Sight Loss Monthly Newsletter June 2025

oralhull
Jun 1
8 min read

Our Mission Statement:

The mission of the Hull Foundation and Learning Center is to provide programs, facilities and services including social, educational, and recreational activities for people with blindness and sight loss.

*If you would prefer to receive this newsletter by email please send an email to: oralhull@gmail.com

Hello from the Desk of the Executive Director

By Monica Butler

Happy Summer Everyone,

It is a beautiful day out here at Oral Hull Park, we are busy with the Friends and Alumni retreat and preparing for our summer retreats. I wanted to fill you in on a few changes happening at this time. Our Zoom calls are on hiatus for the summer and in September you will see changes in class offerings, days, and times. We are also suspending our Teach and Treat program because there was limited interest in this program. Our membership barbecue is rescheduled to September 13, due to it being on the same day as the memorial service for Tom Ciesielski. Please see the website for all our updated activities. In 2025 we will not be having our Monster Mash event but will be having a Harvest Festival and Haunted House on October 11^th. We will be having 1 or 2 One Day Fun Days, and we will make sure to post them on the website. We will be having the Winter Holiday Getaway from December 8-12. Please call the office to sign up as this event fills up quickly. We are working extremely hard to plan the rest of 2025 and all of 2026 so we can start booking all our exciting activities. If you have any suggestions for a new activity for our retreats, please reach out and let us know.

Enjoy the fun and sun during June, July, and August, I can’t wait to see some of your smiling faces at our upcoming retreats!!!

Hull Foundation Upcoming Events and Seminars:

June 1 – August 31- Summer Raffle
June 19 – Office Closed
June 28- Membership Pool Party & BBQ – Cancelled due to Tom C Memorial.
July 14-17 – Advanced Sight loss Seminar
July 19-24 – Moderate Adventure Retreat
July 29 – Teach and Treat at Oral Hull Park
August 13 – One Day Fun Day Oaks Park
August 17– 23 – High Adventure Retreat
Sept 1 – Office closed
September 6-7 – Community garage sale at Oral Hull
September 24-27 – Cooking Sight Loss Seminar
October 11 – Harvest Festival and Haunted house at Oral Hull Park
October 13 – Office Closed – Indigenous people’s Day
November 11^th – office closed – Veterans Day
November 22 – 23 – Holiday Bazaar at the park
November 27-28 – Office closed – Thanksgiving
December 21-Jan 4 -Office closed

If you are interested in any of our social getaways, one day fun days, seminars and recreational retreats, please contact our office and sign up! Spots fill up VERY quickly, so jump in with both feet, save your spot and come out to Hull Park! If you would like to volunteer as staff or sponsor an event, please contact the office 503.668.6195.

Guests at Friends and Alumni swimming in the indoor pool.

The BIG Summer RAFFLE
Prizes include Weekend Retreat at the Park - Includes lodge, Dorms (23-rooms), pool and the park grounds. Must be used before August of 2026, Value $5,000
Use of Hul Parks Picnic Pavilion & Indoor Heated Swimming Pool - 6 hour use of Hull Parks covered picnic pavilion for up to 150 people at Hull Park in Sandy, OR. Includes string lighting and fireplace for a cozy party! Includes use of indoor heated swimming pool! Value $1500
65" TV - Value $400 (TV will be shipped to your home)
3-month Viddyscribe App Subscription - enhance your videos with professional audio descriptions by AI. Value $60
Artwork by local artist, Ivy Hintz, Value $40

Call the office for ticket details 503.668.6195 or donate by paypal at hullflc.org. Prices for tickets: $20 each, 3 for $50, 8 for $100, 16 for $200, 32 for $400
Need not be present to win! Raffle dates: June 1-August 31, 2025, 1500 tickets available. Drawing on September 3, 2025, 10am. We are a 501(C)(3) nonprofit EIN 93-6032742 — Big Summer Raffle go to hullflc.org (select join our mission) or call 503-668-6195 to purchase tickets. $10 each, 3 for $25 or 8 for $50. Drawing at 10 am September 3, 2025.

Managing Expectations

By Marja Byers, CPSS, SLI

I have had this phrase come to mind quite often recently, and in different situations with myself as well as with others. I’ve felt frustrated (unreasonably so) when something didn’t go the way I wanted it too, and I’ve seen people getting angry over situations when I felt their expectations were unreasonable. “Sorry sir, you don’t get a free refill on the (expensive) coffee drink.” Though managing expectations wasn’t a concept that my parents taught me I think it is one that belongs in our “toolbox” of life, as people of all ages struggle with it from time to time.

When I asked AI to briefly define “managing expectation” this is what I got.

“-Setting realistic goals

-Clarifying roles and responsibilities

-Being transparent about limitations or challenges

-Provide regular updates and feedback”

Then I thought of the concept in the context of new sight loss, it had me thinking back to 15 years ago when I became blind.

I was unrealistic as to my energy level; it is just no longer realistic for me to work full time or to go on an all-day shopping trip. I didn’t realize how much longer it would take me to do things than it did when I was fully sighted. I am glad that I was told early in my blindness to expect life to take more energy as a blind person than as a sighted person. I wish someone had gone further to discuss managing my expectations going forward. I will hang on to the AI definition to share with others, and as my sight loss progresses it’s a good reminder that I need to reevaluate my life from time to time. If I’m feeling unhappy maybe I need to look at what I’m expecting of myself and allow myself the grace to say “no” to taking on new tasks or responsibilities. It is okay to shift your expectations of yourself. Managing expectations is often about “playing well with others” but it can also be about playing well with yourself

After all, you have to live with you, play nice!

Reading in the Dark Book Club

By Marja Byers, CPSS, SLI

Our books for May were “Old Man’s War” by Joe Scalzi DB64670, a Sci-Fi meets cocoon (1985 movie), intergalactic war story, and “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd DB78079, a story set in 1803, about a plantation owner’s 11-year-old daughter who receives a slave girl-named Handful-as a gift. Radically different books with varying opinions!

Our books for June are-

6/10 - “Landlines” by Raynor Winn DB122203,10:55. The final in her trilogy: “The Salt Path”, “The Wild Silence”, “Landlines”, the true, later life story of Raynor and husband, Moth.

“Raynor Winn returns with her third and most ambitious memoir, a chronicle of her journey across Great Britain. As the fractured lines between nations grow wider, how do we relate to each other, and to the land? Are we united enough to see protection of the environment as a priority? These are the question Raynor asks herself as she embarks on her most ambitious walk to date her husband, Moth, from the dramatic beauty of northwest Scotland to the familiar territory of the Southwest Coast Path. Chronicling her journey across Great Britain with trademark luminous prose, Raynor maps, not only the physical terrain, but captures the collective consciousness of a country, facing an uncertain path of head.”

6/24 - “A Bakery in Paris” by Aimie Runyon DB118117, 10:10.

“1870: Prussians are at the city gates, internet to starve Paris into submission.” Two women from vastly diverse backgrounds come together. “Both women must grapple with loss, learn to accept love, and face impossible choices, armed with a little more than their courage, and belief that a bit of flour, yeast, sugar, and love can bring about a revolution of its own.”

Remember that we welcome anyone interested in joining in on the conversation, whether you’ve read the book. RITD book club will resume in the fall. Please be on the lookout for more information on zoom meetings.

Tips from the Independence Desk

By Todd Fahlstrom, Sight Loss Instructor

Bump dots are a fantastic tactile tool for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, helping them navigate their environment with ease and increasing independence. Here are 10 creative ways to use them:

1. Marking appliance controls; Place bump dots on frequently used buttons on microwaves, ovens, washing machines, and dishwashers.

2. Labeling remote controls; Identify power, volume, and channel buttons with bump dots for quick access.

3. Organizing keyboards; Use bump dots to mark essential keys like "Enter," "Escape," or function keys.

4. Identifying medication bottles; Differentiate medicine containers by placing bump dots on lids or labels.

5. Enhancing mobility aids; Attach bump dots to cane handles or mobility devices for better grip and identification.

6. Marking light switches; Help locate and differentiate switches for different rooms or functions.

7. Labeling personal items; Use bump dots on makeup compacts, wallets, or phone cases for easy identification.

8. Navigating thermostats; Place bump dots on temperature settings to adjust heating or cooling effortlessly.

9. Organizing kitchen items; Mark spice jars, measuring cups, or frequently used utensils.

10. Improving furniture & picture frames; place on back of furniture to ensure the wall doesn’t get scraped, pictures so they won’t move or door jams to limit vibration.

Note: Bump dots can be things like puffy paint, Velcro, braille labels, Furniture tabs, puffy/gel dots, or various craft gems. Get creative and be more independent.

Avocado Mint Chip Ice Cream

By Desiree Christian, Sight Loss Instructor

Ingredients

2 ripe avocados

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk

1/4 cup maple syrup, honey, or another liquid sweetener*

1 Tablespoon coconut oil

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/4 cup dairy-free mini chocolate chips

Directions

Add all ingredients except for the chocolate chips into a high-powered blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Stir in chocolate chips and pour into a freezer-safe container. I used a loaf pan lined with parchment. Place container in the freezer to set. It should take about 4-5 hours. Once frozen, pull ice cream from the freezer, let sit out on the counter for 5-10 minutes to soften. Use an ice cream scoop to serve and enjoy!

A mix of savory and sweet deserts served at the Annual Tea. To name a few, plate includes Cucumber sandwich, lemon custard, chocolate covered strawberry and several more! A full teacup sits at the top right corner above the plate. — A mix of savory and sweet deserts served at the Annual Tea. To name a few, plate includes Cucumber sandwich, lemon custard, chocolate covered strawberry and several more!

Annual Tea Fundraiser

On May 31, 2025, we had our Annual Tea Fundraiser. We had 79 guests and raised $4,228.28. Delicious food and tea had been served, people participated in garden tours, raffles, auctions and hat contests. Thank you to everyone who attended, we hope to see you all back for another Tea Party in 2026, and then some!

Several tea party guests sitting around round tables with white table clothes, in the center are beautiful bouquets of flowers. — Several tea party guests sitting together, sporting their silliest, fanciest and most favorite hats, enjoying their tea and treats.

Paper teacups and saucers full of gluten free treats such as meats, grapes and caprese salad scewers — Paper teacups and saucers full of gluten free tea treats

Summer

By Tina Christian, Sight Loss Instructor

Oregon berries sweet and tart

Brings a joyful pucker to my heart

Sweet air warming up

Brings sweet smiles out and people saying, s'up just cuz'

Longer days dryer nights

Means seeing more sites

June is that soft moment of time

When the green of summer is sublime

12 guests, 4 staff and one volunteer stand in front of building with large sign starting Mt. Hood Lanes — Friends and Alumni trip to Mt. Hood Lanes for bowling

Did you know?...

You can advocate for equitable customer service in grocery stores for shoppers who are blind or have sight loss. Just sign this petition on change.org!

https://chng.it/mVbMtBkj29

If you have not tried Speakaboo yet, find it on the Apple App Store by searching “Speakaboo.” As always, feel free to reach out to me with questions or suggestions at patrick@ben.vision.

Check out our new website! The address will be the same. Visit our website at hullflc.org