Create a Very Merry Holiday Season

You can thrive, not just survive, and create a wonderful holiday season this year. You just need to do 4 things.

• Keep your expectations rational
  


• Take care of yourself

Take control of your time and limit your commitments

Embrace your family and friends

These tips will help you reduce stress, relax, and breeze through the holiday season feeling grounded and in control.

Rational Expectations:

The most important contributors to a happy holiday season are the expectations you create in your own mind. You can't make them perfect - People get sick, recipes flop, and family members don't always get along.

Coworkers aren't always kind to each other.

You don't have to have the perfect party, perfectly behaved children, or the most beautifully decorated home. Give yourself a break. You will b happy you did.

Take Care of Yourself:

Taking care of your physical and mental health is the single most important aspect of creating holiday health and happiness.

Eat healthy. When you eat better you feel better and you have more energy.

Take some time during your day to relax and breath. It can be as simple as enjoying a hot cup of tea and focusing on what is going well.

The more relaxed and confident you are the higher your self esteem will be.

Don't try to diet during the holidays, it will make you feel like a failure and ruin the festive nature of parties and celebration.

Time and Limit your Commitments:

Why does every new program or process at work have to start on January 1st? With this starting date in mind, your holiday season will always be a nightmare of over-commitment. You are already rushing with the normal holiday happenings. Why roll out a new process to complicate the holiday season and raise your level of work-related stress?

You are in charge of the number of commitments you make. You don't have to hold a party at your home or say yes to every one you are invited to. You can even schedule a party in February instead and wait till the craziness of the holidays have settled down.

Enjoy Family and Friends:

Spend the time of your life with the people you love. Make sure you don't spend the holidays trying to save the world and please those around you. Instead share laughter and memories. Take time for personal reflection. Start a new tradition or follow through with old ones. Focus on what is right and going well instead of what is not. Be grateful for who is in your life instead of dwelling on who is not.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, these tips will make them happier, healthier, and more fun. Please accept our wishes for a happy healthy season for you and yours.

Holiday Gifts for Low Vision

During this holiday season finding the ideal gift for a loved one with low vision doesn't have to be a challenge. You can find the perfect gift for your gadget geek, your chef and even your beauty queen that can put a smile on their face.

May we introduce Vision Dynamics' Holiday Gift Guide! Also, read below for great tips if you're having individuals with low vision visit for the holidays.

For the Beauty Queen:
Lighted Magnifying Cosmetic Mirror
Magnified Tweezers

Gadget Geek:
Handheld Electronic Video Magnifier
Digital Talking Compass
Talking Calculator
Pen Friend Labeling System
Digital Recorder

Master Chef
Talking Microwave
Talking Timer
Adjustable Knife
EZ Fill Liquid Indicator
Extra Long Oven Mitt
Talking Timer

Game lovers:
Braille Uno
Braille Monopoly
Jumbo Cards
High Contrast/Large Print Scrabble
Large printed Bingo Cards

Phone Users:
Cell phone with large buttons (Snapfon)
Jumbo Button Talking Phone
Cordless Big Button Phone (with answering machine)

Bookworm
Booksense

Couch Potato
Large Button TV Remote
TV Screen Enlarger

Letter Writer
20/20 Bold Pens
Large Print Address Book
Dark Lined Paper
Letter Guide

For those who hate to be late
Talking Watches
Talking Clocks
Large Display Clocks
Low Vision Watches
Talking Key-chain Clock

For Anyone
Task Lamp
Video Magnifier
Lap Desk
Hand Held Magnifiers
Large Print Calendar

You can find all these products and more on our website, just visit us at www.VisionDynamics.com

Something else to be aware of during the holiday season if you're having low vision guests:
1. Use high contrasting colors when decorating your table to help things stand out. For example use dark colored place-mats and light colored plates or vise versa.
2. Put bold colored throws on your couches
3. Use dark colored towels in your bathroom.
4. Decorate your banister with festive lighting and place brightly colored tape strips along the edge of each step to help it stand out.
5. Remove clutter on the floor and keep walkways clear
6. Most importantly - don't forget to have fun!

PUMPKIN IS GOOD FOR THE EYES

Pumpkin is a healthy food especially for the eyes. It is loaded with vitamin A and also provides the eyes with Lutein and zeaxanthin, which is crucial to maintaining eye health. Thanksgiving is just around the corner so if you have never made a pumpkin pie or shake from scratch than go for it. Just so you know there are some canned mixes that are not pumpkin at all. They have actually been known to be a mixed variety of squashes. Make sure you check the labels. Here is a simple recipe the whole family can enjoy.

PUMPKIN PIE SHAKE (SERVES 4)

2 CUPS OF VANILLA REDUCED FAT ICE-CREAM ( HEALTHY CHOICE) SOFTENED

2/3 CUP CANNED PUMPKIN

1/4 CUP PACKED BROWN SUGAR

3/4 TEASPOON PUMPKIN-PIE SPICE

3 TABLESPOONS FROZEN FAT-FREE WHIPPED TOPPING, THAWED

PUMPKIN PIE SPICE IS OPTIONAL

PREPARATION

COMBINE FIRST 5 INGREDIENTS IN A BLENDER, PROCESS UNTIL SMOOTH. POUR MIXTURE INTO THE FOUR GLASSES AND TOP EACH ONE WITH 2 TEASPOONS OF THE WHIPPED TOPPING. SPRINKLE WITH THE ADDITIONAL PUMPKIN-PIE SPICE OR TRY CINNAMON.

ENJOY

I Read an interesting article and thought I would pass on some of the key information. I found this very helpful.
"When you lose your eyesight, you lose contact with things. When you lose your hearing, you lose contact with people." Helen Keller (1880-1968)
Vision and hearing are the two senses that are an essential part of our everyday life. We depend on them constantly as we go through life. Whether we are at work or enjoying a leisurely day with our family these two senses allow us to interact with lobed ones more completely. Unfortunately many people in the United States go undiagnosed with hearing loss despite its importance. Didi you know that an estimated 1.7 million adults age 65 and over report both vision AND hearing loss?
There are many causes for hearing and vision loss which result from somewhat similar genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Exposure to oxidative stress, cigarette smoking and atherosclerosis and its risk factors have been linked to age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and hearing loss. No matter what the cause, these two impairments were found to have a cumulative effect on a persons function and well being affecting loved ones both mentally and physically.
Because of the strong connection between our vision and our hearing we are pleased to offer a fully integrated hearing and vision solution.
It makes sense to evaluate these two senses and provide treatment options in one location. While there are many causes of hearing loss, AGE and NOISE EXPOSURE are the two most common causes. The normal aging process begins to take its toll around age 55, but exposure to loud noises (like music and industrial noise) may cause problems to occur much earlier in life. Vi son loss and hearing loss often occur in the same people, sometimes linked be a specific disease an other times purely because both problems affect us as we get older. The important thing is that both of these key senses are critical to daily life, and while the loss of either can be debilitating, the loss of BOTH will affect every minute of every day in some way. For about 90% of all cases of hearing loss, hearing aids or hearing devices of some kind are the best available treatment options. Hearing loss and vision loss both begin to deteriorate around the age of 55: therefore patients with visual impairments may soon experience similar hearing problems as well. In a recent scientific study of 2,400 people, with an average age of 70, researchers found a significant link between vision loss and hearing loss.
Our goal is to empower and inspire people to lead happy and independent lives. We are so excited to open (See and Hear America) our hearing and vision solutions center.

NOW WHAT

Today you find out that your child has been diagnosed "legally blind" and this will change the way he or she sees the world. Maybe you are scared, angry, concerned about their future or not sure how you will get through the rest of the day. These feelings are normal and you are not alone. Just remember how you react has an impact on your child. Being "legally blind" does not mean they cannot see. Your next step is to be your child's advocate in every way you can. Do NOT feel sorry for them. Accept the challenge and move forward and find ways to support and embrace this new journey that you are all on. Get them involved in activities, whether its ice skating- horseback riding or swimming. Allow them to continue what they enjoy, or try something new. Don't for one second think that your child's future will be less successful than a someone who is sighted. Remember that vision is an inside job and we don't need sight for that.
One of the first steps is to have the doctor submit a form to the state, eye report form, which will start the process of receiving support for your child. Every child has the ability to live a full and prosperous life if you let them. Don't enable them, allow them to learn ways to participate with their peers and do things for themselves. As a parent it is your job to encourage, support and help when it's needed. Be their cheerleader and advocate. Ask what is available for services and how you can help the process in school. There are many resources that will involve the families as well.
This website can be a starting point for you and your family to begin the process of gathering information. You will quickly realize that you are not alone. Make sure that you ask as many questions as you can possibly think of in order to receive all the help you can. Your child is entitled to an education like all kids and may need some adaptive technology to help aid in the process. Ask for training and go to every school meeting and support your child's right to learn.

Another great website can be found here Don't let being legally blind halt your dreams and aspirations for your child's future instead embrace it and visualize greatness! Anything and everything is possible.