Want to learn more about the WCBA and see what we’ve been up to this past year? You can click the image below to download our annual report!
2017 Summer Newsletter
Please click the image below to enjoy our Summer Newsletter and see what’s been happening at the WCBA.
Tips To Protect Your Vision
As Spring arrives in western Pennsylvania, we are called to the outdoors. We rediscover what has been hidden by snow and lay dormant during the winter months. The nice weather is our inspiration to collect branches or leaves that have accumulated in the corners of the yard; stain the deck in time for grilling season or break out the bicycle.
The Westmoreland County Blind Association wants you to enjoy the season, and most importantly be safe and prevent eye damage. Please consider these tips to protect your vision in the coming months:
- Wear sunglasses outside when the sun shines. Look for lenses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays.
- View fireworks from at least 500 feet away. Never let children play with fireworks.
- Wear safety glasses when doing work that may produce chips, dust or flying particles. When working with chemicals, choose goggles that fit snugly against your face and secure with a strap.
- Thoroughly wash your hands before touching the eye.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Foods rich in antioxidants, lutein, Vitamins C and E are good for eye health.
- If you know something has scratched your eye, seek treatment from your doctor/emergency room for your eye injury.
Lions Club Donation
Thanks to the Trafford Lions Club and Penn-Trafford Leos Club for coordinating last night’s Dinner in the Dark event. The event was hosted in the WCBA’s Community Room here in Greensburg. Sighted participants were blindfolded and taught how to eat a prepared dinner and fold paper airplanes. Penn-Trafford presented a check donation of $1,210 WCBA’s Executive Director, Tim Miller.
There were approximately 60 people in attendance. The whole event was put together by the young members of the Trafford Lions Clubs which is commonly referred to as Link-N-Leos. It was a unique and humbling event that gave participants a chance to experience everyday living activities through the eyes of someone with visual disabilities.
Donate To WCBA For GivingTuesday
In celebration of #GivingTuesday please consider making a donation to the WCBA. Your gift will help support our efforts of employment, advocacy, assistance, awareness and independence!
It is through the kindness of our friends and neighbors that the WCBA mission endures! Visit Ways To Give to see how you can help.
2015-2016 Annual Report
Want to learn more about the WCBA and see what we’ve been up to this past year? You can click the image below to download our annual report!
A-Team Pennsylvania
We hosted our first meeting of A-Team Pennsylvania yesterday at WCBA in Greensburg. More than 25 staff members from a dozen pre-vocational providers came together to form this new mission for disabled workers. Vincent M. Loose, President & CEO of UniqueSource, was our guest speaker. See the A-Team Photo Album for additional event coverage.
Here is a little more information on the initiative:
MY WORK. MY CHOICE.
Goal: Promote people with diverse abilities experiencing the dignity of work in a full array of employment settings.
Mission: Ignite the passion and energy of persons with diverse abilities and their families…
-to advocate in a grassroots efforts.
-create awareness in the community.
-advise those who care for our citizens with special needs to ensure service choices are protected and sustained.
We are looking for serious volunteers who would like to join the A-Team to ignite the passion and energy of persons with diverse abilities along with their families to ensure that service choices are protected and sustained. Please contact the Westmoreland County Blind Association at 724-837-1250 to learn more.
Our A-Team/Pennsylvania campaign will continue in preparation for our “Embrace the Abilities Day” in Harrisburg on October 17th and 18th. Many of our intellectually and developmentally challenged individuals, family members, staff members, and providers from numerous pre-vocational organizations throughout the state will be traveling in support of this cause. Actual stories and videos will be shared with legislators and the Wolf Administration during this meeting. For more information, please visit A-Team Pennsylvania or this website.
WCBA Summer Newsletter
Consumer Interviews
Thanks to DeAnn from our Adult Training Facility for pulling together this video. It uses consumer interviews to look at how new regulations could impact workshops for Pennsylvania’s disabled.
Employee of the Year Award Nominee
Congratulations to our colleague, Clyde Bittner on being nominated for the 2016 Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award. Each year, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) honors an individual who is blind and employed in NIB’s network of associated nonprofit agencies. Clyde was nominated based upon his qualifications and accomplishments measured by criteria established by NIB’s Board of Directors. We here at WCBA, are PROUD to call Clyde our co-worker but more importantly our friend!