Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 1 9 82 F O R T H E L o v e O F . . . ANOTHER OUTSTANDING MONTANA NONPROFIT. M O N TA N A A S S O C I AT I O N F O R T H E B L I N D S H A R E O U R V I S I O N As the population ages, more and more people are affected by diseases that rob them of their eyesight such as macular degeneration, diabetes, and glaucoma. Anyone may lose their sight to disease or to injury. is often leaves people at a loss of how to continue to do the daily activities that were important to them and, in turn, causes them to feel isolated and lacking in purpose. To lose one's sight is frightening. But to live as a blind person does not need to be. e MAB has grown into a vibrant organization with nine local chapters around the state and an at-large chapter that meets monthly by telephone. e local chapters provide understanding and emotional support for those living with visual impairment. ey also invite guests in to educate members on tools that may help them, health, or entertainment. One chapter, the Boze- man Chapter, even has a book club and hiking club. e MAB has several vital programs available to members around the state. ese include the Emil Honka Scholarship that helps visually-impaired students attend college in the state, and a loan program that provides no-interest loans to visually-impaired people to buy adaptive equipment. e Bozeman Chapter also operates the Low Vision Equipment Demonstration Room where people can come to try out aids to see what right for them. Our largest program is the Summer Orientation Program. It is a one-month school held every summer to teach adults who have lost or are losing their vision the skills and techniques they need to successfully continue to live their lives independently. For the last 12 years we have rented a dorm at Trinity College in Helena to conduct the school. Many who attend have lost confidence in their abilities to participate in everyday life. Others are in dire need of assistance with basic mobility training and lessons in mastering basic living skills. One letter that came to us many years ago demonstrated the despera- tion one family felt when making an inquiry about the school: "About a week ago my father became blind due I N 1946, A SMALL GROUP OF BLIND MONTAN- ANS, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS HAD A BOLD DREAM that Montana would be a place in which those with blindness are perceived and under- stood to be an integral and valued part of the Montana community; they wanted a state where the tools and skills needed to adjust to blindness are readily available, and in which those with blindness are given every op- portunity to participate fully in their community. To work toward achieving these goals, they established the Montana Association for the Blind (MAB)— a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. horse encounter at Eagle Mount Cooking class The importance of seeking help www.distinctlymontana.com/blind194 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL

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