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MCA Monthly Workshop ~ *In-Person*
Minnesota State Services for the Blind: Working Effectively with People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired
February 12, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave West, Suite 240
St. Paul, MN 55114
Goal of this workshop: Gain a deeper understanding of vision loss and daily life
Objectives
- defining blindness and its causes,
- the psychological effects of blindness,
- resources and assistive devices,
- tips for helping individuals who are blind, deaf/blind and/or visually impaired.
Workshop Description:
What is Blindness and Visual Impairment? When we think of "blind," we think of total darkness. However, a person may be "legally blind" with either: 20/200 vision in both eyes with best correction in the better eye, OR a field of vision restricted to 25 degrees or less.
A person whose vision is 20/70 to 20/200 is often referred to as "visually impaired." Some people are born with no vision or significantly reduced vision. Others lose vision due to accidents or the natural aging process, usually starting in the 40s. For some, vision loss is sudden, while for others, it may be gradual. Some conditions, diabetes, for example, cause vision to fluctuate from day to day.
Presenter Bio:
Mark Groves - Mark is the MCA Liaison and immediate past-President for the Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA). He is currently a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Minnesota State Services for the Blind. Prior to this position, he was the Division Director of Rehabilitative and Veterans Services for the Volunteers of America Minnesota. He worked at the Minnesota Department of Corrections as the Facilities Reentry Coordinator providing oversight to all reentry program elements in Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities planning, implementing and managing reentry programs and initiatives at all DOC correctional facilities.
He has a Master of Education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota. He is a Minnesota Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADC), Certified Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), National Institute of Corrections Offender Workforce Development Facilitator (OWDS) Master Trainer and Motivational Interviewing.
Training is free with a current membership.
There is also a low-cost attendance fee for non-members which includes a 1-year membership.
Register for This Workshop Today!
Registration will close at 4:00 p.m. 2 days before event
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