Venango County Association for the Blind

03/18/2026

Did you mark your calendars yet?? Our next Abilities Beyond Limits Empowerment group will meet next Tuesday 3/24! If you need help with transportation please call us so we can arrange something for you! 814.676.1876

03/06/2026

The meeting for volunteers for Bettina’s spaghetti Dinner will be tonight March 5th @ 6:00pm.

03/06/2026

Join Our Next A.B.L.E. Class! (Abilities Beyond Limits Empowerment Group). Intro to Low Vision Basics, Tuesday, March 24th, Time: 1 pm-3 pm, RSVP: (814) 676-1876.

Do you ever experience eye strain or discomfort while reading? Maybe glare or light reflection makes it harder to see clearly, or you find it challenging to distinguish edges, objects, or fine details when completing everyday tasks.

If so, you’re not alone—and this class is designed with you in mind.

Together, we’ll explore how lighting, contrast, and glare can affect your vision, and how small, simple adjustments can make a meaningful difference in your daily life. You’ll learn practical strategies to create a more comfortable and

visually supportive environment at home. Best of all, each participant will leave with a helpful new tool to support improved visual function. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you see your world a little more clearly and comfortably!

Need help getting to this next class? If you need assistance with transportation please let VCAB staff know immediately so arrangements can be made! (814) 676-1876

VCAB had its first Abilities Beyond Limits Empowerment meeting on February 24,2026.

Five clients attended the first meeting and learned so much about various techniques and tools available to assist in independently managing your medications. The clients all enjoyed having the opportunity to not only hear what is available, but to also have the tools in hand to try them out.

All five clients received a Deterra Medication Disposal Bag and a bag for the Vial of Life Program, along with information regarding resources discussed in the meeting to take home with them.

Images in this post: All text include above, with a picture of staff Mara demonstrating materials from the first ABLE class, with client Kenton listening intently.

02/27/2026

This week we held an Abilities Beyond Limits Empowerment (ABLE) class: "Prepped and Organized: Your Medications". Our clients were given a kit that included: Accessible Pharmacy Services Contact Info, Large Print Medication List, Vial of Life Program Medical Info Page, Vial of Life Program Bag, and Deterra Medication Disposal Bag.

Mara Foster-Gray, our VRT, demonstrated methods and explained devices and strategies to overhaul the pharmacy and medication process. It is incredibly important that blind and visually impaired folks have a failproof system for medication. Our clients are bright individuals, but everyone can make mistakes- including the pharmacy! This ABLE class tackled every step of the way, and improved the safety and independence of our clients.

Some notable features of this class are the Vial of Life and Accessible Pharmacy Services, which both brilliantly bridge gaps where the Pharmacy process has flaws in accessibility. Learn more about them at their websites:

https://www.vialoflife.com/
https://accessiblepharmacy.com/

02/13/2026

Our clients are still working on getting into the Olympics, but they have the same spirit!

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010, blind skier and three-time bronze medal winner Danelle Umstead went on to compete in three more Paralympics — and defy the odds.

02/09/2026

Screen readers and magnifiers empower individuals to read, write, and communicate more effectively.

In this image:
Top Text - VCAB Assistive Technology for Blind Individuals

Middle Text-
Screen readers and magnifiers empower individuals to read, write, and communicate more effectively.

Bottom - Illustration of a man reading Braille on the left, and the VCAB logo on the right.

01/29/2026

Not all sports fans get to experience the game through vision. For decades, many have relied on radio and tv commentators, and live game audio of the hits, boos, and cheers- to experience the hair raising, nail biting action. That is until recently... OneCourt makes a way for blind and visually impaired football fans to FEEL the action of the game! They have tactile sports courts & fields that are scaled down so you can use your fingers to sense different actions and areas where the game is happening.

From their website:
"Transforming gameplay into trackable vibrations, so fans with visual disabilities can watch the game with their fingertips."

Linked is an AP news article about Scott Thornhill who is the executive director American Council of the Blind. He will be present at the Super Bowl and using one of these devices. When he was eight years old, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and would later lose his sight.

Some blind and low-vision fans will have unprecedented access to the Super Bowl thanks to a tactile device that tracks the ball, vibrates on key plays and provides real-time audio.

01/28/2026

Visually impaired individuals can manage household tasks with tools like tactile markers and organizational systems.

In this image:
Top Text - VCAB Life Skills Training for Independence

Middle Text-
Visually impaired individuals can manage household tasks with tools like tactile markers and organizational systems.

Bottom Row - An illustration of a woman walking with a white cane on the left, and on the right the VCAB logo

01/23/2026

VCAB clients, staff, and friends gathered in to create architectural Gingerbread house wonders.

01/23/2026

Big storm coming this weekend! It'd be a great chance to get some baking done, like we did with our Gingerbread houses this Christmas season! We had a big party for the VCAB clients, volunteers, and staff - and decorated Gingerbread houses. And we must admit, they are masterpieces!

01/19/2026

VCAB provides one-on-one life skills training tailored to the unique needs of visually impaired individuals.

In this image:
Top Text - VCAB Life Skills Training for Independence

Middle Text-
VCAB life skills training programs are open to visually impaired individuals looking to improve independence.

Bottom Row - An illustration of a woman walking with a white cane on the left, and on the right the VCAB logo.

01/06/2026

We are a strong nonprofit, but we are a small team! Please schedule transportation services a few days in advance so we can ensure availability of drivers and vehicles. Thank you!

In this image:
Top Text - VCAB Transportation and Sighted Guide Services

Middle Text-
VCAB recommends scheduling transportation at least a few days in advance to ensure availability.

Bottom Row - An illustration of a sighted guided helping someone with a white cane walk on the left, and on the right the VCAB logo.