BISM Logo, blue and gold compass with modern styled letters reading BISM Empowering the Blind Community, employing, educating, training.
BISM Logo, blue and gold compass with modern styled letters reading BISM Empowering the Blind Community, employing, educating, training.

Awareness Articles

Topics Relevant to Blind and Low-vision Individuals

  • Kariza Goncalves wearing a bright floral dress with a black background smiles brightly.
Kariza Goncalves wearing a bright floral dress with a black background smiles brightly.

Positively Changing Attitudes About Glaucoma – Meet Kariza Goncalves

According to the CDC, about 3 million Americans have glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and even blindness. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Angle glaucoma, the most common form, results in increased eye pressure. There are often no early symptoms, which is why 50% of people with glaucoma don’t know they have the disease. To spread awareness, World Glaucoma Day was created and is observed annually on March 12th.

For this year’s World Glaucoma Day, meet Kariza Goncalves.

As a member of the admin team of our Independence Training and Rehabilitation Department, Kariza’s bubbly personality, optimistic attitude, and bright smile are what help people find comfort when considering their options for training.

Originally from the Republic of Cape Verde, an island on the coast of Africa, Kariza was your typical child growing up. Yet, her mother noticed there was something different about her daughter. Light sensitivity, placing items very close to the face to view them, and consistent watering of the eyes left cause for concern. After many tests, Kariza was diagnosed with congenital Glaucoma. Due to the lack of resources, Kariza and her father moved to the United states when she was four years old to seek more medical and educational support.

Once settled in her new hometown, Kariza gained access to many support services and resources to help her succeed throughout school. She recalls that her most challenging moments were the negative perceptions from her peers. This was mainly due to the visible scar tissue that caused her eye to become a bluish color. Despite these obstacles, Kariza exceled at school and her childhood.

Due to her blindness, similar misconceptions have followed her as an adult. More specifically when she was job searching and had interviews. It was not uncommon for employers to question her abilities due to her being blind. Despite these challenges, Kariza graduated with a BS in Human Services, went on to work in Human Resources at another organization until she decided to join the BISM team in 2019.

Just recently, Kariza had a young student going through similar challenges as she had growing up. Naturally, the mother had so many concerns around her child being able to lead a typical life like her sighted peers. But because of Kariza’s personal experiences, she was able to provide support and mentorship to both the mom and student, assuring them that with proper support and resources, that student would be able to lead a successful and independent life.

Receiving a Glaucoma diagnosis can be life-altering, but knowing that regardless of having Glaucoma or any other eye disease, you can live a full and productive life. Blindness does not mean the end. With the proper training and support, Blind people can work fulfilling jobs, attend school, manage households, and engage in full social lives. Kariza is a shining example of this!

At BISM we offer a variety of employment opportunities and training programs to educate and empower individuals to be the best that they can be. Join us in our efforts as we work to positively change attitudes about blindness.

  

Archive - Awareness Articles



  • Kariza Goncalves wearing a bright floral dress with a black background smiles brightly.
Kariza Goncalves wearing a bright floral dress with a black background smiles brightly.

Positively Changing Attitudes About Glaucoma – Meet Kariza Goncalves

According to the CDC, about 3 million Americans have glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye’s optic nerve and can result in vision loss and even blindness. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Angle glaucoma, the most common form, results in increased eye pressure. There are often no early symptoms, which is why 50% of people with glaucoma don’t know they have the disease. To spread awareness, World Glaucoma Day was created and is observed annually on March 12th.

For this year’s World Glaucoma Day, meet Kariza Goncalves.

As a member of the admin team of our Independence Training and Rehabilitation Department, Kariza’s bubbly personality, optimistic attitude, and bright smile are what help people find comfort when considering their options for training.

Originally from the Republic of Cape Verde, an island on the coast of Africa, Kariza was your typical child growing up. Yet, her mother noticed there was something different about her daughter. Light sensitivity, placing items very close to the face to view them, and consistent watering of the eyes left cause for concern. After many tests, Kariza was diagnosed with congenital Glaucoma. Due to the lack of resources, Kariza and her father moved to the United states when she was four years old to seek more medical and educational support.

Once settled in her new hometown, Kariza gained access to many support services and resources to help her succeed throughout school. She recalls that her most challenging moments were the negative perceptions from her peers. This was mainly due to the visible scar tissue that caused her eye to become a bluish color. Despite these obstacles, Kariza exceled at school and her childhood.

Due to her blindness, similar misconceptions have followed her as an adult. More specifically when she was job searching and had interviews. It was not uncommon for employers to question her abilities due to her being blind. Despite these challenges, Kariza graduated with a BS in Human Services, went on to work in Human Resources at another organization until she decided to join the BISM team in 2019.

Just recently, Kariza had a young student going through similar challenges as she had growing up. Naturally, the mother had so many concerns around her child being able to lead a typical life like her sighted peers. But because of Kariza’s personal experiences, she was able to provide support and mentorship to both the mom and student, assuring them that with proper support and resources, that student would be able to lead a successful and independent life.

Receiving a Glaucoma diagnosis can be life-altering, but knowing that regardless of having Glaucoma or any other eye disease, you can live a full and productive life. Blindness does not mean the end. With the proper training and support, Blind people can work fulfilling jobs, attend school, manage households, and engage in full social lives. Kariza is a shining example of this!

At BISM we offer a variety of employment opportunities and training programs to educate and empower individuals to be the best that they can be. Join us in our efforts as we work to positively change attitudes about blindness.

  

  • Director of First Impressions, Ruth Hairsine, sits at BISM reception desk
Director of First Impressions, Ruth Hairsine, sits at BISM reception desk

How Can I Get you to Smile? Celebrating World Braille Literacy Month

When was the last time you visited or called BISM?

Do you remember who greeted you at the door or over the phone?

More than likely your first stop would be meeting our Front Desk Receptionist, also known as the Director of First Impressions, Ruth Hairsine.

As we recognize January as World Braille Literacy Month, Ruth reflects on her journey in learning braille and its importance to her life. 

Blindness was always a part of Ruth’s life. As a child, she had what some view as useable vision which led her teachers to believe she could learn to read and didn't need to learn braille. Her books and assignments were provided in large print, however they weren't easily available.  Thus causing some challenges in her education.

Finally at the age of 34, Ruth was given the opportunity to learn braille. An instructor at Maryland’s Division of Rehabilitation Services was gracious enough to teach her.  Although excited to finally get to learn braille, Ruth found learning it very challenging as an adult. While Ruth had grown accustomed to reading letters visually, it took some time to process reading through a tactile format. She is convinced if she had learned braille earlier in life as a kid, it would have been so much easier.

Once Ruth mastered braille, she began to use it all the time - at work, in the community, and at home.

With technology advancing faster than ever, many argue that braille is becoming obsolete. Ruth strongly disagrees. She believes anyone experiencing vision loss should be introduced to braille as it will open up so many more doors to proper education, meaningful employment, and social connection.

At BISM, we share the same sentiments as Ruth. Braille provides the keys to literacy in the Blind community and with these keys, the possibilities are endless.

To learn more about braille and World Braille Literacy Month click here.  

  • young girl reading Braille while sitting with bare feet on chair
  • close up on woman's hands reading Braille
  • joyous woman reading Braille at desk
joyous woman reading Braille at desk

Braille and its Importance

Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or have low vision. It is a crucial tool for literacy and education, allowing blind individuals to read and write independently, just like their sighted peers.

In the past, blind individuals were often excluded from education or had limited access to information. Braille changed this by providing a way for them to access written material on their own. Today, braille is used in a variety of settings, including schools, universities, and workplaces, to ensure that blind individuals have equal access to information and can participate fully in their studies and careers.

One of the key benefits of braille is that it allows blind individuals to learn at their own pace, just like sighted individuals. They can read and write independently, without relying on someone else to read material aloud to them or write down their thoughts. This independence is crucial for building confidence and self-esteem, and it enables blind individuals to fully participate in their education and careers.

In addition to providing access to written material, braille also helps blind individuals develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Reading braille requires precise finger movements and the ability to distinguish between different patterns of raised dots. These skills can be transferable to other tasks, such as using a keyboard or other assistive technology.

Despite the numerous benefits of braille, it is often overlooked or underfunded in education systems around the world. This can lead to a lack of resources and trained teachers, resulting in limited access to braille for blind individuals. It is important for education systems to prioritize braille and provide the necessary resources and support to ensure that blind individuals have equal access to education.

Braille is a crucial tool for literacy and education for blind individuals. It allows them to read and write independently, develop fine motor skills, and participate fully in their education and careers. It is important for education systems to prioritize braille and provide the necessary resources and support to ensure that all individuals have equal access to education.

Access to communication in the widest sense is access to knowledge, and that is vitally important for us if we [the blind] are not to go on being despised or patronized by condescending sighted people. We do not need pity, nor do we need to be reminded we are vulnerable. We must be treated as equals – and communication is the way this can be brought about.
-Louis Braille, Ca. 1824