Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh (BVRS) is a nonprofit agency that provides services for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or who have other disabilities. We offer services in low vision, personal adjustment to blindness training, computer access technology, employment support services, employment opportunities project, community transition program, employment transition program, senior transition program, and deaf blind program. Each of these programs has their own unique roles in our agency. One of our newest programs is the Deaf Blind Vocational Program, a partnership between BVRS and the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, which provides vocational services to Pennsylvania residents with hearing and vision loss. It is one of only a few such programs in the United States. Participants in the Deaf Blind Vocational Program receive a variety of services and training that enhances their independence and assists them in securing competitive employment. Services include personal adjustment to deaf-blindness training, job readiness and job coaching, assistive technology training, orientation and mobility training. Residential accommodations are available. Through the Deaf Blind Program, we have been able to place several people in a variety of employment settings including mailroom, dishwashing, and maintenance.

Deaf blindness affects the whole of the person. Deaf blindness leaves a person feeling very isolated as there is no way to communicate with the outside world. The deaf blind individual’s world ends at their fingertips. This can cause great isolation. By gaining skills in communication and learning how to use assistive technology, the deaf blind individual is able to bridge the gap between the hearing and sighted world and their own world.

If you are interested in finding some assistance for you or someone you know who is Deaf Blind and live in the state of PA please contact me at the information listed at the end of this article. If you are located in another state please look at the list of resources for programs and services for individuals who are deaf blind in your state. The link is also provided on this website.

In addition to the Deaf Blind Program, BVRS also offers Low Vision services, which include a comprehensive low vision evaluation with optical and non-optical device evaluation. Training and rehabilitation strategies with recommended aids are implemented by a team of specialized professionals.

Rehabilitation Services offers a variety of programs that teach blind, vision-impaired or deaf-blind clients how to use their other senses, special equipment and new techniques to live independently. Personal Adjustment to Blindness Training is a comprehensive, immersion program that teaches clients who are vision impaired or deaf-blind how to live independently in their homes and the community. Clients may commute or live in our residence while learning daily living techniques that include money identification, personal grooming, dining, safe cooking, housekeeping, as well as how to participate in community activities and enjoy recreational offerings. Clients learn orientation and mobility, including evaluation and training in sighted guide, the use of a prescription cane, sensory awareness, shopping, and how to use public transportation. Clients develop communication skills in basic Braille, telephone use, record keeping and audio equipment. Instruction in touch-typing benefits beginners who want to proceed to computer training. Clients also benefit from leisure-time activities, fitness program, and a nutritionist who is also a dietician.

The Computer Access Technology Center offers the highest quality training available in the use of adapted computers, software and other electronic devices. Our students range from teenagers to adults of all ages including mid-career professionals, senior citizens and U.S. military veterans. Training is offered in basic computer literacy and word processing, instruction in assembling equipment, installing and updating software, system maintenance, and trouble-shooting. Training on business applications or custom software also can be provided. Workstations are equipped with a wide variety of technology including speech output, screen magnification, Braille displays and optical character recognition systems. Instructors also teach electronic note-taking devices, accessible personal data assistants (PDAs), and split-screen closed circuit TVs (CCTVs). Access Technology students either commute or stay in our residence. In-home or workplace instruction and training also can be arranged. Many of our students have never touched a keyboard, but after successfully completing courses, they are ready to compete in the educational and employment arenas, stay in touch with their friends through e-mail, shop or bank online, or enjoy computers for personal use.

Employment Support Services
BVRS employment specialists offer assistance to both the employer and employee. Employers are assisted in retaining or recruiting and hiring qualified workers. Job seekers are assisted in finding competitive employment. Services include resume and interview preparation, job-seeking skill development, community-based assessments, work site analysis for accommodations, job coaching supports and follow-up services. These services are provided to individuals through Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS), and the Office for Intellectual Disabilities. Individuals do not have to have a visual impairment to qualify for these services. The Employment Opportunities Project is a school-to-work transition program that helps high school students who are blind or have other disabilities find employment. Services include job readiness preparation, mentoring, job shadowing, mock interviews, and community-based work assessments.

BVRS also offers Community Transition Program, Employment Transition Program, and Senior Transition Program at our Homestead campus. The Community Transition Program provides experiences to develop, improve, and expand life-long learning opportunities for adults who have physical impairments or developmental delays. Clients enjoy a low staff-to-client ratio in this structured day program that provides community outings and activities designed to meet their individual needs and development goals. The program is licensed through the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs.

In the Employment Transition Services, persons with vision loss or other disabilities benefit from a variety of jobs and work experiences including stuffing envelopes, collating, labeling and sealing envelopes, and repackaging bulk products, among other work. Participants also have the opportunity to develop vocational skills so they may find jobs in the community. They may also continue working at BVRS. If you are a business or corporation, we welcome your subcontract work. By contracting with us, you will benefit from competitive prices while providing work for persons with disabilities. Employment Transition Services is licensed through the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs.

The Senior Transition Program is a daily living center that serves adults 50 and older who have a variety of disabilities. In this structured day program, clients enjoy a variety of age-appropriate activities including cooking, community outings, and leisure time pursuits such as card and board games. Every month clients bake and sell specialty breads that are sold to BVRS staff. At the end of the year, clients use the proceeds to buy Christmas gifts for local families in need. This program is licensed by the Pennsylvania Office of Long Term Living through the Department of Aging.

If you, or someone you know needs assistance please contact me at
Ashley Norkus anorkus@pghvis.org
412-368-4400 ext. 2241
1800 West St.
Homestead, PA 15120

Below is the list of links we share:

• Hellen Keller National Center
• Helen Keller International/
• www.aadb.org/                American Association of the Deaf-Blind
• Foundation Fighting Blindness
• USA organizations for Deaf-Blind People
• National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness

Hello, my name is Terry McDaniel. I am the acting director for the Pittsburgh Office of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which some people know as PHRC.

We are Pennsylvania’s state civil rights agency.

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has a two-part mission: to enforce Pennsylvania’s nondiscrimination laws and to raise public awareness of what equal opportunity is and how to achieve it.

We let people know what their legal rights and responsibilities are under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act.

AND we give people a place to turn when their rights have been violated.

In Pennsylvania, EVERYONE has a right to live, work and learn free from illegal discrimination. These are basic civil rights.

In general, illegal discrimination happens when someone denies you an opportunity for work, education, housing, or access to public places and services based on several factors.

One of those factors is disability. This also includes being regarded as having a disability, being related to someone with a disability and being a user or trainer of a support or guide animal for a disability.

Illegal discrimination can also include offering someone unequal terms or conditions for work, education, public services or places, buying a home or commercial property, or living in a home.

For example, if you cannot get into a public place to enjoy a service, or if someone charges you more for their services or refuses to make a reasonable accommodation for your disability.

If they harass you because you have a disability or if they won’t allow you to use a service or support animal, it may also be illegal discrimination.

There are many examples of illegal discrimination.

You can learn much more about discrimination and your rights on our website, phrc.state.pa.us.

PHRC investigates other types of illegal discrimination, but today I am going to talk
specifically about housing discrimination.

Housing discrimination includes any act of discrimination that interferes with renting or buying a home, or limits your ability to enjoy living in your
home.

Housing discrimination based on disability would include anything from unfair loan terms, to someone denying you accessible parking, to harassment by a neighbor, to charging fees for you to have a service or support animal, just to name a few examples.

Housing discrimination takes many forms. They are not always obvious or intentional.

Many times, people discriminate because they don’t know their legal responsibilities, despite the fact that state and federal laws have been in place for
decades.

Sometimes people are not aware of the special needs of someone with a hearing loss, deafness or any other disability.

They may not have encountered particular types of disabilities before, or they may not even realize someone has a disability.

Here’s where you come in. Communicating your needs to others will help them know how to work with you.

If you have made a request for a specific type of assistance, such as an interpreter or an assistive device, or if you have explained your need to be accompanied by a service animal and THEN your realtor, lender or landlord refuses your request, you should contact the Human Relations Commission.

We can work with landlords and others to help them understand their responsibilities and meet your needs.

We can also try to find an advocate to assist you through an agency like the Centers for Independent Living.

It is important to remember that you must file a complaint within 180 days of the discriminatory act.

Contact our office. We can help you file your complaint and we will formally investigate the situation. Our contact information is online at phrc.state.pa.us and at the end of this video.

If our investigation finds that illegal discrimination has occurred, we can hold the responsible party liable and take necessary steps to correct the discrimination.

This may include compensating a victim for costs of home alterations and other damages related to the discrimination. It may also include training for the responsible party so that others are not harmed in the future.

Our goal to avoid and end illegal discrimination so that everyone, regardless of their abilities, has an equal opportunity to live, work and learn in Pennsylvania.

Thank you for being our partner in this effort!

You can find more information about equal opportunity, civil rights and training for your group or business on our website, phrc.state.pa.us.

You can also call our Pittsburgh Regional Office at 412-565-5395 or for TTY users, 412-565-5711.

Or you can email us at phrc@pa.gov.

By Amanda O’Hearn PhD

What is Depression? People may feel sad when they are depressed, but we need to know how to separate depression from regular sadness. Yes, we all do experience sadness at times and have no energy. If a person experiences that for two weeks or more, then that is when they should go to the doctor and be screened for depression. People may experience feeling sad for no reason, they may have no interest in participating in their favorite activities, they may not feeling like eating or they may eat too much. Some people experience feeling hopeless or useless. There are many symptoms, and not everyone will experience the symptoms of depression in the same way.
Now, some of you may feel scared because you feel you are being punished and don’t understand why you are depressed. Do not worry, depression is one of the most common disorder, almost 20 million Americans have depression. More women get depressed than men. Doctors do not fully know why people are depressed, it may be because of a chemical imbalance in the brain, it may be because of genetics, or it may be because of hormones (for example, women’s hormones change after they go through menopause). It might be because people have a bad childhood, or because they lost a loved one or are going through a divorce. There are many reasons why people get depressed.

How do I get better? The best way to get better is to see a psychologist/counselor. A psychologist is someone you can talk to. Some psychologists can teach you ways to cope with your sadness and help you move on. Your counselor might also suggest you try medications called antidepressants if therapy alone isn’t enough to treat your depression.

If you think you have depression, go and seek help. If you know anybody who has depression, please share with them what you learned about depression and try and help them go and look for help.

Depression Screener – A screening tool that you can use to learn more about depression and what symptoms you are experiencing. Tell you doctor if you are expereincing depression. Treatment is available.

Deaf Wellness Center at the University of Rochester – The University of Rochester has embarked on a depression screening awareness campaign specifically directed to the Deaf Community. Help is available if you suffer from depression. Check local resource directories to find help in your area.

If you live in Western Pennsylvania and you are looking for a counselor or therapist, the following list is a list of local counselors:
Resource Guide of Behavioral Heath Providers brochure

If you live outside of Western Pennsylvania, your local branch of National Alliance of Mentally Ill may provide resources for you, visit their website: nami.org

Another resource may be your State Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Some state offices provide a useful directory of counselors in each state who are Fluent in ASL, culturally competent and who know about issues related to deafness/hearing loss.

This article is originally published on November 3, 2010.

This New Year print your own personalized card to use when you visit your doctor or any health care office.  You can make your own card to state your communication and language needs.  Click on the “Create Card” button when you have filled in the blanks below.  Print the card and keep it with your other identification cards.

Show the card to let doctors and other health care providers know about your language and communication needs.  When you first schedule an appointment too, let the office know what you need in advance to ensure you have a visit where communication flows smoothly.

Happy New Year from the HealthBridges Team!