BUCKS COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

10/15/2025

White Cane Day - Then & Now!

In September 1962, Doylestown Mayor Charles Eldon Clemens, proclaimed October 15th as White Cane Day. He was joined by Doylestown Lions Club President, William J. Graham, and L. Lloyd Trauger, Sight and Conservation Committee Chairman, who advocated for this day to raise money for blind people, including our clients.

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson officially declared October 15th as White Cane Day to promote awareness for blind and visually impaired people who use a white cane for mobility.

That same year, an article titled “Drivers Alerted to Use of White Cane By Blind” was published in The Intelligencer. A spokesperson for the Bucks County Association For The Blind noted in the article, “The white cane has been adopted by statutes in all of our 50 states as the official signaling device to put drivers on notice of a pedestrian’s blindness.” This White Cane Law states, “A totally or partially blind pedestrian who is carrying a predominately white cane (with or without a red tip), or using a guide dog, shall have the right-of-way.”

Knowing its importance for maintaining independence, we have provided white cane training for our blind and visually impaired clients since we opened our doors in the 1940s. We often begin training with clients who have progressive eye diseases before they become fully blind, familiarizing them with how to use the white cane and navigate their surroundings.

For more information about our white cane training program, please call us at 215.968.9400 or visit www.bucksblind.org.

10/14/2025

Yesterday, 13 graduates of our 8-week Navigating Life With Vision Loss (NLVL) program came together to celebrate and connect with each other. Our clients find this course profoundly impactful, sharing day-to-day struggles with each other in a safe space. Todd Schoeller, is not only a life coach and facilitator of the course, but being blind, he's a mentor who understands what our visually impaired clients are going through. Thanks to our clients, our caseworker Marcie Filiano, and Todd Schoeller for making this program such a success.

10/08/2025

Help Us Spread The Word About Second Look Newtown Thrift Shop!

Second Look Newtown Thrift Shop has an amazing staff, dedicated volunteers, and wonderful customers. We need your help in spreading the good word about our shop!

We are fortunate to have loyal customers who have shopped with us through the years, becoming part of our family, along with our new patrons. One of the compliments we frequently hear, in addition to selling high-quality merchandise, is the warm and welcoming atmosphere we cultivate.

Our newest volunteer, Diane, became interested in volunteering after hearing many positive things about our thrift shop.

“I was looking to volunteer locally. I know people who shop at Second Look Newtown, and they speak highly of it, so I thought I’d check it out. Everyone who donates there says they feel good about supporting a great organization.” - Diane, Second Look Newtown Thrift Shop Volunteer

We encourage you to visit Second Look Newtown Thrift Shop, where you’ll discover amazing finds in a welcoming atmosphere, while supporting BCABVI’s blind and visually impaired clients.

If you shop at our thrift shop, thank you for your patronage! We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to share your positive experience by leaving a review:

To leave a review for Second Look Newtown Thrift Shop, click below:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Second+Look+Thrift+Store/@40.2177498,-74.9369054,17z/data=!4m8!3m7!1s0x89c155806eff570f:0xe0b1249267a0904d!8m2!3d40.2177457!4d-74.9343305!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11gj_cy7vb?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Click the “Write A Review” blue button on the left side.

Thank you. We look forward to seeing you at our shop and to your positive review!

10/07/2025

For our last in-person event, our donors, Mike & Karen, donated some plants they cultivated to help brighten our clients' day.

Their plant donation was very much appreciated! Thanks Mike & Karen!

10/01/2025

We had a fantastic time yesterday with our clients at our first-ever Talent Show! Our clients braved any jitters they may have had in front of a supportive audience to share their talents, ranging from poem reading, singing, storytelling, playing piano, and art!

One particular moving moment during our in-person event was when our client Mark shared with us a poem he wrote about experiencing vision loss:

Looking Up At A Half Fan And Chain by Mark H.

As I awake, I keep my eyes closed.
Turn on my back and maybe in vain.
I want my life back! I’ll be composed.
Looking up at a half fan and chain.

Visualize the parts in the ceiling.
Blades, chain, and light not fancy but plain.
Almost ready, anxiety’s reeling.
Looking up at a half fan and chain.

I want to unchain my independence.
Fan my passion and light up my brain.
I’ll blaze into a new confidence.
Looking up at a half fan and chain.

So now I have to open my eyes.
Left side good, right side is like a stain.
I shouldn’t ask, many hows and whys.
Looking up at a half fan and chain.

It doesn’t matter, given a new day.
I rise up and live my life again!
Live to the full and not halfway.
Looking up at a half fan and chain.

I have aphasia, visually impaired.
Disabled but I’m not a half man.
Resilient in adversity not scared.
Looking to the right, see the full fan!

The time with our clients ended with our rousing chorus of We Are Family.
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsCeI3dGaL0

Thanks to Marcie our Caseworker, who coordinated the event along with our other staff members who helped make this possible.

09/24/2025

Celebrating Richie & National Guide Dog Month!

Having a guide dog is a life-changing experience for people experiencing vision loss. Just ask Debra, one of BCABVI’s clients. Debra’s life was transformed in 2018 when her guide dog, Richie, came into her life. Here’s part of Debra’s story with Richie.

“I feel very lucky, proud, and blessed to have Richie in my life for over seven years. Having him by my side means a lot of things to me. I’m more independent than I was. He’s been my companion, guiding me, and standing by me. We’ve been through a lot together, and I deeply love him.

“Richie has opened a whole new world for me. He gives me independence, security, and companionship. I put a lot of trust in him.

“I enjoy staying active and taking walks. Richie is a great navigator, guiding me around obstacles when I’m walking. Wherever we go, he keeps me out of harm’s way.

“He goes everywhere with me - in cars, on buses, trains, and airplanes. He knows where to lead me, whether locating places in the mall or finding my gate at Philadelphia International Airport.

“With Richie by my side, I am not only independent, but I also have my best friend with me wherever I go.” - Debra, BCABVI Client & Her Guide Dog Richie

For more information about guide dogs, please visit:
The Seeing Eye: https://seeingeye.org
Guide Dogs For The Blind: https://www.guidedogs.com
Guide Dog Foundation: https://www.guidedog.org

For another amazing story about a guide dog, check out Thunder Dog: The True Story of A Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust by Michael Hingson.

Photos courtesy of Debra.

09/17/2025

Since our founding in 1945, BCABVI has provided practical solutions to help our clients tackle daily challenges. Whether it’s tips, techniques, aids & devices, or rehabilitation training, we offer hope and skills for our clients to navigate their surroundings and daily tasks.

Next month, we will host our Annual Experience Vision Loss Event on Wednesday, October 22nd. This in-house event is led by BCABVI’s Certified Low Vision Therapist, Emily Vasile. Clients, their families, and friends will gather together at our Newtown facility to get a glimpse of what it’s like to dine with vision loss. During the pasta dinner, Emily and several colleagues will share tips, techniques, and strategies as well as demonstrate some assistive devices to help make dining easier.

Since 1945, when soldiers came home from WWII with vision impairment, pasta and salad were on our menu to teach techniques, tips, and strategies for eating, such as cutting food using a knife and fork, spreading butter on bread, and pouring liquid into a cup. We are happy to keep this tradition alive with our Experience Vision Loss Event.

We invite our clients, along with their guests, to join us for an evening of tips, techniques, good food, and camaraderie. Please RSVP to Kim Burton by October 17th at 215.968.9400 or kburton@bucksblind.org.

To learn more about the event, please see the flyer.

09/16/2025

09/10/2025

Today, our caseworker, Marcie Filiano, facilitated a Healthy Living Series program with Ben Shaberman, Vice President of Science Communications at the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB).

Founded in 1971, FFB aims to find prevention methods, treatments, and cures for genetic eye diseases, including Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Usher Syndrome, Stargardt Disease, and more. These conditions affect more than 10 million Americans and millions more worldwide.

The Foundation supports cutting-edge research, with one of its current focuses on gene and stem cell therapies. One notable company supported by FFB is Luxa Biotechnology, which has promising clinical trial results for patients with Dry AMD. Their therapy replaces damaged Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells with healthy ones. During the clinical trials, patients experienced improved vision of up to 4 lines on an eye chart.

Ben is optimistic about the future for people experiencing genetic eye conditions: “In 5-10 years, the landscape for therapies will change dramatically.”

Clients who participated in today’s Zoom meeting expressed that the research supported by FFB is giving them hope.

For more information about Foundation Fighting Blindness, please visit: https://www.fightingblindness.org.

The content of this article is for informational and educational purposes only. BCABVI does not endorse any clinical trials.

09/03/2025

Today was the grand reopening of our Second Look Newtown Thrift Shop. Our thrift shop ladies worked hard and efficiently, cleaning, clearing out the store, organizing, and restocking to ready the shop for our new Fall merchandise. The shop has been spruced up with some surprises as well. With the Fall merchandise and improvements, it looks like a new shop!

BCABVI owns and operates the Second Look Newtown Thrift shop, which has been proudly serving our community for over 50 years. With all proceeds from purchases and donations helping to support essential services and programs for our blind and visually impaired clients, the thrift shop is an important revenue stream for us.

We’d like to give a big thanks to all thrift shop staff and volunteers, and BCABVI staff and volunteers who helped during this turnover. The thrift shop ladies are amazing, and every day, they create a welcoming atmosphere and foster a sense of community for our customers.

If you are a Second Look Newtown Thrift Shop customer, thank you. If you’re looking for a thrift shop in Bucks County, we invite you to visit our shop. For more information about in-store sales, our rewards program, volunteer opportunities, donations, and more, please visit: https://www.secondlookthrift.com.

09/01/2025

We are closed today in observance of Labor Day.

We wish all of you a Happy, Safe, & Healthy Labor Day weekend.

Our office will reopen on Tuesday, September 2nd.

08/27/2025

We had another wonderful in-person event yesterday! This time, our clients enjoyed an end-of-summer picnic! Marcie, our caseworker, outdid herself with decorations, trivia, and gift bags for our clients. Karen, our Food Services Manager, and our transportation staff cooked up yummy picnic food. The rest of our staff helped make the day as comfortable and enjoyable as possible for our clients.

As summer vacations are coming to a close and many are going back to school, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer for many of us. With that in mind, we’d like to wish all of you a safe and healthy Labor Day weekend!