The Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired is now offering office hours twice a month within Premiere Eye Associates at 1400 Hwy. 61 South Suite 130 in Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City.
Appointments with the nonprofit organization, which helps the blind and visually impaired live more independent lives, are available from 9 a.m. to noon on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
“Basically, what we’re hoping to do is get more resources to people who are visually impaired and also letting them know what resources are available to them,” said society member Michelle Harrell, who works in occupational therapy. “Most of the clients we have come to us through optometrists because they have been diagnosed with macular degenerations or glaucoma. These are the main two eye diseases.”
Harrell said she can help people with “low-vision solutions for daily living activities” such as dressing, cooking, operating microwaves and telephones, reading and writing, home safety and fall prevention.
“Depending on what their diagnosis is, most people come in because of reading,” she said. “(Clients) will need help with hand-eye coordination and fall management. This is all part of what we call activities of daily living.”
She said the occupational therapy treatment plan offered through the program includes a thorough evaluation and an additional three to six treatment sessions to address the person’s goals. These visits are free, but if a person needs a device to help them with sight, those must be purchased. There is a cost for additional visits, but the organization helps clients find financial assistance, she said.
“What we try to offer are compensatory strategies, such as with optical devices, we have magnifiers,” Harrell said. “There are electronic magnifiers. We have glasses that will actually read to you. They will also recognize faces and will identify them to you.
“There is some cost for the devices. Some people qualify for financial assistance on a need basis. A lot of times, there are different (financial) resources depending on need. We look for grants. We work with different groups to get financial aid for clients.”
Emory Hicks, 84, of Festus, who has macular degeneration, was a recent visitor to see Harrell at the Premiere Eye Associates Crystal City office.
“I’ll try anything,” Hicks said. “I’m here to see if they can help me with reading.”
Harrell said the society has had a presence in Jefferson County through home visits, but now has a set space within Premiere Eye Associates to meet clients.
“The hope is we can have a bigger reach in the community for those with low vision,” Harrell said. “If people are interested, I do go to homes, as well.”
She said the idea to offer space to the Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired at the Premiere Eye Associates Crystal City office came from Dr. Humeyra Karacal of the practice.
“Dr. Karacal was interested in us coming to this office and is a big supporter (of the society) and asked us to come to the office twice a month,” Harrell said.
Those interested in obtaining appointments with Harrell need to set up the visits by calling Premiere Eye Associates at 636-937-8855.
Karacal said those interested in the society’s services do not need to be a patient of Premiere Eye Associates, but any visits to the office need to be made through the office.
“Any outsider would be welcome to come,” Karacal said.
She said the society seeks financial assistance from the public to help pay for its efforts on behalf of its clients.
“We’re also looking for sponsors and donors and other people who could help (clients) come here,” Karacal said. “They should reach out to the society. Some of these (clients) cannot drive. Volunteers to drive them would be welcome.”
She said the society is trying to spread the word about the services it offers.
“We’re interested in talking to community groups,” Karacal said.
To contact the Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired to donate, volunteer or more information, call 314-968-9000 or go to slsbvi.org.