Fall 2010

for the bl ind and visual ly impaired

He survived World War II aboard aship in the South Pacific, the loss ofhis house in a tragic fire on his 48thbirthday and the death of his belovedwife Caroline. Then Alfred Salice wasdiagnosed with age-related maculardegeneration.

“I decided that I was fortunatethat I had good vision for 88 years,”said Salice, now 90. “And I do havesome vision. I’m not blind.”

Al’s daughter Carol George saidher father consistently sees a glassthat is half-full. “He’s always lookingat the bright side of things. You cancount on him to be positive.”

Following his wife’s death, Alsought activities to help fill his days.When the weather was good, he’dplay golf. He took up painting in hiseighties, which he enjoyed during thewinter months. Al noticed his visionwas changing when he wasn’t able tosink the ten and twelve foot putts heused to make regularly. After severallaser treatments and eye injections,Carol asked if there were anotherresource to help her father.

“And that’s when we heardabout Vista Center,” said Carol, aretired nurse. “I’m glad that we wereproactive!”

Al now has talking books, a lightedmagnifier and white cane sincebecoming a Vista Center client. Andhe’s pushing himself to try morethings. Al took part in Choices andChanges, an educational programthat is available to adults with visualimpairments and their family mem-bers. Led by Vista Center’s socialservices staff, the sessions provideexposure to services, skills andequipment that promote independ-ence.

Al appreciated that peopleshared their personal experiences inliving with vision loss, challenginghimself after hearing what other peo-ple had overcome. “We had a manwho took a train and a couple ofbuses to get to our meetings and he

Shared Experiences Motivate and Inspire Veteran

Carol George kisses her father Al Salice.

Continued on page 8

In This IssuePage 2Ask the Expert

Page 3

Notes from theExecutive Director

Page 4 and 5

Woof to Woof

Vintage Affaire

Menlo Charity Horse Show

Page 6 and 7Appreciation andAcknowledgements

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Susan MartinPresident

Steven Sanislo, M.D.President-Elect

Mike FreitasDana GriffinPatricia WyrodVice Presidents

Meaux CostelloTreasurer

Lindy SherwoodSecretary

Claire BiancalanaPast President

Pam Brandin, M.P.A.Executive Director

Annie ChapinCharles ChenDavid KraneRosa MussallemAlla PanchenkoNaomi Chavez PetersRon SchwartzElaine StanleyIngrid SywakNels WestmanMark Wieland, M.D.Suzanne WilcoxAnna Zappettini

Ray Clegg WestmanDirector Emerita

Vista Center for the Blind andVisually Impaired

2470 El Camino Real Suite 107Palo Alto, CA 94306-1715650.858.0202fx 650.858.0214

413 Laurel StreetSanta Cruz, CA 95060-4904831.458.9766fx 831.426.6233

www.vistacenter.org

With the fall sports season upon us,and the focus on teams and team-work, I want to give a big cheer forthe Vista Center team! It’s ranked #1in my book, and by many others aswell — and I have client surveys,thank you messages and letters toprove it.

The points that our team scoresare for people helped and liveschanged, and we have no qualmsabout “running up” the score. In fact,over the last decade, we’ve tripled it— going from 800 in 1999 to nearly2500 last year, individuals who areblind or visually impaired who areonce again able to embrace life fully.This is a great source of pride!

Clients bring a vitality and sense of purpose to our two centers that

inspire all of us.

At the heart of our team is ourhighly professional and caring staff,providing a comprehensive array ofindividualized rehabilitation services inthe client’s own environment or inone of our two warmly inviting cen-ters. We address the needs of eachclient with commitment and passion— and with excellent services thatare continually updated to reflect thebest practices in the field of visionrehabilitation.

Our clients are an integral partof the Vista Center team, each work-ing with staff members on their indi-vidual rehabilitation goals until theyare attained. Clients bring a vitalityand sense of purpose to our two cen-ters that inspire all of us. Other starson the Vista Center team are our

many generous donors and LegacyCircle members, wonderfully talentedand engaged board members, fantas-tic volunteers (see more about ourfundraising events) and our expand-ing list of referral sources. We could-n’t be #1 without every one of thesepeople!

On another note, several of youhave asked me the status of VistaCenter’s Palo Alto facility over thenext few years. Rest assured! We willdefinitely be staying in our presentlocation until the end of 2013, atwhich time it will be necessary tomove. Our sights are on an enor-mously exciting possibility for ournext location, and we will look for-ward to telling you more about thatas we move closer to making it areality.

2 3

Pam Brandin

To receive ournewsletter electronically, sendyour name andemail address toinfo@vistacenter.org.

Please become amember of theVista Center GreenTeam!

Notes from the Executive DirectorOur Ask the Expert column willappear in upcoming newsletters ande-news. This installment featuresexpert Selma Chin O.D., our seniorlow vision specialist. Dr. Chin hasbeen with Vista Center for the last 18years and is an assistant professor atU.C. Berkeley’s School of Optometry.

I have trouble with contrast. Isthere anything I can do toenhance contrast on overcastdays?For someone who is visually impaired,contrast is vitally important inimproving what we call “FunctionalVision.” On overcast days, the worldlooks grey and it may be harder tosee the curb, speed bump or even acar that blends in with the environ-ment. To improve contrast on thesedays, wearing a yellow or gold tintedsunglass or lens is often helpful.

Yellow tinted lenses make shad-ows and other blue or grey coloredobjects in the environment look dark-er while keeping the lighter coloredobjects yellow. For additional sensitivi-ty to glare, polarized yellow sun-glasses may also be helpful; however,the polarized lens will decrease theamount of light transmitted. It is bestto try out the glasses on overcastdays to determine which ones arebest suited for your vision.

My mother has significant visionloss and will be staying with usover the holidays. Is there any-thing I can do to make her staymore comfortable and even moreimportant, safe?

When people are in their own envi-ronments, they can function effective-ly from memory. When placed in anunfamiliar environment, this becomesmuch more difficult. Contrast can bethe single most important change youcan make to improve “functionalvision.” This may be as simple ashaving a dark colored shower mat ona light floor. Highlighting steps andstairs with a different colored rug atthe bottom of steps or taping a con-trasting color on the edge of the firstand last step is also helpful. If yourmother uses a walker or a cane,removing loose rugs or tacking themdown is also an option.

With regards to TV, sitting closerand increasing the contrast and colorof the picture will enable your motherto see the television better. For din-ing, choose dishware that contrasts tothe color of the food being served. Anexample would be to serve coffee in ayellow mug. As you become moreaware of using contrast in the envi-ronment, the ideas can be endlessand your mother will feel as if her“vision” has improved!

Expert Advice From Vista Center’s Low Vision Clinic

Selma Chin O.D.

Phot

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inn

Fundra

isin

gWoof to Woof, June 5

4 5

Menlo Charity Horse Show, August 10-15

Vintage Affaire, June 26

Vista Center client Brandon Biggs (second from right)smiles for the camera after singing the National Anthem.He is surrounded (from left) by Vista Center presidentSusan Martin, his mother and Vista Center employee SonjaBiggs and Menlo Charity Horse Show chair Betsy Glikbarg. A break in competitionFlying Lady lives up to her name with help from Tara Ardalan.

Rosewood’s Madera staff servedshrimp with a corn custard.

Lovely ladies

Wine up for auction

Adorable adoptables

Allowed on this couch

Obedience trainingVista Center board member Mike Freitas and KathyGarver, Cissy of TV’s Family Affaire, talk with Woof toWoof attendees.

Best hair contest

Up and over

Raising paddles for Fund-A-Need

Segways made their debut this year.

Auctioneer Ursula Hermacinski

76

Woof to Woof Premier Sponsors

Bay Federal Credit Union

Claire Biancalana

Pam Brandin

George Couch

Erik’s DeliCafe

Harvey Fishman, M.D.

Mike Freitas

Carin and Glenn Hanna

Julie Rawles Financial, Inc.

Law Offices of Deborah A. Malkin

Lee-Kahn Foundation

Lighthouse Bank

Moore & Miller Insurance

Ray Westman

Woof to Woof Committee

Claire Biancalana

Pam Brandin

Annie Chapin

David Farberow

Mike Freitas

Carin Hanna

Keith McKenzie

Nels Westman

Vintage Affaire Underwriters

Anonymous

Borel Private Bank & Trust

Callan Associates

Lyn Jason Cobb

DLA Piper

DPR Construction

Latham & Watkins LLP

Patterson & Sheridan, LLP

Stephen & Paula Smith

Union Bank

URS Corporation

Vintage Affaire Committee

Vintage Affaire Committee

Martha Barry

Nacole Barth-Ellis

Claire Biancalana

Pam Brandin

Nicole Buttitta

Lani Dorff

Carrie Drake

Doug Dull

Pat Dunbar

Debbie Eastburn

Martha Edwards

Justine Franklin

Karen Fryling

Grant Giske

Christine Graham

Susan Gregory

Dana Griffin

Dave Heppberger

Steve Hicks

Sara Hollister

Hilary Holmquest

Jovita Honor

Susan Kokores

Suzanne Legallet

Jamie Marks

Mary Marsh

Susan Martin

Loretta Mingram

Alla Panchenko

Glenn Procter

Candy Provines

Vanessa Roach

Lindy Sherwood

Annette Smith

Stephanie von Thaden

Britt von Thaden

Jan Woolsey

Patricia Wyrod

Alisa Young

Menlo Charity Horse Show Premier Sponsors

ABC7 - KGO - TV/DT

Allon Fine Equestrian Tack andClothing

Ann Fay Barry/Summerhouse Farm

Antarès Sellier

Asset Management Company

Atherton Lane Advisers, LLC

Avalon Hunter/Jumpers Inc.

Bay Ridge Farm

Bay Rose LLC

Beaumont Farms & Chestnut Hill

David Bell/Merrill Lynch

Vicki Bentley & Cindy Morrell

Bertram Capital

John Bragg/Bridgeport Farms

Brandon Hill Farms

Branscomb Farms

Paula & Bandel Carano

Charlebois Farm

City National Bank

Lyn Jason Cobb & Herschel Cobb

Rheta Cole

Michael & Lori Corley/Wells FargoAdvisors

Gloria & Caitlin Darke

EquestrianConnect.com

Equestrianlife.com

Ermenegildo Zegna

Tracy Katayama Esse & Oscany Inc.

Elizabeth Everitt/Princeton Capital &The Johnston Family

Keara Fallon/Metrik

First Republic Bank

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

Steve Goldenberg/Oppenheimer & Co.

Graniterock

Emma & Fred Goltz/Sandhaven Farm

Hawkins & Sickel Families

In Honor of Nancy Hey

Institutional Cash Distributors

IPPOS

Jacque & John Jarve

Kristen Kendall/Wells Fargo Advisors

Kiehl's

Michael Kors

Ann & Tom Livermore

Peter Lombardo/Frontier Farms

The Long Family

Millenium Tower

Mission Hospice & Home Care

Neiman Marcus

The Murray Family

The Nohra Family

Nordby Signature Homes

Nordstrom

Northern Trust

Signe Ostby & Scott Cook

Pegasus Show Stables Inc.

PhelpsSports.com

Private Bank of the Peninsula

Ralph Lauren

Rector Audi

Verla K. Regnery Foundation

Rhys Vineyards

The Ritchie Family/Guckenheimer

Robert Half International

Robert Rogers, Equestrian, LLC

Robert Foundation

Rock Ridge Ranch/Noel Dybdal &Debbie Gardiner

Rosewood Hotels and Resorts

Appreciation and AcknowledgementsRound Meadow Farm

Royal Riders/Blue Ribbon Blankets

Rubicon Farms

San Marcus Training Stables

The Shanahan Family

The Sherry Family

ShowBiz Magazine

Tom & Stacey Siebel/Mountain Home Stables

Shreve & Company

Sonoma Valley Stables

Squire, Sanders, Dempsey, LLP

The Steiny Family

Team Starkman

Tiffany & Co.

The1stMovement

UCSF Medical Center

US Bank – US Bank Private ClientReserve

Waldenbrook Farm

Wasserman Foundation

Willow Brook Stables/ Kate Considine

Windy Hill

Menlo Charity Horse ShowCommittee

Linda Andrews

Sonya Arriaga

Marsha Arutunian

Janice Ashford

Susan Baiata

Lisa Bailey

Tim Ballengee

Nacole Barth-Ellis

Joel Bartlett

Nancy Bates

David Bell

Judy Beisler

Vicki Bentley

Teresa Bergin

Gretchen Bering

Robert Bradford, Jr.

Pam Brandin

Barbara Brown

Gil Brown

Pam Brown

Sydney Brush

Judith W. Burdick

Selina Burgoon

Nicole Buttitta

Leslie Call

Paula Carano

Catherine Carlton

Judy Castaillac

Kelly Caviglia

Nan Chapman

Ann Clermont

Susan Coan

Lyn Jason Cobb

Rheta Cole

Lara Collier

Nancy Collins

Lori Corley

Drew Corradini

Alden Corrigan

Liz Crowell

Caitlin Darke

Lisa Davis

Don DeFranco

Kathi de Grosz

Mary Fischer Diffie

Dottie Dutton

Noel Dybdal

Martha Edwards

Pam Ehikian

Phyllis Fletcher

Melissa Freeman

Robin Gandolfi

Rose Garlock

Sepi Ghiasvand

Tom & Betsy Glikbarg

Steve Goldenberg

Gary Hanes

Wendy Harries

Catherine Harvey

Nancy Hassen

Marianne Haverty

Connie Hawkins

Scott Hayes

Dave & Lynne Heppberger

Nancy Hey

Polly Hey Panos

Barbara Hiller

Joann Holder

Matthew Holder

Melissa Hollatz

Hilary Holmquest

Craig Hudson

Suzanne Jain

Jamey Jonathan

Sara Jorgensen

Kristen Kendall

Susan Kokores

Ali Kolozsi

Tracy Korss

Catherine Larson

Judy Levin

Sandy Levison

Debra Leylegian

Tom Livermore

Genevieve Wolff Lydstone

Bridget Madigan

Mark Martella

Grayson Martin

Susan Martin

Sue Matthews

Jenifer McDonald

Kelly McKnight

Jolyn Montgomery

Harrie Monteith

Melissa Montresor

Cindy Morrell

Gail Morey

Michelle Mosman

Greg Munks

Peggy Munkdale

Penelope Murray

Ben Narasin

Raymond & Nicole Neal

Elaine Nelson

Polly Neumann

Marilyn Newell

Lisa Newton

Glenn Nielsen

Linda Nohra

Martha & Barry O’Neill

Bill & Nancy Parker

Wendy Darling Parkin

Catherine Perez

Pam Perez

Anne Peterson

Barbara Phillips

Nancy Popa

Nancy Price

Jeanne Quinlan

Tom Rattigan

Caerry & Nancy Robinson

Almira Rida

Suzanne Rischman

Jeanie Ritchie

Stephanie Ross

David Rummler

Negar Sadrzadeh

Linda & Mark Salvador

Nancy Sammann

Jim Sansoterra

Diane Schilling

Susan Schneider

Robyn Shanahan

Chris Shaw

Lori Sherry

Lindy Sherwood

Stacey Siebel

Judy Smith

Marilyn Sokol

Peri Soyugenc

Marilyn Spiegl

Deborah Stacey

Ingrid Sywak

Juno Szalay

Ayako Tanaka

Bente Tellefsen

Sally Tennyson

Jeanie Treichel

Agneta Turner

Gina VanDeVelde

Eric Wassman

Rose Ann Woolpert

Patricia Wyrod

Jane Yates

Thank you to the committee members and sup-porters of our three special fundraising events of2010. The enthusiasm, dedication and devotionto these events create a life-changing impact onthose living with vision loss in our communityand their family members. Please accept ourheartfelt gratitude and appreciation.

Due to space limitations, we are unable toname all of our fundraiser contributors. We thankevery donor, sponsor and attendee for allowingus to continue our mission to empower individu-als who are blind or visually impaired to embracelife to the fullest.

We empower individuals whoare blind orvisually impairedto embrace life tothe fullest.

8

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT #77

PALO ALTO, CA

2470 El Camino Real, Suite 107Palo Alto, CA 94306-1715

650.858.0202 Phone Number650.858.0214 Fax Number800.660.2009 From 408 Area Code800.639.6081 From 831 Area Code

www.vistacenter.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Continued from page 1

was blind! I decided if he could dothat, I could push myself to walk theseven blocks to the barber shop,” Alsaid. He regularly interacts with oth-ers with vision loss at a monthly VistaCenter support group he attends nearhis San Jose home. Carol said herfather has really connected with awoman in the group who has thesame eye condition. She wishes therewere more social opportunities forpeople her father’s age. “He has somuch to offer,” she said.

Carol said, though upbeatthroughout his eye treatments, herfather had been in denial thinking hedidn’t need any help. She called uponher persuasive nursing skills toencourage her father to initially visitVista Center and “just gather infor-mation and then decide what to do.”She said her father is now more opento assistance due, in her opinion, to

hearing about the struggles of otherswith vision loss.

Al is accepting some help fromhis family to retain his independence.Carol purchased a phone with largenumbers for her father and assistswith his mail and bill paying. Her sonRod installed a talking thermostatwhile Carol’s brother David markedhousehold appliances.

“Dad’s stubborn. His independ-ence is important to him and I wantto do it his way,” Carol said. “But I dorest better knowing that he is usinghis new-found skills.”

Are you or a loved one trying to gather more information about vision loss? Please visit our website at www.vistacenter.org and click on ourResources tab for some of our favoriteonline references.

for the bl ind and visual ly impaired