Blind Industries and Services of Maryland is the April AFB Senior Site Agency of the Month! Find out more about Senior Site, which encourages older adults with eye diseases to live independently and productively, and connects them and their family members to the local services and resources they need.  You can find AFB’s Senior Site at http://www.afb.org/seniorsitehome.asp.

SENIOR SERVICES

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) offers a wide range of training programs and services for blind and low vision senior citizens. Skills training in non-visual techniques empowers seniors to regain independence, enhance self-esteem, and enjoy life to the fullest. Training is available in a format that will accommodate each senior’s individual needs. Options include:

• Center-Based Training Programs
• In-Home Teaching
• Residential Senior Retreats
• Community-Based Workshops
• Monthly Support Group Meetings

BISM Senior Services are available from the mountains to the shore! Training Centers in Baltimore, Cumberland and Salisbury!

S.A.I.L.   Seniors Achieving Independent Living
Baltimore, Cumberland, Salisbury and surrounding areas
Seniors meet twice weekly for a full day of education and instruction in Braille, computer technology, independent living, cooking, adjustment to vision loss, and cane travel (advanced travelers will learn to utilize public transportation systems). Seniors enjoy making new friends, peer interaction, off-site training excursions, community activities, and special classes such as gardening, rug making, crafting, and more!

Click below for Ruth Sager's introduction to the BISM Senior SAIL program, and personal accounts from two of our SAIL graduates Doris and Norman.

Community-Based Workshops
Statewide
Seniors meet within their own communities for a full day of skills training, peer interaction, socialization, and support. A luncheon is included.

Workshops will be held for groups of ten or more at various locations across the state.

Support Groups

S.T.A.R.S.  - Cumberland, MD

V.I.P.S.   - Salisbury, MD
Support group members participate in training classes, group discussions, adaptive aid demonstrations, music therapy, book club, adjustment to blindness seminars, peer support, as well as guest speakers, community outings, and more!

In-Home Teaching
Blindness skills training is available at home for those seniors who cannot attend center-based training. Within the comfort and convenience of home, seniors are taught Braille, cane travel, and daily living skills. Participants are taught non-visual methods for cooking, cleaning, laundry, money identification, medication labeling, neighborhood travel, appointment management, as well as the use of aids and appliances, and specialized services for the blind. This training is individualized to meet the needs of the senior determined to remain independent in their home environment.

Residential Senior Retreats
Exciting four-day residential retreats specifically for senior citizens dealing with vision loss are presented throughout the year at various locations around the state. Seniors learn new skills, build self-confidence, and develop strategies for living independently with vision loss. Classes include cane travel, Braille, adjustment to blindness seminars, computer technology, independent living, cooking, as well as community outings, social activities, and crafts. The residential format allows for expanded training time in the evenings and the opportunity for special evening outings. Meal preparation at dinner time provides an additional avenue for learning. Overnight accommodations are provided at a hotel in close proximity to the training center. Senior participants form lasting friendships among their peers and establish a strong support network for the future.

Computer Technology Classes
Specialized computer technology classes provide seniors with instruction on state-of-the-art computer hardware and software. They learn basic keyboarding, MS Office, composing documents in Word, surfing the Internet, sending and receiving email, printing documents, JAWS, screen readers, screen magnification, portable note takers, and a variety of other applications.

 

Contact BISM today to:

* Schedule a facility tour in Baltimore, Cumberland, or Salisbury
* Sign-up for a Community-Based Workshop or Residential Senior Retreat
* Arrange for an In-Home Teaching Visit
* Start a Support Group in your area
* Join any of the above programs
* Request additional information

Baltimore: Ruth Sager 1-888-322-4567, ext. 2649   rsager@bism.org
Cumberland: Roger Williamson 1-888-267-4111   rwilliamson@bism.org
Salisbury: Amy Crouse 1-888-749-1366   acrouse@bism.org