by admin | Dec 6, 2023 | Blog, Feature, News
Throughout our 80-year history, Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey has been a thought leader in the programs and services offered to those with vision loss. What began as a summer residential camp for women with vision loss has grown into an organization that provides unique state-of-the-art programs. Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey has been ahead of its time every step of the way.
Debbie’s Story
Debbie, a VLANJ program participant, shares her story below:
It all began when I was nine years old.
Countless eye doctor visits and big scary buildings in the city. Drops that stung and bright lights as strong as the sun were put in my eyes. Gooey pads with wires sticking out were attached to my head.
I was diagnosed with a rare eye condition called Stargardt Disease. I only see parts of things and can’t tell if something is a shadow or a real object. This means I am always questioning what is happening around me. It makes me anxious, afraid and exhausted.
My mom and dad were wise and strong. They gave me my wings so I could find my own way in life. I was allowed to walk to school or a friend’s house, go downtown and take a bus to the mall by myself.
They loved me enough to put their fears aside so I could gain my independence.
I was crushed when I realized I would never drive, and I hated when my eyes grew too tired to read. The accessible technologies we have today did not exist yet, so I opted to forgo college. I got married and raised two daughters. My life was happy and normal until…
My vision loss progressed to the point I could no longer find workarounds to do many things on my own. I knew I needed to find help!
By some miracle, I found Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey. Here, people just like me were doing remarkable things.
This was the right place! The right people! Here, I was determined to learn.
We come to VLANJ from all over and are taught the skills we need to maintain our independence.
Here, the playing field is level. The burden lifts, the dark clouds of fear and insecurity part, and our hearts are light!
For a few hours each week we forget we are blind.
The only color I see clearly is bright yellow – that’s why I love sunflowers!
At home, I surround myself with bright yellow. I tell my eyes, “I know you can see this color, here it is!”
SUPPORT VLANJ
Debbie’s story is one among many woven into VLANJ’s 80-year dedication of empowering those living with blindness and low vision.
To support our Annual Appeal, please visit our donate page.
Your gift will continue to grow programs and services at VLANJ. Thank you!
by admin | Jun 9, 2023 | Blog, Events, Feature, News
And we can’t thank you enough.
For our second annual Day of Giving, our goal was to raise $8,888 celebrating 80 years of VLANJ. Not only did we meet that goal, but with the help of our incredible donors, we exceeded it!
We want to say a huge, resounding “thank you” to all those who helped us spread awareness, gave a donation, and/or came to visit us in person during this amazing event.
We are so grateful for such a generous display of kindness and support! Because of you, we are able to continue providing support, services, and resources to those living with vision loss.
We look forward to all that next year has in store – stay tuned for next year’s celebration!
Did you miss our Day of Giving? You can still donate and make an impact. Thank you!
by admin | May 17, 2023 | Blog, Events, News
VLANJ Day of Giving 2023
Save the Date! VLANJ’S Second Annual Day of Giving will take place on Thursday, June 8th!
Our goal is to raise $8,888 in 1 day to celebrate 80 Years.
The VLANJ Day of Giving brings our community of program participants, alumni, staff, and friends together in support of our mission and history of providing services to people with vision loss.
Our Goal: Our goal of raising $8,888 honors our 80-year history where our program participants have spent time together learning skills to lead an independent life and where generations of alumni, families, friends, and staff have helped to shape VLANJ. On the Day of Giving, we celebrate our shared connection to this special place in Denville, NJ.
Our History: It all began in 1943, when a group of individuals met to address societal bias against people who, like themselves, were blind or had profound vision loss. They formed the New Jersey Association for the Blind and started the state’s first summer residential camp program for women in Denville, NJ. The founders focused on women’s needs because they had fewer options for leading an independent life at that time. Under the name NJ Foundation for the Blind, the summer camp expanded its offerings to provide life-skills training to help those with vision loss live more independent lives.
Over time, it became evident that providing tools to promote independence was key to helping individuals with vision loss. VLANJ recognized this growing need and expanded its mission to focusing on teaching basic and essential life skills, as well as providing health and wellness activities year-round for both men and women. Currently, VLANJ offers a full continuum of in person programs in Denville and virtual classes to individuals and families all over the world!
Honor: Make your donation in honor of or in memory of a person with vision loss or a person who has provided services to help people with vision loss.
by Carly Eden Stokes | Dec 13, 2022 | Blog, News
VLANJ’s 2022 Annual Appeal letter (excerpt)
Who Is Lisette?
Lisette is a vibrant artist, mother, wife, and teacher. She loves her life. She is also functionally blind.
Becoming a mother had always been her plan. But the unthinkable cannot be planned. Complications during Lisette’s pregnancy with twins led to a stroke and significant vision loss. Brokenhearted, she thought, “Will I be able to care for my children without my sight?” To add to her pain, Lisette was now also an artist without sight. Feeling hopeless, she put down her brushes for twelve years.
Lisette’s return to art
Twelve years ago at VLANJ, Lisette sits before a blank canvas, crying. With gentle encouragement from the art therapist, she tentatively makes a few strokes. The therapist outlines the strokes with an epoxy glue gun, creating a 3-D surface. Lisette, feeling the outline, starts to fill the spaces with color and texture, creating her first painting.
Fast forward to today, Thursday morning art classes at VLANJ with Lisette now the teacher. She encourages the group to explore colors by linking them to senses of taste and smell. Like the color purple… plums are purple. How does a plum smell, taste, and feel? Sweet, sticky? Purple is now sweet and sticky!
They proceed to create beautiful works of art!
“With vision loss, art is seen with the mind’s eye and then expressed through color and texture.”
What Is Art?
Art is paint, textures, colors. Images that can be felt, touched, and seen…
A story of life and loss. A rebirth of mother and artist. For Lisette, the journey was not easy – but she will be the first to tell you, that along with the tools and skills she gained at VLANJ, came the confidence and motivation to live the life she always dreamed of.
“Be my friend,” Lisette invites her students, “and we will create together.”
Vision loss is devastating, and services for adults are limited. For almost 80 years, VLANJ has empowered people with vision loss or blindness by providing support, education, and training in independent living skills and assistive technology. Here, thousands have been given the “vision” of life’s possibilities.
To support our Annual Appeal, please visit our donate page: www.vlanj.org/donations/
Your gift will continue to grow programs and services at VLANJ. Thank you!
by Carly Eden Stokes | Dec 11, 2022 | Blog, News
For Giving Tuesday this year, we honored Claudia Schreiber, a former VLANJ program participant, advocate, and Board of Trustee. Claudia lost her vision completely in 2005, and diligently figured out ways to adapt. At the time, she was in her mid-40s and had two children in elementary school. When Claudia learned about Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey (then called New Jersey Foundation for the Blind) 11 years ago, she had her driver take her the 50-plus miles from her home in Marlboro Township to the program in Denville. “At first it was strange. I’d never met a blind person before,” she said. Claudia explained: “I’d always tried to pass as a sighted person because I was ashamed of being blind.”
Claudia began attending VLANJ weekly, learning skills to reclaim her independence and rekindling her passion for art. The first pieces she created were self-portraits with clay. Her VLANJ instructor “gave me the courage to get back into my life,” said Claudia, who’d earned a degree in art and sociology from New York University in 1982. “I fell in love with this organization.”
Claudia devoted her time to empowering others who lost their sight, and was dedicated to lightening the burden of others. Claudia died May 26, 2021 from colon cancer at age 61, leaving behind dear family and friends, and a legacy that will fortify VLANJ programs for years to come. Days before her death, she established The Claudia Schreiber Program Fund. She asked that friends and loved ones continue to contribute to the VLANJ fund in her memory.
For Giving Tuesday 2022, we supported Claudia’s fund and honored her legacy.
by Carly Eden Stokes | Oct 31, 2022 | Blog, Events, News
On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, we held our main fundraising event of the year, Dining in the Dark – and the support we received was truly wonderful.
Two attendees enjoy Dining in the Dark. One individual wears learning shades.
Dining in the Dark was an immersive event through a world of smell, taste, and sound, offering attendees a unique sensory experience like no other. The evening helped us raise funds for our programs here at VLANJ, and featured a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner in the dark, and entertainment. It also included incredible words by VLANJ Board Member Ming Wu, the Saddle River Valley Lions Club, and VLANJ program participant and creator of The Blind Vine, Debbie Azzarone.
VLANJ Program Director Linda Groszew and Program Participant and author of the Blind Vine, Debbie Azzarone, speak at Dining in the Dark.
We couldn’t be more grateful to each of our sponsors and donors, and to those who continue to support Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey – THANK YOU!
Thank you to our sponsors:
Williams Jones Wealth Management
The Church of the Saviour, Denville, NJ
Mary Ann and Brian Zino
New Jersey Natural Gas
Advanced Center NJ
Norman Dean Home For Services, Inc.
DCM Associates
General Vision Services
Thatcher McGhee’s
Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin
Modera Wealth Management
Dyer Landscaping & Lawn Care
Board Member Sponsors Lyndsey Lord, Kelly and Kevin Bleach, Carl and Sue Augusto, Carol and Jake Ray, and Dora T. Meler.
VLANJ Board Member Ming Wu speaks at Dining in the Dark.
The VLANJ Silent Auction is featured.
Didn’t make it to our event this year? Not to worry – follow us on social media to stay up to date on all upcoming in-person and virtual events!
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