National Federation of the Blind event connects residents with resources

KAILUA-KONA — With more than 300 people in Hawaii County who are either blind or have low vision, a group of local volunteers is making sure residents know that vision impairment doesn’t mean an impaired lifestyle.

“There’s ways to keep living the life you want,” said Sally Hammond, president of the West Hawaii chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.

There were 324 Hawaii County residents on the state blind register in 2017, according to state statistics. Of those, 276 were considered blind, while the remaining 48 are considered visually impaired. To help others in the community and their family, the West Hawaii chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will host a resource fair at Hale Halawai packed with exhibitors to connect area residents with resources available within the community.

The event is scheduled for 11:15 a.m to 1:30 p.m. Friday.

“We want to get the word out to let people know that we are here in the community to help anyone who has low vision,” Hammond said.

A diagnosis of blindness or low vision often comes with just that and no other tips, tools or resources. So instead of leaving it to people to figure out on their own, she said, the group finds value in their shared experiences to help improve each other’s lives and well-being.

“Whenever one of us learns a new tip or trick for household management or a new app on our iPhone or a new piece of technology, we come and share it,” she said.

The fair has 20 confirmed exhibitors, Hammond said, ranging from government agencies to nonprofit groups and civic clubs, putting on display a range of services aimed at helping people who are visually impaired and getting families informed as well to help their own loved ones.

Hammond, for example, noted the barrier that transportation accessibility can be for people who give up driving as a result of impaired vision.

To help address that, representatives from the Hele-On Kakoo Paratransit under the Hawaii County Mass Transit Agency will attend the fair.

That agency offers paratransit services alongside its current fixed-route bus service on Hawaii Island.

The program provides origin-to-destination service for people with disabilities who can’t use regular fixed bus service in the Hilo and Kona areas.

Eligibility, according to the service’s website, isn’t based on a specific type of disability, age, income or access to private transportation but instead the person’s inability to use fixed route services.

The West Hawaii Community Health Center will also be in attendance offering diabetes screenings, Hammond said. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness cases among working-age adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a disease called diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year.

There are also numerous other exhibitors available to connect residents with a whole slate of other resources.

The Legal Aid Society, which will present information about people’s rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, is also among the exhibitors, as is Deep and Beyond, which offers ocean recreation activities like “Snorkel Day” for people with disabilities.

The event isn’t just for those personally experiencing diminished vision, with Hammond saying it’s geared toward “anyone who has an interest,” whether it’s someone in the family who’s blind, among their friends or in their business or church circles.

And the goal, she said, is to give those who are blind or visually impaired the tools they need to socialize, work and live their lives to the fullest.

“We have a saying in our chapter, ‘Diminishing vision does not mandate a diminished life,’” said Hammond. “And NFB is all about living the life you want.”