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Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired

NEWSLETTER

December 2023

Inaugural Holiday Gala a Success!


It may have been a rainy, gloomy day on December 2nd, but inside the Imperial House in Clinton Township, it was absolutely beautiful! GDABVI hosted over 200 guests to celebrate 62 years of service. Priscilla Miley was the keynote speaker and spoke to her message of "I may have lost my eyesight, but I have not lost my vision". Priscilla spoke of her challenges, the emotions of not being able to see her mom for 24 years, but also the highs, such as finding the wonderful resources, the counselors that pushed her to be independent, to now having a rewarding career with the GDABVI as a Rehabilitation Certified Low Vision Therapist. Thank you to all who attended the gala and support the agency, we cannot continue to move our mission forward without your help. A special thank you to all of sponsors who sponsored our program booklet, and to our event chair Roshni Patel, board member, for her dedication in planning this event. If you were unable to attend, but would still like to donate, please click here. Please follow our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for more pictures of the event.


Holiday Gala at the Imperial House in Clinton Township.

Guests enjoying an evening of fun, good company, good food all while raising money for GDABVI and the community of the blind and visually impaired.

Ten accessible holiday activities and gift guides for children who are blind.

Who doesn’t love the holidays? It’s a time for good food and family get-togethers, holiday parties and home-made gift making. For our kids who are blind, seasonal activities and baking often involve an array of multi-sensory input and stimulation. There are so many opportunities to learn about lights, smells and textures.


And of course, how can we leave out the best part of the holidays? Toys! Picking out the perfect present for a child who is visually impaired can sometimes be difficult, but there are actually quite a few accessible toys available even in mainstream department stores.


With all this in mind, Perkins offers a diverse collection of holiday tips, tricks and ideas.


For more ideas, click here



Office Housekeeping

The staff at GDABVI would like to wish you all a very Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! The office will be closed Monday, December 25 through Monday, January 1, 2024. We will re-open for business on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

Wish List

As we celebrate making a difference in the lives of our visually impaired & blind clients. Your support can bring them warmth and happiness. Explore our Amazon Wish List here. Together let's make this holiday season truly special for everyone.






Santa & Winter Celebration Letters

The National Federation of the Blind works to get more Braille into the hands of blind and low-vision children. We are excited to provide Braille letters and activities to celebrate the holiday and winter season in December. Each letter is part of a fun celebration packet of activities. The celebration packet is accompanied by a print copy for the whole family to participate.


Every December, the National Federation of the Blind helps Santa send letters in Braille to young blind children across the country.  Deadline is December 15th. Click here to fill out the form to receive your letter.

December is Safe Toys and Celebrations Month!

In December, even the most cautious of individuals can be affected by increased incidence of blunt force ocular trauma when year-end merry-making leads to careless behavior in adults and children alike. In a month loaded with gift-giving holidays and celebratory occasions, individuals are at risk of eye injuries in the path of high-speed shooting projectiles ranging from newly opened toys to champagne corks released from highly pressurized bottles at holiday parties.


Accordingly, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has declared December as Safe Toys and Celebrations Month. The AAO has outlined a range of common-sense eye injury-preventing practices to guide decision-making over the holidays, from selecting non-shooting gifts for children, to practicing significant caution when opening a champagne bottle at parties.


AAO Eye Health Holiday Guide to Children's Gift Giving, click here.


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