"The Iris Network literally grabbed me by the ears

and pulled me out of a deep dark hole." - FM

Services Offered

Low Vision Clinic    Rehabilitation Services    Maine Airs    Iris Park Apartments

Your determination

Our Experience

That’s a winning combination

At The Iris Network, we’ve helped thousands of people meet the challenges of vision loss.  Adjusting is a learning process that takes time and patience.  We design our range of services and programs to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual.  All classes are taught by trained and certified specialists.  While the range of services is broad and your individual program may overlap several categories, these are the primary programs on which we focus:

Low Vision:

The purpose of the Low Vision Clinic is to provide visually impaired persons with the skills and tools to better utilize their remaining vision. Low vision exams at the Iris Network are performed by A. Jan Berlin, MD, an ophthalmologist who has received specialized training in low vision.  In addition to suggesting a course of rehabilitation to maximize the patient's remaining vision and functioning, Dr. Berlin also prescribes low vision devices or refers for other rehabilitation services.  Low vision training helps individuals maximize the use of their remaining vision by showing them how to use optical aids and equipment, such as magnifiers to read the newspaper, telescopes to focus on distant signs and light-filtering lenses to reduce glare.  The Low Vision Clinic is held 1-2 days per month.  Follow-up training is provided as needed by John Majkut, Occupational Therapist, or by a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist with whom the client is already working.  This service fills a need for clients seeking a low vision evaluation in the Greater Portland area. Please contact John Majkut, Low Vision Clinic Coordinator for more information.

John Majkut, OTR/L

Low Vision Clinic Coordinator

207-774-6273

800-715-0097

Rehabilitation Services:

The goal of Rehabilitation Services is to evaluate what is needed, based on vision loss to allow the individual to continue to carry on the functions necessary to maintain the level of independence desired.  An individualized program may include one or more than one of the following components:

• Social Work/Counseling: Our social workers provide advocacy for services and connect individuals to programs within The Iris Network or other relevant community services (transportation programs, benefits, meals on wheels, etc.)  When the situation applies, group classes are organized and support groups formed.

Our Personal Adjustment Counselor assists the individual in working through the process of loss that many people experience when confronted with a vision loss

• Vision Rehabilitation Therapy: Our teachers address multiple areas of learning:

Communications: Assistance with learning adaptive methods in all areas of communications including large print, tape, and Braille.  VRT’s provide instruction in accessing calendars, check registers, address books, etc, low vision/contrast materials, recording devices, guides for writing checks, addressing envelopes, writing correspondence, etc.

Adaptive Kitchen Skills: training is provided to promote independence and safety in use of the stove/oven and in all aspects of meal preparation such as use of knives, measuring, pouring, reading recipes, timing foods, labeling kitchen supplies.

Home Management: Training in this area may include adaptations for doing laundry, vacuuming, sweeping, dusting, sewing, ironing, shopping, maintaining safety in the home.

Personal Management: areas of need may include labeling clothing, identifying medication, time telling, care of self and others.

Recreation: assisting individuals in adapting their leisure/recreational pursuits and resources/information on new recreational opportunities such as adaptive knitting or crocheting, hand and machine sewing, cribbage, bingo, woodworking, descriptive videos, talking books, etc.

• Orientation and Mobility Training: Some individuals who experience a loss of vision also experience increased difficulty in their ability to travel safely.  Mobility instructors provide training to assist individuals in learning how to continue to travel safely in familiar and unfamiliar environments.  The use of sighted guide is taught to assist people when traveling with others.  Instruction in the use of the white cane promotes independence.

• Video Magnification: Sometimes in conjunction with the Low Vision Clinic and sometimes as a separate component, we can demonstrate a variety of video magnifiers (also called Closed Circuit TV’s).  Information on purchase of these magnifiers is available.

Maine AIRS: Click here for the Maine Airs Page

Maine AIRS - broadcasts newspaper information not typically available in audio form, such as community calendars, store ads and obituaries. This is a vital link for individuals who are print disabled.

Iris Park Apartments:

In 2006, the Iris Park Apartments opened a newly-constructed, greatly expanded, artfully-designed low-income housing facility at the Park Avenue, Portland location.  The facility features 30 one and two-bedroom independent-living apartments and common indoor and outdoor areas designed to enhance community.  Apartments are 600 and 800 square feet, and each has its own bathroom. Tenants are able to live as  independently as they desire, schedule their own activities, and create a personal plan for assisted living services. 

 

The Iris Network offers  Vision Rehabilitation Therapy to provide tenants support in all areas of independent living and Orientation and Mobility Training to assist them in navigating outside environments and adjusting to new activities.

Click here for a printable application form