about
receiving help so he could continue working as the owner of his own commercial
security company, Verosecurity, which he has had for ten years. BSVI referred him to
CABVI for services including low vision and access technology.
As a creative problem-solver, Leonard began learning ways to adapt to vision loss.
Through CABVI’s low vision services, he received prescribed vision aids including a
hand-held lighted magnifier, a paperweight magnifier, a telescope, and some super
strong reading glasses. He also received binocular glasses that he uses to watch tv or
to see sporting events. These help Leonard maintain his independence and to continue
to do the things he enjoys.
He also learned to work on the computer using Dragon Naturally Speaking software,
ZoomText software, and a ZoomText keyboard which provides short-cuts to many of the
software’s features. Leonard also uses a Prodigy electronic magnifier to take photos of
documents and has the machine read the documents back to him.
Even with all of these tools, Leonard says that it is not as easy as reading with good
eyesight. “All of the things that I received from CABVI work in concert with each other.
CABVI provided the instruction to help me figure out how to do each activity in life after I
lost so much of my vision. Individuals don’t have to figure out how to do it themselves,
let the experts at CABVI help you.” (A portrait-style photo of Leonard Watson appears
with this article.)
Section: Planned Giving
A Legacy of Generosity
William H. Albers Foundation has been a generous source of support for CABVI since
the 1970’s. The Albers Foundation was established after Mr. Albers passed in 1954 so
that his legacy of generosity could continue on in Greater Cincinnati. Mr. Albers, also
known as “Mr. Supermarket” in his time, pioneered a radically new idea in food
merchandising during the depression when he opened the first Super Market in the
United States. His ideas included selling at unheard-of low prices, pricing every item
individually, itemizing each item on the register tape, and having the same price every
day. His revolutionary idea was to display foods for self-service and encourage
customers to select the food they wished to purchase. He was also the founder of the
Super Market Institute and he was twice honored with the Degree of Doctor of Laws-by
the Athenaeum of Ohio in 1942 and Xavier University in 1946. One of his favorite
sayings was, “When you want a real job done, get a busy man to do the work.”
CABVI is very grateful to the Albers Foundation for many years of generous support for
various equipment needs, for Radio Reading Services and other programs, and also for
Early Childhood and Youth Services. CABVI’s Board of Trustees created the Visionary
Society as a way to thank our donors for planned gifts during their lifetime. With the
donor’s permission, members of the Visionary Society are listed in the Annual Report
and on the donor wall at CABVI. Planned gifts vary in size and can be structured in
several tax-advantaged ways, through bequests, life insurance policies and beneficiary
designations on retirement plans.
If you have made arrangements for a planned gift, please let us know so that we can
recognize you as a member of our Visionary Society in our Annual Report and on the
CABVI donor wall. Please call CABVI at 221-8558 for more information. (A portrait-style
photo of Mr. Albers appears with this article.)
Section: Development News
GRANTS AWARDED
 Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) appreciates a
$2,000 grant for CABVI’s Social Enterprise program from Interact for Health.
 The Louis and Melba Schott Foundation provided a helpful grant in the amount of
$7,500 for CABVI’s Early Childhood and Youth Services Music Program.
 CABVI is grateful for a $2,500 grant from Charles Scott Riley III Foundation to
provide adaptive equipment and instruction for school-age children with vision
loss.
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN 2015
With generous community support, CABVI provided vision rehabilitation services to
4,903 individuals in 2014. Please consider a 2015 gift to CABVI’s Annual Campaign.
Your gift helps people with vision loss in our community maintain their independence
and live life to its fullest.
1) For $25 a year, CABVI could provide a pair of sun filters that allow an
individual who is sensitive to
glare to see curbs and steps on sunny days.
2) For $50 a year, CABVI could provide a white cane for a person with vision loss
to use for safe travel.
3) For $100 a year, CABVI could provide a specialized hand-held lighted
magnifier for an older person with macular degeneration to use for reading.
4) For $250 a year, CABVI could provide instructional equipment for a family to
use with their visually impaired child.
5) For $500, CABVI could provide initial instruction to a student with vision loss in
the use of access technology on a computer or tablet.
Please be as generous as possible to help meet the growing needs of people of all ages
in our community who are blind or visually impaired. Thank you!
Section: Listener’s Corner
The Listeners’ Corner is news and helpful tips for the listeners of Radio Reading
Services (RRS) radio broadcasts, Personalized Talking Print service (PTP) and One on
One clients. Services and equipment offered through RRS programs are free of charge
to people who are blind or visually or print impaired. For more information, call (513)
487-4245.
RRS BROADCASTS
Catch Moments in History live every Monday at 2:00PM or listen to the re-broadcast on
Sundays at 8:00PM. Bill Vonderhaar reads stories from history magazines about World
War I and II, the American Old West, the Renaissance Era, and much more. The program
ends with a historical trivia game.
PTP
Access the public mailboxes by following the menu at the welcome greeting. Using one
button key commands, you can quickly locate the mailbox you want to hear. To locate
store ads, use the menu at the welcome greeting by pressing 3. Kroger ads can be
heard in mailbox 5301 or 5302, IGA in 5303, Walgreens in 5304, CVS Pharmacy in
5305, Meijer grocery ads in 5306, Meijer department store ads in 5307, Target in 5309,
Kohl’s in 5310, Remke Markets (Ohio) in 5312 and Remke Markets (Kentucky) in 5313.
Happy shopping!
One on One
Did you worry that an important letter might be hiding in a large stack of mail? If so, then
a One on One volunteer might be a great fit for you. A volunteer can come to your home
weekly to read the mail and complete print paperwork. Contact Jennifer Holladay (513)
487-4237 for more information.
Section: Bulletin Board
WHY SHOP CINCYSIGHT.ORG? - Through our office supply social enterprise
individuals who are blind or visually impaired are provided jobs and professional training
to develop skills needed to succeed in the work force. With an unemployment rate for
individuals who are blind at 70%, the goal of CincySight.org is to operate with at least
75% of its direct labor from people who are blind or visually impaired. Support our
mission by visiting CincySight.org today and sign up for promotional emails, create an
account or shop as a guest!
IMPORTANT NOTICE – Telephone solicitation campaigns claiming to benefit persons
who are blind are being conducted in our community by other organizations. CABVI is
not involved in these solicitations, does not condone the methods used, and does not
accept money raised through these campaigns. If you have questions about a
telephone solicitation call, contact your state’s Division of Consumer Protection.
Edit Box
Viewpoint is a publication of the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually
Impaired, a not-for-profit organization offering blind and visually impaired people the
opportunity to seek independence. CABVI depends upon various sources, including
gifts from the community and bequests made through a will, for financial support. For
information or assistance:
513-221-8558
Toll free: 1-888-687-3935
www.cincyblind.org
Email: info@cincyblind.org
If you wish to be removed from our mailing list, please call 513-221-8558 and ask for
the Viewpoint editor.
Member, National Industries for the Blind
• Accredited Member, National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services
• Member, National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind •
Member, VisionServe Alliance • Member, Association for Education and Rehabilitation
of the Blind and Visually Impaired • Member, Ohio Radio Reading Services •
Member, International Association of Audio Information Services • ISO 9001:2008
Certified
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider • An Affirmative Action Employer
Viewpoint is available in Braille, large print, CD and at www.cincyblind.org.