Sight Loss Monthly Newsletter May 2025

oralhull
May 1
7 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, or to unsubscribe, please call the Hull Foundation at 503.668.6195 or send an email to: oralhull@gmail.com

On purple background with teaparty themed clip art text reads "You are invited to Hull Foundation and Learning CEnter for the Blind and Sight Loss Annual Tea Party Fundraiser, May 31st, 2025 1pm - 4pm Wear your tea party hat, Prizes for funniest hat, most creative, hat with most flowers, variety of teas and mouth watering scones, savory sandwiches, $25 per person or 2 for $45 kids ages 10-18 $10 5-9 years $5 4 and under - free, contact office for tickets Phone 503.668.6195 hullflc.org 43233 SE Oral Hull Rd. Sandy, OR 97055

Hull Foundation Upcoming Events and Seminars:

May 6 – 9 - Arts & Hobbies Seminar
May 7 - One day Fun day – Bowling
May 27 - Teach and Treat at Oral Hull
May 31 - Annual Tea Fundraiser at Oral Hull Park
June 1 – August 31 - Summer Raffle Fundraiser
June 2 – 7 - Friends and Alumni Retreat
June 4 – One day Fun day – Oaks Park fun day
June 19 – Office Closed
June 24 – Teach and Treat at Oral Hull Park
June 28 - Membership Pool Party & BBQ
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 at Oaks Park
August 17 - 23 – High Adventure

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.

NEW TEACH AND TREAT in Morgan Hall at Oral Hull Park. April 29th at 1pm. Pick up at noon, Carl’s Jr and Cleveland MAX station in Gresham, Or. The guest speaker is Daryl Walker: Importance of physical activity. Drop off at Carl’s Jr and Cleveland MAX station at 2:45pm.

Travel: From Home and Beyond

By Marja Byers, CPSS, SLI

On April 1st Hull Foundation launched a new Zoom call, Travel: from Home and Beyond, facilitated by Marja Byers and Tina Christian. This call happens on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 10:00-11:00 am PT.

The staff discussed topics for destinations, and we realized that there are so many things about travel besides destinations that we can cover.

We started by asking the participants what they would like to hear about. With about 30 enthusiastic callers in attendance, the suggestions were about orientation and mobility challenges, travel planning, and the details of traveling. It was clear that many of us see travel as any trip outside of our home that requires some planning, it is not only that big cross-country trip-it can be going to medical appointments or shopping.

Marja will lead the first call of the month with Tina taking the wheel in the third week. The first week will be more of the planning/mobility/detail discussion, and the third week will be more about destinations.

We are excited to see where this Zoom adventure will take us, and we’d love to hear from you what interests you. Come and join us as we talk about adventures both near and far!

Guests at Spring Fling playing Backwards Bingo!

Reading in the Dark Book Club

By Marja Byers, CPSS, SLI

RITD welcomes all readers, blind or not, who enjoy reading and discussing books! We only choose books that are available from the National Library Service “Talking Books” as this is a free service. (Not signed up? Hull can help.) We hope you will join us in May as we choose our books for the next four months, we will discuss options on the 13th and finalize our choices on 5/27.

Our books for April were “My Ántonia” by Willa Cather, DB13491, and “A Fall of Marigolds” by Susan Meissner, DB88683. “My Ántonia” was a required reading in high school for many in our group, and some of us about 10 years younger had not heard of Cather. Oregon Taking Books has a genre that they call nostalgia; this book is an excellent example. Some really enjoyed it and others of us had a tough time getting into the book. “A Fall of Marigolds” is built around the 9/11 attacks, so may be hard for some to read but the story is very moving. We gave this one a thumbs up!

Our books for May are:

5/13 “Old Man’s War” by John Scalzi DB64670, 10:02. I have read this one, and it’s an interesting departure from what we’ve been reading.

“75-year-old widower John Perry relinquishes his earthly existence and enlists in the Colonial Defense Forces. John and fellow aging recruits are restored to youthful bodies to battle enemy aliens in the interstellar race to colonize the universe.”

5/27 “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd DB78079, 14:29.

“Charleston, 1803. 11-year-old Sarah Grimké is given a 10-year-old slave girl named Handful as a gift. They become close friends and are both punished when Handful learns to read. Sara grows up to become an abolitionist, and Handful retains her independent spirit.”

We hope to meet some new friends in May as we read in the dark!

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.

Mother

By Tina Christian, Sight loss Instructor

You bring me love

I gave you trust

You bring me love

I gave you laughter

You bring me love

I gave you patience

You bring me love

I gave you my heart

You brought me life

I gave you love

Spring Pasta

By Tina Christian, Sight loss Instructor

Ingredients

1/2 package of spaghetti

2 tomatoes cut into 1/4-inch slices

4 slices of bacon

kosher salt

avocado oil

4oz. mozzarella pearls cut in half

6-8 basil leaves torn or rough chopped

1 lemon zested and squeezed

Parmesan

Sauce

2 cups of arugula

3/4 cup cashews unsalted

1/2 - 1/3 cup of avocado oil

1 avocado pitted and diced

1 lemon zested and squeezed

1 tsp. minced garlic (aka jarlic = garlic from a jar)

1 Tablespoon Parmesan

Course ground pepper

1-2 Tablespoon Water

Directions

Preheat oven to 450* Cook pasta according to directions. Put parchment on cookie sheet. Wipe parchment with avocado oil. Cut tomato slices into quarters. Put sliced tomatoes on parchment and sprinkle salt from several inches above tomatoes. Bake for 20 minutes on the middle rack. In the meantime, cook bacon in a skillet for 8-12min depending on your desired doneness. Set bacon on a paper towel covered plate. Mix mozzarella and basil in pasta. Pat bacon and chop or crush it. Mix in pasta. Toss in lemon and parmesan until well combined.

For the sauce, you can make it ahead of pasta or not. Blend all ingredients in a blender-- except water. If the sauce isn't smooth enough add the water a tablespoon at a time. Then top or mix desired amount on or in pasta. Enjoy.hicken. Top with a drizzle of sauce and cilantro.

Lions club Volunteers at Lions Workday eating lunch in the picnic shelter provided by Hull Foundation staff.

Hull Foundation Presents Zoom Meetings:

NEW CLASS ON ZOOM!

Join Marja and Tina on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 10am (PST)

This is about traveling around your neighborhood, your city and beyond. We'll discover what's beyond your front door and learn to wander with joy. Feel free to get out and join us, even if it's for the company to ride along wherever we end up.

Current zoom meetings will include topics on tech, cooking, crafting, book club, supporting loved ones of people with sight loss or blindness and a class on forgetfulness that has been a favorite. Bring a friend or spouse, sighted or not!!

If you would like to sign up to receive a weekly email with the weekly zoom schedule and links to the meetings, please email the office at

oralhull@gmail.com or call us at 503-668-6195. If you are not an email user, then you can call us on Mondays to receive that week’s classes and

the call-in number and meeting ID number for meetings you are interested in attending via phone.

Did you know?...

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 and updated website hullflc.org, and email us to let us know what you think, oralhull@gmail.com