Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired



NEWSLETTER

January 2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM GDABVI!

January is often a month of new beginnings and endings. Our new year’s resolutions help kick-off healthy habits placing us squarely on a path of health and renewal. While some of us succeed, many admit we will need to keep trying. New beginnings don’t always have to do with our physical self. Sometimes we challenge ourselves to new adventures or lifestyles. Here at GDABVI, We are always encouraging our clients that they can live a "LIFE BEYOND SIGHT".

Happy New Year!!

From Jim Smock, Executive Director

Welcome to 2025! From everyone at the agency, I hope you and yours enjoyed great holidays and that the year is off to a great start!

I am pleased to welcome Mr. Deonte Hargrove to our team. Deonte is a CVRT and will help us to improve our services. His email address is dhargrove@gdabvi.org. Please feel free to contact him and welcome him aboard.

While a new year brings many new things, one especially important thing remains the same: funding. As a reminder, the agency does not receive any government funding. We rely on grants, contributions, and donations to fund the agency and the services provided to our clients. Also, as a reminder, the agency does not charge a fee for any of the services to clients.

As part of our fundraising efforts, on Saturday, April 12, the agency will hold a 5k “Life Beyond Sight Walk.”  Please use this link to view all the details: https://www.lifebeyondsight.org/resources/walk/.  More information will be forthcoming. Space is limited to 250 participants; we hope you will be able to join, along with friends and family.

The agency will be closed on Monday, January 20, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Lastly, I welcome your comments and questions; please feel free to contact me: jsmock@gdabvi.org.

Best Regards,

Jim Smock

Executive Director

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 4th: World Braille Day

Get ready; it’s time to celebrate World Braille Day! I’m sure you can guess that it’s a day to celebrate braille. But, you may wonder what it’s all about and why it’s worth celebrating. Well, let’s talk about that so we can spread the word and invite more people to celebrate!

What is it?

We celebrate World Braille Day every year on January 4th because it’s Louis Braille’sbirthday. He’s the inventor of braille! Louis was born in 1809 in France and became blind after a childhood accident. But he quickly mastered his new way of living. When Louis was only 15 years old, he created a reading and writing system based on Charles Barbier’s night writing system.

Braille is a unique tactile writing system of raised dots that blind and partially sighted people can read by touch. The ability to understand braille means that people with sight loss have the same access to written word as sighted people and are able to enjoy reading for life.

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January 9th: Family/Friend Support Group

6:30PM

This meeting takes place VIA Zoom. It's for those who have a family/friend who is blind/visually impaired. We meet every 2nd Thursday of the month. Come, share and lets support one another.

Contact us for Zoom info.

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January 14th: New Direction Support Group

12PM-2PM

Topic- New Beginnings/Self Care!

Let's start our, Self Care Journey!!!What is Self Care? Self care is anything that you do to keep yourself mentally, emotionally, physically socially and sspritually healthy. If you don't practice self care regularly, your risking your well being and inviting burnout.

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January 20th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The agency will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day.

On January 20, 2025,Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday will mark the 30th anniversary as a national day of service. This day was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Lets remember Dr. King as a husband, father, friend and fierce advocate for the betterment of all people.

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January 28th: Book Club

12PM-2PM (VIA ZOOM)

We will be discussing, Skipping Chrismas by: John Grisham. You can find this book on BARD (Book Number, DB52929).

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88063218287

One tap mobile 

+13092053325,,88063218287#,,,,*756521#

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ATTENTION!!!

February is Heart Month. We will be having "Hands Only CPR Training" in February. If you would like to be added to the list. Please contact KaShonia at 313-591-3786. You must RSVP by January 28th.

WILL YOU SUPPORT GDABVI?

Every day, hundreds of people turn to GDABVI for practical help and support. Your generosity allows us to provide training, support groups, educational series and activities for those with vision loss – all free of charge. Please give today…

Classes and more...

Computer Lab

If you would like to sharpen up your computer skills. GDABVI Computer Lab is open, Tuesdays & Fridays… 10AM-2PM. To RSVP Call Priscilla at 313-591-3791.

Braille Classes

The new Braille Classes have began. If you would like to be added to the list for the next sessions call Aya at 313-591-3793.

Orientation & Mobility

If you are in need for O & M. Complete the in-take process. You will be then evaluated. Call Malaika at 313-591-3794.

For more information or to RSVP for activities and events call 313-591-3786.

Some additional information...

Important Information

If you want to become a client, contact Malaika English to complete your intake process.

If you want to be a part of activities and outreach, contact KaShonia Graham at 313-591-3786

Our Staff

If you are looking for information, you will find the following contacts helpful.

Jim Smock (Executive Director): 313-591-3794

Malaika English (Community Health Worker): 313-591-3790

Priscilla Miley (Program Manager): 313-591-3791

Aya Beyduon (Program Director): 313-591-3793

KaShonia Graham (Outreach Engagement Specialist): 313-591-3786

Thanks, and we look forward to serving you at GDABVI. Let us help you get to your “LIFE BEYOND SIGHT”!!!

Connect with us!