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Did you know that by 2030, the National Eye Institute projects that more than 2 million Americans will be considered legally blind?
October is Blindness Awareness Month, and Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania, a 95-year-old community-benefit nonprofit organization, offers the eyecare services to residents of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, and Perry counties—the majority of which are free of charge.
In some cases, individuals must qualify to receive free assistance. Determining factors may include insurance coverage, personal financial status, and referrals from other community agencies.
Throughout the year, the VROCP Prevention Department conducts vision screenings at health fairs and other public events. Eye health and safety education programs are presented as well.
VROCP has a professional optometrist and eye clinic, offering no-cost eye examinations and glasses for children and adults without vision insurance and whose household incomes do not exceed of 200 percent of the poverty level.
Clients referred to VROCP by the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services specifically for services from the Low-Vision Rehab Center may receive full onsite low-vision exams, evaluations, rehabilitative and adaptive training, and recommendations and assistance from the VROCP low-vision technology specialist.
Case management professionals are assigned clients for one-on-one assistance to help individuals remain independent and improve the quality of their lives. Many of these clients have lost vision with age or live with multiple disability challenges.
For blind or visually impaired clients looking to develop computer or touch-technology skills, VROCP provides an Access Technology Department. This one-on-one training is free when clients are referred by other agencies, such as BBVS.
VROCP also provides news, information, and entertainment specifically for the blind community through the Vision Resources Programming Network, a radio broadcast that is a part of the VROCP Reading Services Department. Free radios and other print-impaired products are available for client use.
For more information, call (717) 238-2531 or visit www.vrocp.org.