Sight Loss Services

CONTACT:

81 School St., PO 414
West Dennis, MA 02670
508-394-3904
www.sightloss.org

Cynthia Stead, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Loss of vision causes fear and a sense of isolation. The mechanics and logistics of daily living-paying bills, brushing teeth, making phone calls, shopping — suddenly become complex challenges. Sight Loss Services offers peer support and self-help training to people learning to cope and to function safely and independently with the loss of sight. The agency serves Cape Cod and the Islands, but has received national and even international requests for help.

Peer-led support groups are the entry-point into SLS's various services, which include home independence training, providing adaptive aids, information and referral, and a telephone buddy network. SLS needs to grow to meet demand; that means increasing its support-group program. There are now 11 groups, meeting monthly throughout the Cape and the Islands. Driver-Guides are needed to assist some of the visually-impaired group leaders to the meetings. This is a small ($90,000 budget), highly effective agency, trying to meet a genuine need that only they are addressing in their area. Your contribution will make a big difference.

(1997: HUMAN SERVICES: Health and Aging: Disabilities and Children's Disease)