Goggles simulating the five major eye diseases allow those with normal vision to experience to some extent the different vision loss associated with the these diseases (Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Macular Degeneration, Cataracts and Glaucoma). For example, tunnel vision significantly affects a person's ability to travel independently, whereas loss of central vision tends to affect a person's ability to read print. Since there are many ways to assist a person with sight loss, this training will equip the trainee with the knowledge required to determine what is appropriate in a variety of situations. Sighted Guide is a method for accompanying a person when they do not wish to use a cane or a guide dog. This is an integral part of all of our trainings. We can adapt our training to the needs any organization. The following list gives an outline of the types of training we have provided in the past:
- General Volunteer Training - All volunteers are interviewed and must go through a basic sensitivity training prior to doing any type of volunteer work (45 minutes).
- Health Care Professional Training is provided, upon request, to health professionals, hospitals, doctors' office staff, nursing homes and other organizations that work with people with sight loss. Training on simple daily living skills is provided (1-2 hours).
- Eye on Youth Volunteer Training - Children, aged 11 years and up, with and without sight loss are trained to be role models for their younger peers with sight loss and are invited to assist in all Eye on Youth programs (45 minutes).
- Accessible Arts and Festival Eyes Training - Volunteers are trained as docents to become sighted partners to the visually impaired in museums, arts festivals and other cultural events in the community. This is our most extensive training and includes wheelchair etiquette, working with other disabilities including people with cognitive disorders and hearing loss. Special emphasis is placed on descriptive techniques and guided touch for helping people enjoy the visual arts and the environment (6 hours). Junior Guides must be in the 5th grade or above and be recommended by two teachers (3 hours). Festival Eyes is a collaboration between the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and the Sight Loss Support Group.
- Docent Sensitivity Training is provided every other year at the Palmer Museum of Art, Pennsylvania State University. We offer Accessible Arts trainings at other locations upon request (3-6 hours). Contact the Sight Loss Support Group, 814-238-0132, for more information.
- Audio Description Training - After being auditioned by experienced trainers, individuals attend an intensive 2 to 3 day training where they learn the art of audio description and how to do the necessary research to describe a performance.