BUCKS COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

04/29/2026

We had a record-breaking number of people who registered for the 14th Annual Bookin’ For Lookin’ Race For Sight 5K Run & Walk at Tyler State Park!

On Sunday morning, over 425 people gathered at Council Rock North’s Walt Snyder Stadium in Newtown. It was a chilly morning, but thankfully the rain held out. The atmosphere was filled with positive energy as runners ended the race with food, drinks, music, medals, awards, photo ops, and a lot of camaraderie. New this year was a Starbucks Coffee Bar, free breakfast sandwiches from The Borscht Belt, and a complimentary raffle ticket to enter a drawing for prizes from Amazon, The Athletic Shoe Shop, Wawa, and Elite Sports.

We’d like to thank everyone who came out for this year’s race! It takes a dedicated group of people to help make this race happen every year - race participants, staff, officials, board members, sponsors, and volunteers! There’s a lot of coordination to make this event a success, and we are thankful for everyone who participated.

Since 2013, Mark McCowan, founder of Bookin’ For Lookin’, has raised over $125,500 (not including this year’s figures) to support nonprofit organizations that provide services to blind and visually impaired people. We are thankful that once again this year, the Bucks County Association For The Blind And Visually Impaired will be the recipient of the race’s proceeds.

Bookin’ For Lookin’ is the 3rd of 7 races of the Bucks 5K Series, now celebrating its 30th year. Every race of the series supports a nonprofit, charitable organization.

For more information about Bookin’ For Lookin’, please visit: https://www.bookinforlookin.com
To follow Bookin' For Lookin' on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bookin4Lookin
For more information about the Bucks 5K Series, visit: https://www.bucks5kseries.com

Please check out Mark McCowan’s post-race video.

We look forward to next year when Bookin’ For Lookin’ will celebrate its 15th Anniversary! Thanks again to everyone who helped make this year’s race so successful!

04/17/2026

With the upcoming 14th Annual Bookin' For Lookin' Race For Sight 5K Run & Walk, it's interesting to see how assistive technology is used to help blind and visually impaired runners.

Clarke Reynolds, a British marathon runner, donned his Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses during the Brighton Marathon last Sunday. Volunteers assisted him through the Be My Eyes app, providing him guidance throughout the race. He's the first person to run a marathon using both of these assistive technologies. Reynolds finished the marathon in under 6 1/2 hours.

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses integrate with the Be My Eyes app to connect users with sighted volunteers for hands-free live voice assistance.

"I want to blow away people's expectations of what sight loss means and be a role model for people of all ages with visual impairment," Reynolds mentioned before the race.

To view a short video about Reynold's landmark use of the glasses and app for the marathon:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fqwLjU5SrKY

To view BCABVI's Dr. Kramer, Certified Low Vision Therapist, demonstrating how the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses help our clients: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-N0adeA81S8

You can learn more about the assistive technology we provide our clients by calling 215.968.9400 or visiting our website at www.bucksblind.org.

04/15/2026

We're Starting A New Series!

BCABVI is launching a new series for The Blink titled “What Does BCABVI Mean To You?” In the series, we’ll talk with various people connected to our organization - clients, board members, staff, volunteers, and others to learn more about how our organization has impacted their lives.

Today, we spoke with Gail, a client who reached out to us shortly after being diagnosed as legally blind. Gail participates in in-house activities at our agency, virtual programs, and receives in-home support.

“BCABVI helps me with things I wouldn’t be able to do on my own. In-person activities are a great way for me to get out of the house and be with other people. The virtual programs I participate in every week allow me to learn a lot of different things. Since I can’t drive and help is limited, it would be a challenge for me to get doctors’ appointments and to the grocery stores without BCABVI’s drivers. Their BCABVI case aide is a big help in filling out forms for me as well. The services and support I receive from BCABVI have improved my quality of life. I depend on them.”

If you have a story you’d like to share about how BCABVI has impacted you or a loved one, please contact kburton@bucksblind.org.

04/14/2026

We need your help to spread the word about the upcoming 14th Annual Bookin' For Lookin' Race For Sight 5K Run & Walk! The event is on Sunday, April 26th, starting at Council Rock North High School, then looping through beautiful Tyler State Park.

Attendees can enjoy a Starbucks coffee bar, free food from local businesses including Newtown Bagel & The Borscht Belt, as well as medals, awards, a photo area, and a complimentary raffle ticket for a chance to win great prizes.

You'll also be supporting a great cause - us! All proceeds of the race support BCABVI's essential services and programs for blind and visually impaired people throughout Bucks County.

Please grab a friend, family member or come on your own to support this great event!

For more information and to register today: https://runtheday.com/register/detail/bookin-for-lookin-5k-10k

04/08/2026

Why Are Women More At Risk For Vision Loss?

Did you know that women experience more vision loss than men? The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that globally, women make up approximately 65% of all visually impaired people.

To shine some light on this issue, Prevent Blindness has announced that April is Women’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month. According to their website:

Women Account For
65% of people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
61% of people with glaucoma
61% of people with cataract
56% of people with refractive error
63% of people with vision impairment
66% of people who are blind

Factors Contributing To This Increase In Women
Life Expectancy - women live an average life span of 81 vs. 76 years for men, with many eye diseases increasing with age*
Hormones - hormone fluctuations caused by menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can affect vision
Women Experience Up To Fourfold Increased Risk Of Autoimmune Disease
Having lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis can also affect vision
Social and Economic Factors
Women are more likely to put aside their own health to care for other loved ones

Ways To Protect Your Vision
Get Regular Eye Exams
Early detection is key to preventing and treating many eye diseases
Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle
Eat a balanced diet, manage chronic health issues, and exercise regularly
Wear Sunglasses
Protect eyes against harmful UV rays
Quit Smoking
Studies show smoking increases the risk of eye disease, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.

For more information on how BCABVI can help you or a loved one who is experiencing vision loss, please call us at 215.968.9400 and visit our website.

*Arizona Ophthalmic Outpatient Surgery website.

04/03/2026

BCABVI is closed today, Friday April 3rd and will reopen on Monday, April 6th.

We wish all of you peace, hope, and renewal during this holiday season.

04/01/2026

Introducing Maria, Our New Case Aide!

Being around blind people is nothing new to Maria Anderson. After all, she was raised by blind parents.

“Growing up with blind parents is your normal. We lived in an auditory world.” She described her house as loud, filled with social interactions, and audiobooks and cassette tapes playing in the background. “My brother and I were our parents' eyes. When we got older, we were also their transportation. There’s a different rhythm growing up in a blind culture.”

During her childhood, Maria and her family attended a summer camp in Spring Valley, NY, designed for blind and visually impaired families. The camp allowed them to connect with others who shared similar experiences. From her childhood background, Maria knows the importance of community for people experiencing blindness and visual impairment and for their families.

Recently, Maria decided to leave her job in insurance and pursue something more meaningful to her.

“As a case aide for BCABVI, I can go into someone's home and share stories. I can meet people where they are and can help them with what they need to be productive. I’ve been training my whole life to do this.”

Maria understands that access to essential services for blind and visually impaired people often depends on where they live.

“Not every place has the services BCABVI offers. Services like transportation to doctors and grocery stores, and help with bill paying and mail reading. Many have to figure these things out on their own. Where you live still matters. BCABVI is a lighthouse for blind and visually impaired people in Bucks County.”

Maria is looking forward to being a part of the BCABVI team and assisting our clients. “I’m a guest in this community, and there’s a lot I want to soak in.”

Welcome Maria!

03/25/2026

Our Clients Are Back!

With the arrival of Spring, we welcomed back our clients yesterday for our monthly in-person events, where they enjoyed camaraderie, a movie, and lunch! It takes our dedicated staff to make these in-person events possible.

One of the most important benefits of these in-person events is the opportunity for our clients to socialize. Socialization is crucial to the well-being of people who are blind and visually impaired, as it helps reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and isolation. These events provide a safe environment for our clients to connect with others who share similar experiences, foster social connections and empathy, and promote independence.

“It’s good to catch up with people you haven’t seen in a while. A lot of people treasure these in-person events. It’s the only time some of the older folks get out and meet other people.” - John A. BCABVI Client

The movie, Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, was played using accessible Audio Description (AD). AD is a verbal narration of a movie that describes key elements, such as settings, characters, actions, and costumes.

Audio description is widely available on major TV stations, streaming services, smart TVs, set-top boxes, smartphones, cable, and satellite boxes.

Below is a short video of The Lion King with Audio Description (AD).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-XOHN2BWG4

03/24/2026

Thinking of something fun to do this weekend? Bring your family and friends out to the 5th Annual Rotary Easter Egg Hunt!

This is an accessible event and includes beeping eggs for visually impaired and blind people.

Egg hunters of all ages welcome!

03/20/2026

Photos of Erin Kramer at last week's Ben Wilson Senior Center visit!

03/18/2026

It was bingo day at Ben Wilson Senior Activity Center in Warminster last week, and Dr. Erin Kramer, our occupational therapist and certified low-vision therapist, talked to an attentive crowd of 80 people about BCABVI’s services.

As we continue our community outreach efforts, raising awareness of vision loss among our aging population is essential. According to VisionServe Alliance, 6% of Pennsylvanians 65 and older experience vision impairment.

Changes in vision are common as we age. For individuals experiencing significant vision loss, it may be increasingly difficult to read, recognize faces, see in low light, and navigate their environment. Findings from VisionServe Alliance reveal that “people with vision impairment are disadvantaged in multiple ways that place them at greater risk for compromised independence and autonomy.”

Our clients who live with visual impairments and blindness can experience significant improvements in their quality of life through the tailored support services and programs we provide. BCABVI is committed to helping our clients lead rich, vibrant, and independent lives.

For more information about how BCABVI can help you or a loved one, please call us at 215.968.9400 or visit our website at www.bucksblind.org.

You can also follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckscountyblind
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/

Please check out the video of Erin’s visit to Ben Wilson Senior Activity Center. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r5mIfhI1Qm8

Bucks County Association For The Blind And Visually Impaired (BCABVI) is a non-profit organization in Newtown, PA that provides low vision rehabilitation services, support, and programs for people who are blind and visually impaired throughout Bucks County, PA.

03/13/2026

Mark McCowan & his new guide dog, Denzel, remind you to register today for Bookin' For Lookin'! All proceeds from the race support BCABVI!