OWENSBORO, Ky. — Wendell Foster, a local 501(c)3 non-profit organization serving people with disabilities, is hosting a low vision open house from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, in its Green Therapy Building, at 815 Triplett Street. The event will showcase a range of assistive technologies designed to support people with low vision in daily life, education, and work.
Attendees will have the opportunity to try devices, such as handheld magnifiers, text-to-speech reading devices, wearable technology, and more. Staff from Wendell Foster’s Assistive Technology and Resource Center will be present to provide guidance and answer questions. Hands-on demonstrations of equipment will also be available. The event is free to attend and open to individuals with low vision, as well as family members, educators, and professionals.
Kassandra Hester, assistive technology assistant at Wendell Foster, said the goal of the event is to make low vision assistive technology more accessible in the community.
“Living with a disability is expensive, and searching for resources on top of everything else life throws at you can be overwhelming. This event exists because I believe everyone deserves access to tools that help them thrive, and sometimes people just need someone to meet them where they are and say, ‘I’ve got you, let’s figure this out together,'” said Hester.
Wendell Foster’s Assistive Technology and Resource Center is one of five assistive technology centers in the state through the Kentucky Assistive Technology Services Network. Assistive technology includes any tool, device, or system that helps people with disabilities gain independence and participate fully in everyday life. This can include communication devices, adapted computer equipment, switches, environmental controls, mobility aids, and low vision tools. Wendell Foster’s AT Center provides assistive technology to the community through several programs, such as a lending library, reutilization program, device demonstrations, training, and Ramp Up Kentucky, an initiative that offers complimentary loans of portable aluminum ramps for up to 6 months.
The center’s lending library allows consumers to rent equipment on a trial basis to see if the product is a good fit before purchasing, or while waiting for insurance coverage. “Our lending library at Wendell Foster is here so that cost is never the barrier between someone and a better quality of life,” said Hester. Attendees at the open house can inquire about renting low vision tools through the lending library program.
By creating opportunities for hands-on exploration and conversation, Wendell Foster hopes to reduce barriers and help individuals feel more confident navigating life with low vision. “Low vision devices can be life-changing, but most people don’t even know they exist,” Hester explained. “My hope is that every person who walks through the door at the open house leaves feeling seen, supported, and like there is a path forward.”