“My being the blind guy,” he tells them, “if I can do that, you can do it, too.”

Supalo is an assistant professor at Illinois State University who has an Indiana-based business that sells adaptive equipment for the blind or visually impaired.

While in Pennsylvania, he served on the Governor’s Advisory Committee for the Blind. He recently was appointed to the Normal Human Relations Commission.

“I believe in a can-do attitude,” said Supalo, who lost his sight at age 7 to a rare genetic condition called FEVR, Familial Exudative Vitreo-Retinopathy.

Read the full story at The Pantagraph.

You haven’t met Supalo.

“He’s always on the go,” said John Bauer, chairman of ISU’s chemistry department. “He’s really dynamic and externally focused and energetic.”

Blind since age 7, Supalo wants to form a local not-for-profit similar to the National Federation of the Blind.

Read the full story at The Pantagraph.

This legislation is jointly endorsed by the Blinded Veterans Association, the American Council of the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and other blindness organizations.

Read the full press release.

Prescription Drug Risks Campaign from American Foundation for the Blind

Each day millions of people with vision loss put their lives – and the lives of those they care for – at risk because they can’t accurately read labels on prescription medications.

Shockingly, there are no federal guidelines to ensure that retail pharmacies provide drug information that is accessible to people with vision loss.

Being able to read a prescription drug label isn’t a convenience – it’s a matter of life and death.

That’s why AFB staff are mobilizing on Capitol Hill, meeting with legislators, fighting to give everyone with visual impairments access to the same information – from dosing instructions to precautions – as everyone else.

But we can’t do this alone – we need as many voices as possible to be heard loud and clear.

Please take one minute to complete a simple petition that we’ll forward to your congressional representative.

Sign the Petition.

Sincerely,
Carl Augusto
President & CEO

AFB Senior Site

ScripTalk Station is a cutting-edge technological solution for prescription medication information access. It has been adopted by the Veteran’s Administration for use in their facilities across the country. ScripTalk utilizes RFID (radio-frequency identification) and TTS (text-to-speech) technologies to allow those that cannot read their prescription labels a way to access the information. It is the only product on the market to provide full label information in a manner that meets ADA, FDCA and HIPAA regulations.

David Raistrick, Vice-President, says “We are pleased to be able to offer this new program to sight impaired folks in the U.S.  Now safety and peace of mind are free for patients when taking potentially dangerous medications!”

En-Vision America, Inc. is a company providing high-tech products aimed at solving problems for those with visual or print impairments. Located in Normal, Illinois, En-Vision America has successfully introduced several voice-enabled products such as i.d. mate Summit, the talking bar code reader, and ScripTalk, the talking pharmaceutical reader. Originally founded by Philip C. and David B. Raistrick in 1996, the cornerstone of the company was based upon one single premise: To provide customers with greater independence through technology.

For additional information contact:
En-Vision America
1845 Hovey Ave.
Normal, IL 61761
800-890-1180
Fax: 309-452-3643
www.envisionamerica.com
Pharmacy Freedom Program Form

i.d. mate OMNI Power User’s Page

Sundays 8/7c on ABC

En-Vision America, Inc. recently partnered with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help make a family’s wish come true. After learning about the Kadzis family in Tallahassee, FL, EMHE contacted En-Vision America about their i.d. mate OMNI. Not only was the family’s hurricane-damaged home in need of repair, but special accommodations needed to be made for Melody, their 16 year old adopted daughter, who is blind. i.d. mate OMNI, a talking bar code scanner, would provide instant identification and information for millions of items in her environment.

Melody was learning to cook, do laundry and other household chores to become more independent and En-Vision America was proud to assist in this venture. Volunteers for EMHE worked around the clock to make sure all her clothes were labeled with a bar code. All she had to do was scan the label and then listen to a description and washing instructions. Labels were also placed on appliances, storage systems, kitchen containers and other items throughout the house. With a simple scan, she would be able to access her world.

During the reveal, Melody and her mother were both thrilled with the i.d. mate OMNI and could see the potential that it held for her. They were very excited about the opportunities for independence and growth. En-Vision America is honored to be a part of such a wonderful project.