Milwaukee VA Medical Center

VIST Program Support Assistant Jean Qualler demonstrates how the "Scrip Talk" aid works by waving the bottle over the device.

Photos By Benjamin Slane
 
Technologically advanced aids, like “Scrip Talk” which speaks the info on a prescription bottle, for the visually impaired or blind veterans will be on display Oct. 18 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. as the Visual Impairment Services Team and the Visually Impaired Veterans Activities peer support group celebrates White Cane Safety Day.

Vendors will be demonstrating some of the latest technologies in helping visually impaired and blind veterans gain more independency in day-to-day activities. Some of the latest aids available right now are the script talk, scanner, and for those affected by diabetes a visually impaired-friendly diabetic case. There will also be educational information available on the VA’s Central Blind Rehabilitation Center, where a visually impaired veteran can get hands-on learning on how to become more independent. This event is open to all visually impaired veterans and direct caregivers of visually impaired veterans.

“It’s going to be like a show-and-tell where you just walk around, and see the vendors themselves and they’ll explain what (each device) does and how it works,” said VIST Coordinator Leon Haith. “Many of my veterans will hopefully carry over and be able to say that ‘I have got one of those reading machines,’ they will be given the opportunity to go in and demonstrate how the device works to the people that come by.”

This one-day presentation offers VIST the chance to show the services they offer to the 500-plus veterans who currently receive care at Milwaukee VA Medical Center. These services range from Computer Adaptive Technology, an Advanced Low Vision Clinic, and Peer Support Groups like VIVA.

These aids are under-utilized, while not for lack of effort on the part of Haith and VIST’s program support assistant, Jean Qualler. They push to hand out technologically advanced aids including the “Scrip Talk”, most departments are unaware this and other aids are available.|

“Some of this stuff now is finally getting around to the clinics, where the clinics will no longer need to go through VIST to get them,” said Haith.

A visually impaired veteran can also take advantage of using a talking scanner to go shopping, label clothes, or even light switches. When using the scanner for grocery shopping, the veteran scans the product’s UPC code it then speaks the name of the product, and everything you need to know about it, including how to cook it. Seeing it demonstrated is the only way to see how cool and life changing the aid can be for the visually impaired.

“It will tell you the nutritional value, you have to shut the darn thing off because it will go on forever,” said Haith. “The company that makes it has an incredible database including Wal-Mart, Costco, and Pick N’ Save.”

Far and away the service that Haith and Qualler push is sending the visually impaired veteran to the Hines VA Hospital in Chicago, which houses the VA’s Central Blind Rehabilitation Center.

The Rehab center provides the highest quality blind rehabilitation services through a broad range of rehabilitation, education and research programs.

Each veteran who decides to go the rehabilitation center stays in spacious private rooms with a full bath, satellite TV, phone, talking book player, and radio. The center is located in Hines, Illinois but the location should not be an issue. The VA offers the stay free of charge to every veteran who is legally blind.

“Not just pay for their way down, they will come to the door pick them up at their door and drive them put them on a bus, put them on a train, (and)  put them on a plane whatever their preference is,” said Qualler. “(Edward Hines Jr. Rehab Center will) teach you everything you need to know to be independent as a visually impaired person.”

Leon and Jean hear excuses all the time on why the veteran can’t go to the center.

“They don’t want to leave home, (they’re) stuck in their way, stuck in their comfort zone, you’re afraid, you’ve been pampered, or in some instances (they’re) caring for their spouse,” said Haith. “They can come up with a thousand excuses until we can alleviate that in their minds, and this is why we keep working on them through as many venues as we can encouraging them to go.”

Qualler went on to say, “Frequently what we hear is, finally after we get the person off the fence to go to blind rehab at Hines, they come back and they’re like ‘Why the heck didn’t I listen to you five years ago?’.”

Qualler works full-time on helping veterans who are visually impaired, and never accepts excuses for not being an active visually impaired person for good reasons.

“I know a lot about the life of a visually impaired person,” said Qualler. “Because I am a visually impaired person, if I can do it you can do it.”

For more information on VIST, VIVA or the White Cane Safety Day Celebration call Leon Haith at 414-384-2000, extension 41832 or Jean Qualler at extension 45220.

Read more stories online at Milwaukee.VA.gov, or go to Facebook.com/MilwaukeeVA.