program 3 OUTREACH TO LIBRARIES AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

---

VISION IMPAIRED FOUNDATION is a trust organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Specifically, this organization will (a) educate the public on subjects useful to individuals and beneficial to the community, (b) provide relief to the poor, distressed, and underprivileged, (c) provide an easier and more effective method of getting information and books to vision impaired people in an environment that supports self-reliance and builds self- esteem, creates an awareness (among those more fortunate) of people with disadvantages, while offering empowering solutions so that everyone reaps the benefits. We have developed three (3) programs in furtherance of our purposes. 

Our 3rd program is entitled: Outreach to Libraries and Civic Organizations.  Getting the software to those who need it the most is a never-ending task. Ideally, civic organizations can help by donating funds so that the VIP-Assist USB driven software and training can be provided at no cost to more VIPs or learning disabled students. A friend of mine once said, "You can't be poor and be blind." Since most VIPs don't have jobs. finding creative ways to help them and at the same time not place a burden on others is paramount in outreach efforts. 

Engaging libraries and Friends of Libraries' through direct means of cold calling is monumental. There are over 17,000 public libraries in this country alone, not to mention university, law, business and school libraries. Most have had bad experiences in trying to accommodate the VIP.

Current mainstream software applications require that the software be installed on a computer network. Librarians generally still think they have to buy one of the three systems available on the market today. Then a staff member would have to be trained at the expense of their institution. If that person leaves, the VIP is the one who suffers since no one is left to provide support. And disappointment ensues plus pressure on administrative personnel to provide another trained person. 

Currently available software is very expensive and requires updates that are also expensive. These very fine software applications far exceed the needs of what most people want when accessing the internet or reading a book. This has left a bad taste in the mouths of the librarians.

They see accommodating the vision impaired as a failed project. Our trustee, Ms. Adams initiated a 'pilot-program' where libraries could test the software, in its beta-state, visit the online training on their own, and then outreach to the vision impaired community. Of the 10 libraries across the county that participated, their original enthusiasm gave way to higher priority items and strained workload. This is an unfortunate scenario given that the libraries could see the value of such an endeavor.

We can eliminate the environment of expecting the libraries to test the software and training by travelling to them and conducting seminars and workshops, and our organization feels that is a better way of getting libraries on board with the many benefits of this software. Support with hands-on training in the dedicated time of a workshop or seminar could bring a greater awareness of how the VIP could best be served. 

This could motivate staff and "Friends of the Library" to perform outreach to other libraries and civic organizations to provide support for needs with their own communities. Lions' Clubs in particular are very interested in finding way to support the vision impaired community in innovative and creative means, as for many years they have been dedicated to helping those with vision problems. Partnering with the libraries brings public awareness to both organizations and hopefully greater involvement. Getting others to participate at this level is of great benefit to all. 

Libraries and civic organizations with available funding they can purchase bulk licensing for patrons to use while at the library, six (6) drives for $600. This allows them to serve more VIPS with fewer time commitments from staff. And by increasing the number of patrons at libraries while providing a way for the vision impaired who would not otherwise have access to a computer to enjoy the benefit of checking out and reading books, do email, Facebook and shop, they can increase their funding. Libraries need patrons; that is how funding is determined for each library. If the number of patrons to US libraries can be increased by 20% by just serving the vision impaired, that is a win-win situation. Libraries without such funding can be provided with one or more drives as needed, to the extent our funding allows.

More details are available on provided in the video, “Tear Down the Fence”.

The Trustees can only visit so many libraries or conduct so many workshops a year. However, others can be trained to perform these sessions as well. In the workshops conducted so far, a sighted person goes through the process of getting on the computer using the USB drive and checking out a book in about fifty (50) minutes the very first time they use the software.  A VIP can do it much faster! Vision impaired people are much better at listening to instructions and can follow along without any problem. Most sighted users are dependent on graphic user interfaces in navigating through screens. Until a sighted person sees how easy it is to use, they believe it to be too complicated since they are accustomed to Windows and iPads environments. If they are familiar with mainstream high-end screen reading software applications, they expect the process to be laden with a multitude of keyboard shortcuts that they would have to memorize. This would frighten anyone from pursuing anything else with a screen reader Our workshops nullify that fear. 

 A comprehensive contextual User's Guide is on each VIP- Assist USB drive to instruct the user on everything from setting up the screen reading software to doing email, Facebook, gmail and checking out books, and also downloading to a USB device. It can also be used as a printed manual for the sighted for use by librarians and other support groups. Minimum time need be spent supporting the VIP, as they can become independent quite quickly.  

By building relationships between libraries, their support groups and civic organizations, and enabling a means of connecting these groups to help each other from a monetary effort to training, builds a sense of connection that inspires participation at all levels.

We plan eventually to expand our operations to groups in the UK which have expressed an interest. If appropriate and in line with our purposes, and as funds permit, we may make grants, loans or distributions to organizations there. No corporate donations will be utilized other than domestically. These groups include Lions' Clubs, public and private libraries and schools and the organizations previously mentioned. All potential groups will be carefully vetted as to their capacities to use the funds properly and in line with our Foundation's clear vision. 

This program will be implemented nationwide, in libraries and civic organizations, as widely as possible given our financial capabilities. This is administered by the trustees and officers of our organization and is conducted from our principal place of business. Our organization spends 50% percent of its time and efforts on this program. 

These program, as well as our organization, are marketed through existing connections, our website, brochures and word of mouth. By offering our programs, we further and expand our purposes of educating the public on subjects useful to individuals and beneficial to the community, providing relief to the poor, distressed, and underprivileged, and providing an effective method of getting information and books to vision impaired people in an environment that supports self-reliance and builds self-esteem. 

 Example of Program 3: 

• The local Lions' Club just held a major fund raising event. They need to disperse the funds they received but don't know where. We make a PowerPoint presentation raising their awareness of the benefits of the software for the VIP. They donate a portion of their new funds to support USB drives for distribution to VIPS. 

• Not to be outdone by the Lions Club, the local Rotary also donates. 

• We make the same presentation to main and branch libraries offering a solution to their patron woes by encouraging them to be more inclusive of the VIPS. The software and training can be purchased as a lifetime subscription for patrons to use while visiting their libraries. A VIP can approach the checkout counter and check out a USB drive to use while at the library. If the VIP is unaccompanied by anyone, a staff member might have to help them login on the computer, which takes a few seconds. After that, the VIP can insert the USB drive and proceed to have a valued user experience.