FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS
MANHATTAN AFFILIATE NEWSLETTER

SUPPORT GROUP MEETING DATE:

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4th
TIME: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: HOSPITAL FOR JOINT DISEASES 301 EAST 17TH STREET 14TH FLOOR BOARD ROOM
DIRECTIONS: THE HOSPITAL IS ON 2ND AVENUE (NORTH EAST SIDE OF STREET) ENTRANCE IS ON 17TH STREET BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AVE

1. Message from the Editor:

It has been two months since our last meeting and I am hoping that since there is no football on TV scheduled for the next meeting date, we will have a great turnout. Our last meeting was wonderful because we were fortunate enough to have Chuck Cohen from C-Tech. He demonstrated all the great visual enhancements that are available to make our lives easier. The reading machine was incredible. Information about the presentation and Chuck’s phone number can be found in the next few pages.

We had a support group meeting after Chuck’s presentation and I think it was one of our best. We had a two new people come to our group and I think we focused on their problems and were helpful. Whenever we focus on anyone else’s problems we are also focusing on our own. I think it was a very successful support group meeting.

2. Special Guest Speaker

At our next meeting on February 4th we are going to have Lorraine Marchi speak. Mrs. Marchi is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for Visually Handicapped. She has won many awards for her work involving low vision, and has lectured all over the country on the effects of low vision, has been an instructor and has been involved in major fund raising.

Mrs. Marchi will examine the unique problems faced by the burgeoning number of people who live with partial vision. In addition to addressing the needs of those with normal refractive errors of vision, i.e. nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, she will discuss the importance of emotional support and vision enhancing strategies for those afflicted not only with retinitis pigmentosa, but other common eye diseases, such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Her emphasis will be on the importance of using residual vision which, with the help of many existing and rapidly increasing resources, will ensure the "hard of seeing" maintain independence and productivity in a fully sighted world. think you can get all your questions answered and I am very excited about having her at our next meeting. I hope you will all join us.

3. Thanks to Chuck Cohen

Chuck Cohen spoke at our last meeting. He works for C-Tech, the leading distributor of products for the blind. He demonstrated many products which are invaluable to someone who has vision problems including Screen Optical Scanners Software to magnify screen text, and much more. If you would like to get in touch with Chuck, please call 1-800-228-7798

4. RP Friendly Restaurants

This is a list of restaurants that are well lit. I have listed them on a previous newsletter, and I have also added some new ones. If you come across one, please call me and I will add it to the list.

Tony’s di Napoli - Upper East Side 1603 Second Avenue on East side of Street - between 83rd and 84th streets. Entry is on Second Avenue.

Angel’s - East Side West Side of street between 62 and 63rd streets. Entry is one step up through single door and then immediately after another single door to your right. The room you walk into is very well lit.

Boulevard Cafe West Side On 88thstreet and Broadway. On East side of street. Entry is through two sets of double doors. When you go through the double doors there will be two steps up. Tables on main floor are well lit.

Quatroze Biz - East Side 79th street between 1st and 2nd avenues on North side of street. You enter through single door with no step. Most tables have lights about them. It is pricey.

Lenges - Japanese - 3rd Avenue between 83rd and 84th streets on East side of street. There is a step up when you go through the first glass door and then turn left and go through another glass door.

Popover Cafe - 551 Amsterdam Avenue between 87th and 86th streets on East side of street. Entry is through single glass door and then another glass door. Turn right after 2nd glass door.

Hatsuhana - Japanese - 17 East 48th, between 5th and Madison on North side of street. Entry through glass door.

Saigon Grill - 1700 Second Avenue - 88th street on East side of street on corner.

EJ’s Luncheonette - 1277 Third Avenue on East side of street between 73rd and 74th street on corner of 73rd street. One step before entering single door.

Local 224 West 47th Street 921-2005 Has lighting for each table.

Dish Of Salt - 921-4242 133 West 47th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues Pricey

Rafina - Greek Food 1481 York Avenue between 79th and 78th on York 327-0950

Cite 956 -7100 Time and Life Building 51st West of Sixth Avenue Request tables with lights above them. Pricey.

Dressners - American food on York Avenue between 78th and 79th streets on the West side of the street, right next to Rafina’s (restaurant listed). Has tables that are very well lit.

5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MANHATTAN AFFILIATE PLEASE CALL 212 -677-6711