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In This Issue: Letter to the Editor Editor's Note The President's Message Call for Papers Lighting for People with Visual Impairments Illinois Celebrates Braille Literacy Month Take Control: Using Raised Markers AFB Senior Site® Turns 2! From the Field of Vision Rehab Facts About Braille You Can Do a Spring Home Maintenance Course From the Editor's Kitchen      Letter to the Editor I really enjoy reading the Newsletter. The article titled "Hindsight is not Always 20/20" was fabulous-just the kind of feedback we need from consumers. I plan to share it in our next Staff Meeting with counselors, rehabilitation teachers, O & Ms, and employment development specialists. So much of what was said struck a chord with my own experiences as a teen. Also, some of the comments reminded me of how good we people with low vision now have it in Alabama, when it comes to accessing rehab services. Your message about strategies for the New Year was definitely thought-provoking enough for me to re-visit it so that I can take up at least one of those strategies. We have begun center-based ADL classes in Birmingham this winter, and the process has been very stressful. Now that we are about to start our second round of six week training sessions, three days per week, I will find using some of the things you suggested helpful. - Carol Braithwaite, Rehabilitation Teacher, Alabama Back To Top Editor's Note "Celebrate good times come on!  It's a celebration Celebrate good times come on!   It's a celebration There's a party going on right here, a celebration that'll last throughout the year Shall bring you good times and good laughter too We're gonna celebrate your party with you Come on now (celebration) We're gonna celebrate and have a good time (celebration) We're gonna celebrate and have a good time It's time to come together, it's up to you What's your pleasure, (everyone around the world come on) Woo-hooh ! (it's a celebration) Woo-hooh! (it's a celebration) Celebrate good times come on!  It's a celebration" As I write this column, I hear Kool and the Gang sing this song in my mind's ear and I have the urge to put on my dancing shoes and join the celebration. How about you? Celebrate what? January 4th, 2009, marked the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birth date. Several organizations and agencies in the blindness field as well as blind and visually impaired individuals are commemorating the bicentennial that is so significant to people who read Braille. It is expected that through the Bicentennial celebrations, more people will be informed of the impact that Louis Braille has had on the lives of people who are blind; specifically, his work that has opened doors to literacy. Since then, there have been many more devoted professionals who have helped improve access to literacy. American Printing House for the Blind's Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field honor those leaders. It is committed to preserving, honoring, and promoting the traditions of excellence demonstrated by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame. Including, William Hadley, Samuel Ashcroft, Anne Sullivan Macy, Josephine Taylor, Sally Mangold, Samuel Gridly Howe, Abraham Nemeth, and many others. For more information about the Hall of Fame, visit their website at http://www.aph.org/.  Other examples of activities that are taking place in honor of this great man include the following: AFB offers online The Louis Braille Museum, an illustrated exhibit that traces the history of Braille and the life of this extraordinary inventor. Also online, you can find a free copy of The Reading Fingers, which is the full text of Jean Roblin's classic 1952 biography of Louis Braille. For more information, visit their website at http://www.afb.org/ The Louis Braille Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit: Throughout 2009, the National Braille Press is taking Louis on the road. The exhibit consists of a 20-panel traveling display in print and Braille that takes a viewer through the highlights of Louis's life, the Braille production process and why Braille remains important today. This exhibit, which started in December 2008, is booked in cities across the country. To find out if it is coming to a city near you, visit their website at www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/louis/index.html Celebrations throughout 2009 are being planned around the world to honor Braille's 200th birthday. For example, France and Brazil have designed a commemorative postage stamp with the words "Louis Braille." The Brazilian Club of Brazil, in Louis Braille's honor, is issuing gold, silver and bronze commemorative medals. The Brazilian National Congress is expected to approve a law by which April 8th will be considered "Braille's National Day." For more information about the global celebrations, visit the website at www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/louis/index.html. MACRT wants to hear from YOU! We welcome your responses to any of the articles in this newsletter. If you wish to respond to any of the authors' opinions, ideas, reactions, or suggestions, please email them to zeze.o.miller@dss.mo.gov We want to hear from you. Help us develop this new section of the newsletter, "From the Field of Vision Rehabilitation." To help expand this area, send us your stories, ideas, new products that work, jokes, or anything you would like to share with our readers. Include your full name and address if you wish to be recognized for the editorial. The deadline for the Summer 2009 edition of the MACRT newsletter is Friday, July 17, 2009. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please email them to the email listed above, or call 573-751-8903. You can have your newsletter e-mailed which will cut down on the cost of postage and paper.  If you are interested in a newsletter via e-mail please contact Sue Dalton or Lucille Dolan at trans_vis@att.net. Back To Top The President's Message By Latisha Houston, CVRT As most of you may know, this year is Louis Braille's 200th birthday!  In honor of his birthday, the Bureau of Blind Services Illinois Braille Committee is hosting several activities throughout the State of Illinois to promote Braille. It is the Committee's goal to make sure the public is aware of the importance of Braille, its usage, and how it is very essential and effective in the lives of blind individuals. The Illinois Braille committee has been very diligently involved in educating the public by demonstrating the use of Braille in everyday life.  We are conducting statewide presentations and exhibiting displays of Braille items to various organizations such as, center's for independent living, the children school for the blind, local businesses, and radio reading services for the blind.  This year we are participating in the Low Vision Conference held in our state capitol Springfield.  Here in Illinois Braille is very much alive.  We hope you are celebrating this great communication system in your state as well. Back To Top Call For Papers November 12, 13, 14, 2009 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Mid-America Conference of Rehabilitation Teachers (MACRT) Association of Southeastern Rehabilitation Teachers (ASERT) The Mid-America Conference of Rehabilitation Teachers (MACRT) and the Association of Southeastern Rehabilitation Teachers (ASERT) are professional organizations dedicated to bring together rehabilitation experts to share ideas, information, professional practices, and experiences. MACRT/ASERT strives to provide stellar professional development opportunities to Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, Rehabilitation Teachers, Orientation & Mobility Specialists, or any educators and rehabilitation professionals working in the field of blindness and/or low vision.  We are pleased to host the 2009 Annual Professional Development Conference, "Brewing Best Practices in Vision Rehabilitation", in Milwaukee Wisconsin.  Rehabilitation professionals, educators, administrators, researchers, and others are invited to submit a proposal for a presentation.  Proposals should have a practical focus and may address a specific area of rehabilitation practices or principles.  This conference will be designed to encourage participants to expand upon their teaching techniques and resources.   Presentations are typically followed by discussion and audience participation. To obtain the Call for Papers Form, contact Jennifer Ottowitz at 414-615-0123 or visit our website at http://www.macrt.20m.com/conference.html Once you have accessed the webpage go to the download link, Call for Papers form located at the bottom of the page and click on it. You will get a message to open or save the document. Select "Open" if you choose to complete the form online. To be placed inside the form, press Alt+Tab. However, if you decide to complete it at a later date, select "save" to save it on you hard drive. The Call for Papers form may be mailed, faxed, or submitted via e-mail attachment as a Word document. Call for Papers due by June 5, 2009.  Should you require additional information, kindly contact: Jennifer Ottowitz, CVRT Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired 912 North Hawley Road Milwaukee, WI 53213 Phone: toll free 877-258-9200  or 414-615-0123  fax 414-256-8748 jottowitz@badgerassoc.org Back To Top Lighting for People with Visual Impairments By Elaine Kitchel Virtually all persons with vision problems should be free from lighted environments where the predominant light waves are blue and/or ultraviolet (UV), or wavelengths less than approximately 500 nano-metre (nm). Blue light conditions are often uncomfortable for persons with diseased or damaged eyes. There is adequate information available to safely state that direct blue light, and/or UV, causes irreparable damage, over time, to the human retina, especially in young children (Chen, 1993). Numerous studies by Ham and Ruffolo (1980) show it is wavelength alone, not duration or intensity that is responsible for cellular damage and cell death in the presence of blue light. Serious examination, about how we light environments for students with visual problems, cannot come too soon. Blue and UV light damage retinal cells because they inhibit production of a chemical called cytochrome oxidase. This chemical is critical to retinal cell respiration and is made in certain layers of the retinal pigmented epithelium (Paulter, 1989). Cytochrome oxidase helps carry oxygen to photoreceptors and other layers of the retina. When blue and UV light strikes the retina, they inhibit the production of cytochrome oxidase, and this results in cell death (Rozanowska, et al., 1998). Warm white fluorescent tubes, which emit light mainly in the green and red wavelengths, offer much better ergonomic choices than cool white tubes or full spectrum tubes or bulbs. The light emitted from warm white tubes is warmer, softer, and does not usually cause problems with glare because red wavelengths are so long, compared to blue and UV light, and demand far less work from retinal cells (Sliney, 1983). If there is a choice to light the school, workplace, or home with either cool white fluorescent, full spectrum, or warm white fluorescent, then warm white lamps should always be the choice. Even persons with typical vision benefit from the warm, white light environments and have been shown to feel more comfortable when working in red wavelengths (Windsor, 1995). Incandescent tungsten bulbs (common light bulbs) also give comfortable light for persons with vision problems, but incandescent lights are quickly being phased out because they use much more energy than fluorescent lights. If it is impossible to obtain warm white tubes, regular incandescent bulbs are good substitutes until they are no longer available. To make a home, classroom or other learning environments comfortable for students with visual impairments (and everyone else too), and conducive to learning, follow these guidelines: Make sure the room is painted a warm color in a non-glossy paint. Pink, apricot, yellow, beige, sand, or pastels of warm colors relieve the workload on everyone's eyes. Quilts, rugs, wall-hangings, and non-glossy posters on the walls help keep the reflective properties of the walls to a minimum. Textured wallpaper in the same colors is also good, but avoid heavy patterns, especially stripes. Make sure windows have blinds or drapes that can be opened or closed to let in only the amount of light needed at any given time of day. Again colors should be warm pastels. Desk lamps, spot lamps, track lighting fitted with warm white, dawn pink (Sylvania), peach (Phillip's), or the Better Vision Lamp. Tubes that emit no blue or ultraviolet light are all good choices for office or decorator lighting. Though some bulbs are painted pink or peach so that you may find them in the store, they put out soft light from the part of the spectrum that is long wavelength light and is much easier on the eyes. Computer users will want to use glare filters. They should eliminate blue and white screens whenever possible. These screen colors emit some ultra-violet rays. This light produces glare and strain. If possible, screens should be adjusted to black, or pastels, with contrasting letters or graphics. Low vision users usually benefit from a black screen with bright yellow or pink letters or graphics. Computer users who are visually impaired, even those who use UV screen filters, are advised to wear clear or light yellow UV filter glasses when working at the computer. For best results, print memos and letters on pink or other pastel paper. This reduces glare and makes your document more readable. (Another installment of "Lighting for People with Visual Impairments" will appear in the next issue of the MACRT Newsletter. ) Back To Top Illinois Celebrates Braille Literacy Month By Alvin Roberts The American Foundation for the Blind, organizations of and agencies for the blind designate January "Braille Literacy Month" to honor the birthday of Louis Braille, born January 4, 1809 in Coupvray, France.  Blinded at the age of three with a leather punch, Louis became a teacher at the Paris Institution for the Blind.  There, he devised a system of reading and writing for persons who are blind.  This Braille system has been more influential than any other innovation for enabling blind people to achieve personal, social and economic independence. Valentin Hauy, founder of the first school for the blind in 1785, wrote, "I will make the blind read.  I will put in their hands volumes printed by themselves."  These prophetic words became reality in 1829 when Hauy's twenty-year old teacher completed the design of his Braille System.  Braille has enabled persons throughout the world to work in all types of employment ranging from law, science and medicine to music, bridge building and computer programming. Braille:  Alive & Well in Illinois The State of Illinois has been a vital force in the development of Braille production technology and innovative instructional methods to keep this system compatible with the challenges of modern society.   Although the printing press was invented in 1436 and Louis Braille designed his dot system in 1829, Braille books were not widely distributed until Frank Hall, Superintendent of the Illinois School for the Blind, invented a machine for mass production of Braille in 1893.  Braille music was made much more usable when embossed in the music notation system devised by L. W. Rodenberg, who operated the Braille Print Shop at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in the mid-twentieth century.  The Illinois Braille Committee of the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Blind Services has been involved in the design of teaching materials and methods since 1933, when it prepared the first edition of the Illinois Braille Series.  This text for teaching Braille to adults is in its fourth edition and has been used throughout the English peaking world for the past 75 years.  The Illinois Braille Committee has also participated in many Braille literacy activities.  The Committee's most recent contribution is a manual on modern methods for teaching Braille to Adults (The Illinois Braille Reading and Writing Manual), distributed by Horizons for the Blind in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Many blind persons in Illinois, including those employed by the Bureau of Blind Services (BBS), utilize Braille in the daily performance of their job duties.  Bettye Odem-Davis, Bureau Chief, can be observed utilizing Braille notes during her numerous public appearances throughout the State, reading statistical and other reports to monitor activities of the Bureau and communicating with staff.  BBS customers that are placed in employment utilize the Braille system in performing their job responsibilities in various occupations.  Additionally, the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind employs over 100 legally blind managers who operate cafeterias, snack bars and vending facilities.  Many managers use Braille to label machines, merchandise and managing business records to operate their facilities.  The Employability Study conducted by the American Foundation for the Blind confirms that 70 % of employed non-print reading persons use Braille. The Department of Human Services invites all Illinois citizens to join in the celebration of the contribution to the personal, social and economic life of persons who are blind wrought by Louis Braille's system and the continuing enhancements to Braille Literacy created by the Illinois Bureau of Blind Services. Back To Top Take Control: Using Raised Markers By Don Golembiewski The itinerant Vision Rehabilitation Therapist or VRT is often the primary blindness professional providing services to blind individuals. The burden to "be all things to all people" can overwhelm even seasoned rehabilitation providers. In times of budget shortfalls, limited staff and increased numbers of eligible, especially older, clients, the need to utilize collaborative community and national resources such as Hadley is paramount. How to "work smarter, not harder" and "be in two places at once" are common wishes when work demands get intense. One of the potential impacts of decreased vision is the sense of loss of control. Straightforward and common daily living tasks such as identifying canned goods, locating the 30 second warm-up button on the microwave and telling shampoo from the conditioner may become out of one's control. VRTs have lots of strategies in their bag of tricks and The Hadley School for the Blind offers a free course as an additional solution. Using Raised Markers is a course that provides information and handy tips for using tactual markers to help manage common daily tasks. Consider it a pre-Braille course! Identifying the contents of kitchen cabinets, spice racks, and medicine cabinets and accurately setting appliance controls can be readily accomplished when guided by a seasoned professional - you - in partnership with a Hadley course. A wealth of sticky-backed raised markers are provided as part of the course. You know them well: cork, felt, plastic, foam rubber, clear, black, white and orange. Effectively using these gives one control! When you work with someone who needs environmental control, and that goal is part of your service plan, consider referring that person to Hadley for the Using Raised Markers course. This and all Hadley Adult Continuing Education courses are free to blind or visually impaired individuals over age 14. They get a supply of tactual markers with directions on audiocassette that will help them learn to use their sense of touch to manage their environment. You can follow along, reinforce tactual skills and offer other useful hints based on their specific situation. Your professional time can then be utilized more efficiently and you can help meet more of your client's goals more quickly and satisfactorily. Again, work smarter, not harder. The Hadley School for the Blind is the single largest worldwide distance educator of blind and visually impaired people. Since its founding by William Hadley and Dr. E.V.L. Brown in 1920, all of Hadley's distance education courses have been provided free of charge to eligible blind or visually impaired individuals. Today, the school serves more than 10,000 students annually in all 50 states and 100 countries. Visit us at www.hadley.edu or call 1-800-323-4238. Back To Top AFB Senior Site® Turns 2! We are happy to announce that AFB Senior Site http://www.afb.org/seniorsite, AFB's web site for seniors with vision loss and their families, turns two this month! Launched to help the 20 million Americans living with vision loss, the site has served hundreds of thousands of visitors since its inception, offering visitors the resources, help, and support needed to continue living a healthy, independent life with vision problems. AFB Senior Site is the most beneficial and information-rich web community for seniors with vision loss, and AFB works hard to keep its content relevant and updated often, which is why we're making more sections available in Spanish. New features added over the past year include: *A guide to diabetes and vision loss <http://www.afb.org/seniorsite.asp?SectionID=63&TopicID=291&SubTopicID=126&DocumentID=4228>  to give help and support to the 3.2 million Americans living with both conditions. *Senior Site Agency of the Month <http://www.afb.org/seniorsite.asp?SectionID=64&TopicID=376> .               *New video content demonstrating adaptive techniques and devices <http://www.afb.org/seniorsite.asp?SectionID=63&TopicID=388&SubTopicID=154>  to help older adults who experience both vision and hearing loss maintain their independence, communicate effectively, and remain safe in their homes and communities.               *Esther's Insights <http://www.afb.org/seniorsite.asp?SectionID=66&TopicID=363>  In 2009, we'll be adding video content on fall prevention and lighting; a portal for eye care professionals to see the latest information about vision rehabilitation services; an E-learning center for professionals in aging and vision loss; and a new partnership with SeniorNet, an organization that provides older adults training and access to computer technologies. As Senior Site looks forward to year number three, we're just as excited about what's to come as you are, and we hope you gain the knowledge and support from this site that you need to continue living an active, independent life with vision loss. Contact:       Adrianna Montague-Gray                    AFB Communications                    212-502-7675                    amontaguegray@afb.net <mailto:amontaguegray@afb.net> Back To Top From the Field of Vision Rehab Have you heard?    Script Talk  I f you know someone who needs assistance with reading medicine bottles, Walgreens is rolling out a new special accessible device for people who are blind or visually impaired. Script Talk is a machine that has special technology to read reprinted labels on medications, so that all dosing instructions, patient information, side effects, refills and doctor's name, are all read audibly through the machine.  The pharmacist places a special sensor on the medication bottle which is then placed on the Script Talk Machine. In a clear female voice, the machine reads all information that is on the printed pamphlet provided with the patient's medication. The machine is quite small, about the size of a portable CD player, has an adaptor, but it can also be used with two double A batteries. Currently, the machine is free and you can call your local Walgreens to see if this machine is available in your area.     Rehab Teachers!     Send us your stories, ideas, new products that work, jokes, or anything you would like to share with our readers. Include your full name and address if you wish to be recognized for the editorial. Back To Top Facts About Braille By Jennifer Ottowitz As I started to write this article regarding interesting facts about the life of Louis Braille, the man who invented Braille, I realized that I was probably preaching to the choir.  Many of you probably know basic facts such as: When was Louis Braille born? Where was Louis Braille born? How old was Louis Braille when he invented the Braille code? Of course there are countless other interesting facts about the life of Louis Braille, the history of tactile reading and writing systems, and the use of Braille.  The American Printing House for the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, the Braille Authority of North America, the National Braille Association, the National Federation of the Blind, and the American Council of the Blind are just a sampling of organizations that can provide more information and facts about Braille. Here are some additional facts you may or may not already know taken from the website http://louisbraillecoins.com/ This year the United States Mint will offer the 2009 Louis Braille Commemorative Coin.  These coins will honor the inventor of the Braille System of reading and writing used by individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The coins were released in 2009 to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth, authorized under the H.R. 2872 Louis Braille Bicentennial Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act.  This legislation provides for the production of up to 400,000 Silver Dollar commemorative coins during 2009. Louis Braille Silver Dollar The coin was designed to be representative of the life and legacy of Louis Braille.  The face of the coin bears his portrait and the inscriptions "Louis Braille", "Liberty", "In God We Trust", the dual dates "1809″ and "2009″ and mint mark "P" to represent mintage at the Philadelphia Mint.  The reverse of the coin features a young boy reading a Braille Book. There is a bookcase filled with books behind him with the inscription "Independence".  Additional inscriptions include "United States of America", "E Pluribus Unum", and "One Dollar".  The letters "BRL" are included in Braille characters and represent the word "Braille".  Notably this is the first time readable Braille characters have appeared on US coinage.  The Louis Braille Commemorative Coins went on sale March 26, of this year and you can purchase them directly from the United States Mint. Think of how you might use one of these coins with clients.  It's a great teaching tool and a great way to celebrate the creation of such an innovative system for literacy and independence.    What other interesting facts about Braille would you like to share?  Please submit an article for the next MACRT newsletter. Back To Top You Can Do a Spring Home Maintenance Course By Tom Langham With the weather finally warming up, we're thinking about doing the odd jobs we've put off all winter.  Home maintenance tasks are a major part of those jobs.  However, some of your consumers may not know what is required or needed for them to "get their hands dirty" around the house, or are hesitant to tackle even the simplest of tasks now that they have lost some vision.  With that in mind, I have compiled a list of basic techniques that can be shared with consumers to encourage them to still "do it themselves."  These skills can be taught by a VRT in a group style class without involving a professional carpenter, plumber, or electrician.  The techniques provided in this article will help interested consumers learn basic home maintenance skills, and therefore, the instructions will be at the level of individuals having no prior knowledge of maintenance or simple hand tools. The focus is on adaptations rather than how consumers can replace an experienced carpenter or plumber around the house.  Depending on the VRT's own experience with home maintenance, the lessons can be made as complex or as simple as one wants. Regardless of the level, consumers participating in this class will need to acquire the following skills. Collect an appropriate set of tools (adapted & standard) for their own personal use and care for them properly. Learn how simple systems work in the home; including plumbing, plaster and dry-wall repair, fastenings and other hardware, basic electrical and heating system maintenance. Know the difference between what they can and can't do, and where to get more information about a specific project. Basic home maintenance tools Before starting the Home Maintenance class, the VRT must assemble a basic set of tools that will fit into a single plastic toolbox light enough to carry to any location in the house.  Drills and bits must be stored in a separate box, and saws need to be in their own container for protection.  Picking out tools is a very personal experience.  Tools should be the right tool for the job, and fit the person using them in size and weight. In addition, some necessary modifications to the tools must be addressed. For example, to establish good contrast, wrap tool handles with colored tape, label tools with Braille or large print letters, high marks, bump dots, etc. Also, this is a good opportunity to sneak in some Low Vision Training, but don't forget the no-vision techniques as well!  You can't hold a nail in one hand, use the hammer in another to pound it in, and hold a magnifier in your third! Once the selection of tools is complete, consumers need to learn the basics of tool care. To boost that skill, participants may be assigned the task to develop and organize their own system of transporting tools to and from the repair/maintenance location.  Another method for teaching the proper care of tools is to use a towel to set parts on as they disassemble a project. Make sure that the color of the towel is a good contrast with project parts. Useful tools that can help maintain a home or apartment: Claw Hammer, weight cannot exceed 13 ounces if used for an apartment. Set of screw drivers, magnetic is preferred. Utility knife, definitely with retracting blade. Large print measuring tape, "talking" tools optional. Click-o-matic ruler & extensions, a GREAT adapted measuring tool. Tactual rulers, home made - 12" ruler and 3' yardstick with hi-marks. Hand drill, push drill or Hand drill style is recommended. Twist drills to put into the hand drill, standard set 1/16" to ¼." Long nose pliers with cutter that will fit to your size hand. Combination pliers, size 7 or larger. Adjustable wrench, 10 is a handy size. Cordless Electric drill, they come portable and Chuckless. Center punch for when you need to start a drill. Handsaw, cross cut & hacksaw are handy if you have to cut. Putty knife, 1 and 3 blade if you are doing dry wall you will need bigger. Level that is low vision style or audible tone if you can afford it. Clamps, "you can't have too many clamps" says Norm Abrams. Simple Plumbing Tools needed include, a clean out auger, also known as "snake", a good plunger is a MUST, and an adjustable locknut wrench to fit the traps. Opening up and cleaning the "trap" under the sink is a task that can keep sinks draining smoothly.  Hair and sludge can build up in the curved section of the drain pipe under the sink.  Removing and cleaning it is simple and straight forward.  Place a pail under the sink to catch the water in the trap.  Work loose the pipes (lefty loosey and righty tighty) with the wrench, then use your hand to release them into the pail.  If you need to use the clean out auger (snake), clean the trap first and then snake toward the wall before you put the trap back on. Toilet Repairs Adjusting instead of bending the float arm and replacing the toilet seat isn't rocket science. I use an unused lavatory to demonstrate the techniques to consumers, but maybe for this lesson you can just bring in a toilet repair kit from the hardware store. Directions are always included. Also, a discussion of how to thaw a frozen water pipe with a hair drier, instead of burning down the house with a propane torch, is just good practice.  Plaster and Dry-wall Repair Required tools: flexible blade putty knife(s), spackling compound, sandpaper, and a straight edge.  For this section, I have found that having a piece of drywall built like an open wall that shows where the studs are located and what is a 16" center helps consumers who have never seen the inside of a wall. Making small drywall repairs is as simple as slapping on some spackling compound and smoothing it out with the putty knife. Once dry, sanding it smooth is easy.  Fasteners and Other Wall Hanging Hardware Required equipment: For this project, it would be handy to have a piece of drywall, a drill, screw drivers and lots of wall fasteners; such as: mollies, butterfly's, plastic anchors, etc.  Consumers may try a few screws with plastic anchors, install a butterfly, and other hangers that are made available for practice.  Having the sample piece of drywall with the studs behind it will help the participants feel what is going on behind the wall as they put in fasteners to hang pictures or other decorations. Running through common fasteners and hoods with this type of "hands on" demonstration is extremely useful. I always recommend Philips head screws because they are easier to keep the screw driver in. Heating System Maintenance Warm "forced air" heating systems need to have their furnace filters changed often! The trick is to find where they go, what direction to replace them and having the right size replacements ready to put in.  Once consumers are comfortable with changing a furnace filter, introduce Duct Tape! I love this stuff! Consumers can tape the joints along the heating ducts in their homes and save money by plugging leaks. I prefer doing this in the spring when the furnace blower is still working. As you follow the duct along, you can feel any leaks and seal them up so more warm air goes to where you want it.  This pays off in lower heating bills. Basic Electrical Maintenance Required tools: long nose pliers, diagonal cuts or lineman's pliers, screw driver and a test buzzer. Participants must understand how electricity comes into the house to a fuse box or circuit breaker panel and that they will need to label theses fuses or breakers in their homes. When doing any electrical work, think safety first! Turn off the juice before making the repairs. You will find that the labels will come in handy when it's time to turn on the breaker panel. Moreover, consumers need to have an understanding of the proper use of extension cords. There are cords for light use, cords for heavy use and cords for outdoors. They must be labeled to avoid confusion. With all the fancy computer equipment our houses are filling up with, knowing how to use a surge protector is a must as well. Changing an electric plug or light switch isn't tough with the right screw driver and pliers.  However, one must make sure the power is OFF! Fire Extinguishers - The A, B or C's Cover the different types of extinguishers for the home, kitchen and workshop, and which one to use in the house.  They should all be labeled A, B, or C type.  I also think actually using an extinguisher is a critical part of this lesson. Read the instructions and take an extra disposable extinguisher outside to set off in the driveway.  You don't need a fire to practice using one.   I always ask for a volunteer who has never held one before and let them set it off.  It's a very good experience. Caulking the Outside of the House Required tools: Caulking gun with silicone caulk cartridge. Once the group is outdoors, explain why and where to caulk the house. Caulk is a soft substance, like toothpaste, that is flexible enough to be pushed into the edges of windows and doors to fill cracks and other leaks in the exterior of the house.  Unfortunately, being flexible also means it has to be replaced as it hardens. Demonstrate how a caulking gun works and run a "bead" of calk. Then smooth it out with a wet finger.  Field trip to Home Depot, Lowe's or similar store It's a great place for looking at tools, learning how supplies like lumber or drywall come in, and they often have classes for advanced tasks.  I call it "The Man's Mall." That should do it for your first course on the basics of taking care of a home after vision loss.  With a little preparation and effort, your consumers will be encouraged, empowered, and just might expand their horizons a bit.  Who knows, they might even consider sharpening their knives in the kitchen! Back To Top From the Editor's Kitchen The recipes presented in this issue can be viewed as a family project. They are healthy, nutritious, and simple to prepare. Kids will have plenty of fun cooking these dishes while coached by their parents. If you like these recipes, you can find many more like them in the American Heart Association Kid's Cookbook Shake-It-Up Chicken Nuggets - Serves 4; 4 nuggets per serving Chicken nuggets are usually deep-fried in hot oil to give them a crusty coating. But all that oil makes the nuggets greasy. In our recipe, the chicken is tossed in a bag with seasoned stuffing mix and grated Parmesan cheese. It is then baked in the oven. These "oven-fried" nuggets are crisp and golden. But, they don't have that extra fat you get from deep-frying. Ingredients 1-3/4 cups herb-seasoned crumb stuffing mix 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 3 tablespoons margarine 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1 pound) Resealable plastic bag (1 gallon size) Directions 1.   Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. 2.   Measure stuffing mix into re-sealable plastic bag. Seal bag and place on flat surface.          Crush crumbs by rolling and pressing rolling pin over bag. 3.   Open bag and add Parmesan cheese. Reseal bag and shake to mix thoroughly. 4.   Melt margarine. If you choose stick margarine, you will need one stick. 5.   Place melted margarine, buttermilk, and pepper in medium shallow bowl. Stir well       with spoon. Set aside. 6.   Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towels. 7.   Place chicken breasts on cutting board. Cut chicken with small, sharp knife into 16       chunks of the same size. (Each chicken breast should give you 8 chunks or pieces.) 8.   Dip each chicken chunk into buttermilk mixture, covering all sides. Let extra       buttermilk mixture drip off. Place 3 dipped chunks at a time into bag of crumbs. Seal       bag tightly and shake until chicken pieces are evenly coated with crumbs. 9.   Place coated nuggets on an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken         chunks. 10. Place baking sheet in oven. Bake nuggets 4 minutes. 11. Remove pan from oven. Turn over each nugget. 12. Return to oven and bake 4 to 5 minutes, or until medium golden brown. 13. Remove pan from oven and transfer nuggets to platter or plates. Serve nuggets       immediately. Place a small bowl of your favorite dipping sauce nearby, if you like. Slumber Party French Toast - Serves 6; 1 slice per serving This French toast is a bit different from the usual kind. The bread is first dipped into a sweetened cinnamon-flavored batter, then set in refrigerator overnight to absorb the delicious flavors. The next morning, it's baked rather than fried. What a way to start the day with sleepover friends or your own family. Ingredients 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 eggs, you can use substitute eggs if you like. 1/4 cup skim milk 6 1-inch-thick slices French bread 1 to 2 tablespoons powdered or confectioners' sugar Directions 1. Place margarine in baking pan or heat-proof baking dish. Place pan on burner. Turn heat to low. Heat margarine until melted. 2. Place brown sugar in small bowl. With fork, stir in cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture evenly over melted margarine in baking pan or dish. 3. Combine egg and milk in a glass pie plate. Mix with fork until blended. 4. With fingers or fork, dip bread slices into egg mixture to coat both sides. Lay slices over sugar-cinnamon mixture in baking pan or dish. Pour any remaining egg mixture over the bread slices. 5. Cover pan with foil and refrigerate overnight. 6. Remove pan from refrigerator 1 hour before baking. Let stand on the kitchen counter to reach room temperature. 7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 8. Carefully place pan of French toast in hot oven. Bake 25 minutes. 9. Remove pan from oven to wire cooling rack and carefully remove foil from pan. 10. Return pan to hot oven. Bake for 15 minutes longer. 11. Remove pan to cooling rack. Sprinkle French toast with powdered sugar. Serve warm. Note: Use crusty loaves of French bread cut into slices. Regular white bread slices won't work they're too soft and will get soggy.   Top Hat Pizza - Serves 1 If you always thought pizza wasn't a nutritious food, think again. This one has a delicious combination of vitamin-packed peppers, low-fat cheese, and whole-wheat bread. It's great for a quick snack, lunch, or supper. Ingredients 1 7-to 7-1/2-inch round piece whole-wheat pita or pocket bread 3 tablespoons prepared pizza sauce 1/4 green or red bell pepper 1/4 small onion 1/8 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning 1/2 ounce part-skim mozzarella cheese (2 tablespoons grated) 1/2 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese Directions 1. Peel and chop onion. Measure out 2 teaspoons and set aside. Save the rest to use in another recipe. 2. Rinse bell pepper and place on cutting board. Remove seeds and white pith from inside the pepper. Chop bell pepper. Measure out 1 tablespoon and set aside. Save the rest to use in another recipe. 3. Grate cheese if it is not pre-shredded. 4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 5. Using kitchen scissors cut out a circle from top layer of the pita bread, leaving 1 inch of top all around to form an edge or border. Same cut-out circle. 6. Place bottom of pita on cookie sheet or baking sheet. Put on middle rack in hot oven. Bake 5 minutes. 7. Carefully remove from oven and place pan on wire cooling rack. Cool slightly. 8. Place cooled pita on cutting board. Using small spatula or spoon, spread pizza sauce evenly on top and also under the edge of the pita bread. Sprinkle bell pepper, onion, Italian seasoning, and mozzarella cheese evenly on top of sauce. Top with reserved circle of pita bead to form a "hat." 9. Return completed pizza to cookie sheet or baking sheet. Bake in hot oven for 8 to 9 minutes. 10. Carefully remove pan from oven to cooling rack. 11. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and let stand a few minutes. 12. Place pizza on cutting board. Cut in half with kitchen scissors, small knife, or pizza cutter. Serve hot. Back To Top