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How one Californian centre helps find solace after sight loss

Words by Smiley Team

Created in honour of a Californian rancher who was blind, Earle Baum Center helps those with sight loss to move forward independently with their lives. 

When he passed away in the ‘80s, Earle Baum donated his farm in Santa Rosa to a community group dedicated to supporting people experiencing vision loss.

“Earle Baum wanted a community centre for people with sight loss. So the group set it up to provide everything you need when you lose your sight: emotional support, technology, and more,” said the centre’s CEO, Bob Sonnenberg.

Through counselling, training and help to access assistive technology, the centre guides people through the transition to accepting and learning to live with blindness. As well as training and therapy sessions, it offers a library of second-hand equipment such as video magnifiers, to help visitors carry out day-to-day tasks. 

“The going rate for a video magnifier starts at $2,500. So to be able to access and use that type of tool cheaply can make a huge difference to people’s lives, allowing those with some sight to read a book or a document,” Sonnenberg said.

 

Friends indeed

As someone who lives with restricted vision himself, Sonnenberg explained how losing one’s sight prompts a kind of grieving process, during which support and communication with others become vital to accepting what’s happened.

He articulated what it can feel like through his own experience. “It happened in an instant,” he recalled. “I was driving when all of a sudden my retina shut down and what normally you can see really clearly, wasn’t visible to me. I could no longer see the freeway signs. It was scary. It was unnerving. It was emotional - and that was the last day I ever drove a car.”

Sonnenberg found that support from family and friends was crucial for adjusting to life with sight loss. This is the case for many of those who visit the centre, where the group counselling sessions and community spirit are vital for coming to terms with their new way of living.

 

A story of success

Among those who have benefitted from the centre is Hoby Wedler who was born sightless. He came to the organisation in his mid-teens while he was in high school. 

With support and technology from the centre, Wedler went on to complete a four-year degree followed by a PhD in organic chemistry. He joined the centre’s board of directors a year ago and will become the board chair next year.

 

How you can help

To support Earle Baum Center to assist more people like Wedler and Sonnenberg, you can donate here.

A gift of money can help with the running costs of training and therapy sessions, as well as buying new technology. You can also donate a vehicle to the centre, partner with the organisation as a business, or make a donation in memory of a loved one who has passed away.

For more information visit earlebaum.org.

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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