ASSOCIATION for EDUCATION and REHABILITATION of the BLIND and VISUALLY IMPAIRED
AER Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Division December 2009
GReeTiNGS eVeRYONe
A Thank You To Dr. Sue
Greetings Everyone: exuberance that was Sue, and
when learning there was a new
It was with great sadness that
VRT NeWS we learned of the passing of
guy within the group, turned
this energy directly toward me.
one of the true beacons in the
In This Issue... In the good natured teasing
blindness professions, Susan
and ribbing that she directed
Ponchillia.
• Message from the Chair toward all of us during the
I first met Sue in the early entirety of the goalball session,
• Obituary for Susan Kay 1980’s while she was still in the I felt the ability she had to
Vlahas Ponchillia process of becoming Dr. Sue. normalize life for me as a
Little did I know during those person with visual impairment.
• Uncle Sam’s Secret
early days what a major role This was an astounding
• Announcements she would play in my life from concept to me at that time
that point forward. in my life as a person who
• Meet a Member Question
was newly visually impaired.
I can still remember the
• VRT News Submissions very first time I met Sue. I I have never forgotten the
was completing an initial gift that Sue gave to me that
rehabilitation stint at the day, and have carried it with
Michigan Commission for me as a central component of
the Blind Training Center in how I participate in practicing
Kalamazoo. Somebody there my profession of Vision
told me about a game called Rehabilitation.
goalball. A group of us from I am so grateful that fate
the Training Center decided to not only brought our paths
go and see the game played together all those years ago,
first hand, and maybe even try but that we continued a
our hand at it. The very first personal and professional
person I met there was Sue. relationship that has grown
She greeted us all with the
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through the years. I consider it an honor to have been able to call
Sue my mentor, my colleague, and most of all, my friend. Thank
you, Dr. Sue, for the energy you have given of so freely, and for
helping me to become me.
The blindness professions have lost a true leader and a true
legend. Thank you Dr. Sue, for all you have taught us, but more
VRT NeWS importantly, for just being Sue.
VRT Division Board, Be well.
2008-2010 John McMahon, Chair
John McMahon, CVRT, CLVT Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Division
Chair
john.m.mcmahon@wmich.edu
Deanna Austin LSW, CVRT
Chair-elect Obituary for Susan Kay Vlahas Ponchillia
deannaaustin2009@comcast.net
(pronounced Vuh lay us)
Susan Dalton, CVRT Born October 4, 1954 in Greenville, Michigan. The second
Secretary-Treasurer
daughter of Julia and Theodore Vlahas, who preceded her
susan.dalton@att.net
in death. Siblings are sister Gail (Rick) Davis and brothers Jay
Mary Beth Harrison, (Denise) and Todd (Tracy) Vlahas. Susan met her best friend,
CVRT, CLVT Paul Ponchillia, at Western Michigan University when they were
Immediate Past Chair
marybeth.harrison@va.gov
students. After several years of friendship, they married outdoors
under a Burr Oak tree at her family home in Belding, Michigan in
1981. Paul survives her and she is also survived by stepchildren
Tina (Durand) McIntosh and Jeff Ponchillia and their children
Taylor, Savana, Jack, Elizabeth, Ashlee, Dalton, and Aaron.
Susan was a professor in the Western Michigan University
This newsletter is written Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies for 25 Years. She
and published by: dedicated a lifetime of 60-hour weeks supporting and nurturing
Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Division the several hundred graduate students she advised. That
dedication has resulted in a national and international network
Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and of friends and admirers that is unparalleled among her university
Visually Impaired
colleagues. Susan was also a scholar, conducting a wide range
1703 N Beauregard St.
Suite 440 of research and authoring or coauthoring numerous professional
Alexandria, VA 22311
articles and books. Her most notable writing was coauthoring
877-492-2708 with her husband Paul the first comprehensive textbook in
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her professional field, Vision Rehabilitation remembered for that passion.
Therapy. She was a member of the Association
Mostly, Susan’s friends will remember her as
for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind
a giver. Her husband Paul said, “Sue’s default
and Visually Impaired, Kalamazoo Council of the
mode was to give of her time, her things, and
Blind, St. Joseph County Habitat for Humanity,
mostly her love. While the others of us were
and she served as officer or board member for
considering whether to give at all and how
numerous other professional organizations
much to contribute if we did, Sue had paid
nationally and internationally.
the check, told the waitress how nice her hair
Together, she and Paul combined their love of looked, hugged everyone at the table, and was
the outdoors, sports, and recreation to develop thinking of something nice to say to someone
and direct two notable WMU programs: The else she spotted on the way to the exit.”
sports education camps for Michigan’s children
Sue was a member of the First Presbyterian
with visual impairments and the Bakos Memorial
Church of Three Rivers/Centerville, where her
International Goalball tournaments. Sue gave
memorial service was held on Saturday October
nearly a quarter of a century of public service to
24th at 2 p.m.
each of these programs. Through their northern
travels, Susan became interested in research Donations to:
about native Canadian people with blindness. Paul and Susan Ponchillia Vision Rehabilitation
She spent many hours teaching T’licho people Therapy Student Scholarship Fund
and studying their genetic blindness in the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies
Canadian Northwest Territories. As in all things 1903 West Michigan Ave. Mailstop 5218
Susan, those she taught became lifelong friends. Western Michigan University
She and WMU colleague Frank Jamison recently Kalamazoo, MI 49008
produced a documentary video entitled, Sing Or, Kalamazoo Council of the Blind and Visually
Me A Fish: Tlichoe People Living with Vision Impaired, P.O. Box 50603, Kalamazoo, MI 49005
Loss, which was the capstone of her work in the
Or, Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County,
NWT. . Susan loved nature, reading, writing,
P.O. Box 96, Three Rivers, MI 49093
photography, kayaking, walks in the woods,
racquetball, and cooking for friends. She played Notes from Sue:
racquetball 4-5 days a week for more than 18 One of the reassuring things about facing
years with her friend, Karen Cornell. Another of death with a little lead time is that I can make
Sue’ s passions was reading about and traveling suggestions about music for the service that
to the arctic to hike and kayak, where she speaks for me. I’ve gathered some songs and
paddled, trekked, and developed a relationship CD’s that will help fill gaps between words!
with God through the glorious environs of
Greenland, Alaska, and the High Canadian Arctic.
She was a true Arctic adventurer and will be
(Continued on page 4)
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Songs: “Amazing Grace.” Suddenly you came in sight,
Looking just the way I’d hoped you’d be,
“Lucky to be me”, written by Leonard Bernstein,
I’m so lucky to be me.
as played by Taylor Eigsti. Taylor’s father and
I am simply thunderstruck
sister died of cancer, but he felt that all the good
At the change in my luck:
things in life that have happened to him have
Knew at once I wanted you,
helped weather the bad. So, we both feel “Lucky
Never dreamed you’d want me, too.
to be me”.
I’m so proud
Having the words available for people to read You chose me from all the crowd,
would be helpful, and no, I’m not so compulsive There’s no other guy I’d rather be,
that I have the copies ready for distribution! I could laugh out loud,
Lucky To Be Me I’m so lucky to be me.
I used to think it might be fun to be CHORUS:
Anyone else but me. What a day,
I thought that it would be a pleasant surprise Fortune smiled and came my way,
To wake up as a couple of other guys. Bringing love I never thought I’d see,
But now that I’ve found you, I’m so lucky to be me.
What a night,
I’ve changed my point of view, Suddenly you came in sight,
And now I wouldn’t give a dime to be Looking just the way I’d hoped you’d be,
Anyone else but me. I’m so lucky to be me.
What a day, I am simply thunderstruck
Fortune smiled and came my way, At the change in my luck:
Bringing love I never thought I’d see, Knew at once I wanted you,
I’m so lucky to be me. Never dreamed you’d want me, too.
What a night,
(Continued on page 5)
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4
I’m so proud Always look on the bright side of death
You chose me from all the crowd, Just before you draw your terminal breath
CHORUS: Life’s abit of grit, when you look at it
There’s no other guy I’d rather be, Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke it’s true
I could laugh out loud, You can see it’s all a show, keep ‘em laughing as
I’m so lucky to be me. you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you,
and...
…and I like the idea of having a Monty Python
Always look on the bright side of life
song.
Always look on the bright side of life...
Monty Python, “Always look on the bright side
of life”
Some things in life are bad, they can really make And of course, Sue’s favorite “meditation” song,
you mad “in-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly
Other things can make you swear and curse
Are they singing “In the garden of Eden?” Who
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t
knows, but what a perfect send-off song to show
grumble -- give a whistle
that side of me!
And this’ll help things turn out for the best, and...
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life
Light up the long
If life seems jolly rotten, there’s something
you’ve forgotten
nights of winter
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and The VRT division sold key-clip style mini-
sing flashlights at the Chicago International
When you’re feeling in the dumps, don’t be silly Conference last summer. These royal
chumps blue metal flashlights with our division
Just purse your lips and whistle, that’s the thing, name on them are still available for
and... $5.00 including Shipping from Division
Secretary-Treasurer Sue Dalton: send a
Always look on the bright side of life check payable to AER-VRT Division to:
Always look on the bright side of life Susan Dalton, TransVision, P. O. Box 676,
Life is quite absurd, and death’s the final word Marengo, IL 60152. Proceeds go to the
We must always face the curtain with a bow Division Treasury.
Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin
Enjoy it -- it’s your last chance anyhow, so...
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UNCLe SAM’S SeCReT All too often, a person leaves his
By Maureen E. Carr ophthalmologist’s office with the final words of,
“ I’m sorry there is nothing more that can be
Blind Rehabilitation training is a little known done.” Too many times physicians believe that
program that our government makes available if there is nothing more they can do medically,
to veterans who are legally blind. It is one of there is nothing more to be done. Referrals
America’s biggest and best kept secrets. Below to appropriate rehabilitation services are
is a quick look at this most extraordinary and seldom made. How wrong they are. If I were
excellent benefit. to give a speech to physicians, in particular
ophthalmologists, I would entitle it “What you
Throughout the United States and Puerto Rico,
can do for your patients when all of your skills
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health
and talents are not enough.” No matter what
Care System has established ten inpatient
age the person or the limitations of their vision,
blind rehabilitation centers. (Three more are in
Blind Rehabilitation training is an appropriate
the planning stage.) These are places veterans
prescription. It is not a cure, but most definitely
can come to for unique residential training.
a pathway to a meaningful, productive, and
Additionally, there are numerous outpatient
worthwhile life.
and abbreviated blind rehabilitation options
available scattered through the U. S. Being a legally blind individual, I know firsthand
the importance of being able to interact with
I have been a blind rehabilitation teacher in a VA
peers. and acquire adaptive skills. As a child,
hospital Blind Rehabilitation Center for the past
attending a school for the blind, I learned to
twenty-two years. The experience I have gained,
succeed or fail based on my own skills and
the lessons I have learned, and the hundreds of
abilities, not my amount of vision. Being around
veterans whose lives I have seen changed for the
people who are just like you is an incredibly
better by this unparalleled training have only
awakening experience. Black or white, general
been surpassed by the dedicated and talented
or private professional or grammar school drop
staff I have worked with.
out blindness is the great equalizer.
Frequently with the loss of vision comes loss
As well meaning as loved ones may be, not
of control over one’s own life. Choices are
having knowledge or understanding of
greatly reduced, roles are frequently reversed
the multiple losses, can be frustrating. This
and relationships are often strained. Loss is a
experience for both the blind individual and the
dominant theme. Bad enough that now one
family member is a frightening and difficult time.
can no longer drive or get easily from place
The future looks bleak; tempers are short, anger
to place, but now for many even something
and depression are byproducts of the frustration
as simple as writing a check, being left alone,
and fear. There seems to be nowhere to turn …
preparing a simple meal going fishing with a
and then sometimes (unfortunately not often
friend is all lost.
(Continued on page 7)
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enough) the veteran will hear about the VA Families are sometimes brought in towards
sponsored blind rehabilitation program. the end of the veteran’s program in order to
The benefits of inpatient Blind Rehabilitation help them better understand the needs of
Training far exceed the skills taught. While the veteran and how they can best support
in no way do I want to diminish the value of the newly acquired skills. Families are taught
daily lessons in mobility, visual skills, manual that when they prevent their loved one from
skills, living skills, and nursing education I do failing, they risk robbing them of their chance to
want to convey that there is much more for succeed.
the individual to gain who participates in an Many times, the family member will wear
inpatient program. a low vision simulator, which gives them
Challenging misconceptions, breaking down old an opportunity to see as the veteran sees.
beliefs about blindness, and working towards Seeing the veteran crossing a busy street
acceptance are all benefits of being with peers. independently, or cooking something on the
Providing an opportunity for the individual to top of the stove, works to dispel stereotypical
rise to his or her own level of independence ideas that they may have had about the blind
is the task. The inpatient program lasts for person’s abilities. The previously impossible
approximately six weeks, and honorably soon becomes possible.
discharged veterans are helped to reclaim their Between the combination of newly acquired
independence, autonomy, and self-esteem. skills and an awakened sense of self-confidence
The inpatient experience provides the /self worth the veteran’s life has had a dramatic
opportunity to be with peers which allows the change for the better.
individual to look at his limitations, see how Many veterans who started with few
others are dealing with similar or even more expectations at the beginning of their program
significant impairments and then move forward. want to come back for additional training in
He also becomes very aware that he is not alone. computer access technology. This is a separate
The reclamation of self confidence and self program which veterans have available to them
esteem rapidly increase as the veteran realizes We should take great pride in our Department
that it isn’t all over. There is a life that can be of Veteran Affairs Blind Rehabilitation programs.
productive, meaningful and worth living. A For further information go to http://www1.
veteran told me that for him the word blind had va.gov/blindrehab/
a new meaning and that was: Beginning Life in
a New Dimension.
Optometric and other medical staff works along
with the rehab teaching team to develop an
individualized training program, which will have
the best chance to foster independence.
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Announcements: Nominations Committee: The committee shall
consist of the Immediate Past Chairperson
Sue Ponchillia Tribute:
as chairperson and two members. The
The next issue of the VRT News will include
committee shall prepare a slate of candidates for
personal tributes to Sue Ponchillia. Please e-mail
Chairperson-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer to be
your memories (one to three paragraphs) to
presented at the next election. Any candidates
marybeth.harrison@va.gov no later than January
submitted by the Nominating Committee
20, 2010.
shall have filed a written statement signifying
Nominations & elections: willingness to serve if elected.
Please contact Mary Beth Harrison (see above)
Awards Committee:
to join the Nominating Committee and/or
Please contact Chair-elect Deanna Austin at
make a nomination for the 2010 Division Board
deannaaustin2009@comcast.net in order to join
elections.
the committee or nominate a member for one of
from the Division By-laws: our awards. The 2008 award recipients were:
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS • Alvin Roberts, Bruce McKenzie Lifetime
Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Division Achievement Award
shall be a Chairperson, Chairperson-Elect, • Bernadette Anderson, Alice Raftary Rising Star
Secretary-Treasurer and Immediate Past Award Recipient
Chairperson. The four officers collectively make
• Roberta McCall, Elizabeth Lennon Meritorious
up the Board of Directors.
Achievement Award Recipient
Section 2. Qualifications of Officers. Any
• Debra Sokol-McKay, first recipient of new VRT
individual who is a voting member in good
Division Publication Award
standing with the Division shall be eligible to
serve in any office. No two offices may be held from the Division By-laws:
concurrently by the same person. Awards Committee: The committee shall consist
Section 3. Elections. In the spring prior to the of the chair-elect as chairperson and two
biennial conference of AER, Division members members. The committee shall solicit and
shall elect by mail ballot from among their receive nominations for the Bruce McKenzie
number a Chairperson-Elect and a Secretary- Award and Recognition Certificates and
Treasurer. The office of Chairperson of the determine the recipients in accordance with the
Division shall be filled by succession of the criteria adopted by the Division. This committee
Chairperson-Elect. may plan and implement other programs
Section 4. Term of Office. The term of office to recognize outstanding contributions to
for all officers shall be two years and shall Rehabilitation Teaching with the approval of the
commence after the final business meeting held Board.
during the biennial conference at which they are
elected and shall run concurrently.
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Meet a Member: have been to six summer Olympic games and
Barbara Hunt, CVRT have seen the Chicago Bears play in three
European countries.
1. How did you enter the Vision 5. Why did you join Division 11?
Rehabilitation Field? The vision rehabilitation field is relatively
I was working in the School for the Blind in small. Many professionals don’t have
Marburg, Germany, when I met Pam and colleagues who work with them in
Dennis Cory. They had just completed their their offices. As a result, it has always
Master’s programs in Rehabilitation Teaching been important to connect with other
and in Orientation and Mobility. They were VRT’s through Division 11. Conferences,
so excited about the Western Michigan newsletters, and listserves have always helped
University program that I decided to return to me learn new information, meet new friends,
the States and complete my Rehab Teaching and share experiences.
degree. Pam and Dennis went on to start a 6. Any words of wisdom for your fellow
blind rehabilitation program in Hamburg, professionals?
Germany. As VRT’s we need to do a better job of
2. How long have you been a rehabilitation documenting our work. A few years ago
teacher/vision rehabilitation professional? I worked on the committee to write the
I worked three years in Germany with new CVRT exam for ACVREP. It was a very
children with vision loss and then worked as challenging task because most of us VRT’s
a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist at Hines VA have been so busy doing our jobs that we
Hospital for 30 years—as an instructor, a VRT haven’t done research or written books to
supervisor and a Visual Impairment Services share our knowledge. We need to be thankful
Team Coordinator. for individuals like the Sue and Paul Ponchillia,
3. Tell us about your current job. Maureen Duffy, Debra Sokol-McKay, Alberta
I currently oversee the volunteer services at Orr and a few others who have found the
Hines Hospital. We have 800 volunteers who time and taken the initiative to record
provide services for the veterans. In addition, our successes for the future. I encourage
we receive almost $900,000 in cash and everyone to try to find time to write an article
donated items. Although I don’t work directly for one of our journals or to work with others
with veterans with sight loss at this time, I to put together suggestions and tips. But
teach courses for the Vision Rehabilitation that is not enough anymore. As healthcare is
program at Northern Illinois University and sit based more and more on scientific outcomes,
on the ACVREP Board of Directors. we need to also move in that direction. We
know we do a great job…now it is important
4. Tell us something special about yourself.
to PROVE to others that we do a great job!
My husband and I are Sports fanatics—we
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VRT News Submissions
Moving? Please send articles and
Remember to take AER with you! product reviews via e-mail to:
Please let AER know of any change to your Mary Beth Harrison, Editor VRT News
work or home address, phone marybeth.harrison@va.gov
numbers, fax number, and/
or email address. You Advertising inquiries also welcome.
won’t want to miss one Deadline for the Spring is January 20, 2010.
member benefit! For-
ward any changes to Find us on the Web:
our member services www.vrt.aerbvi.org Look there for current
department:
aer@aerbvi.org
and archived issues of the VRT News. If you
don’t have your AER user name and pass-
word for the “members only” section, con-
tact the AER office for assistance.
Alexandria, VA 22311
1703 N. Beauregard Street, Suite 400
of the BLIND and VISUALLY IMPAIRED
ASSOCIATION for EDUCATION and REHABILITATION