Alphapointe

As part of his Dr. Mehmet Oz experience, Alphapointe employee Cornell Williams generously was gifted a new computer with advanced tech to assist in his day to day computing activities from an organization called Computers for The Blind. We are so thankful for Cornell and his health, his willingness to share his Covid story, and the generosity of Dr. Oz and their entire team.

"Herein lies the story of hands that see. These large groping hands seed broom corn, refine it, shape it about broom handles, sew it and bind it with wire, cut the corn smooth and label the firm and finished product with the bright red and blue label, 'The Blind Man's Broom is the Best'" Kansas City Journal-Post story February 1925 https://loom.ly/3mYfrIM

Thank you for the sacrifice that you made, so that I would be able to make my sacrifice. Without you, I would not be here. Antonio Arbello, a machine operator at Alphapointe’s Kansas City location, sends a message to other Veterans in advance of Veterans Day 2020. Sometimes a smile is the greatest thing in the world - you don’t have to say a word. Antonio offers to those of us seeking ways to thank our Veterans, and he leaves you with this final thought, Believe in one ...another, hold onto one another. All we have is our faith, hold onto your faith. Link: https://loom.ly/dIX5sYw [Image Description: This is a video link from KMBC 9 News KC and should play on your screen. The image is of Anthony lifting boxes near his machine in the production shop.]

Remember, the person behind the handle is just like everyone else. To them, their blindness is old news and they don’t necessarily want to talk about it with everyone they meet (this varies by individual, some don’t mind questions, others get frustrated with constantly being asked). [Image is of a yellow guide dog with owner, who is a woman in an orange shirt using a white cane, they are walking through a crosswalk.]

Hopefully, you have received our Alphapointe eNewsletter in your email inbox earlier this week. IF you did not, that's okay there is still time and we encourage you to sign up to stay in the know. Read the newsletter at this link: https://loom.ly/261RTUU Sign up at this link: https://loom.ly/sB3-Evs... [Iamge Description: Masthead of Alphapointe eNewsletter with orange logo and title "November News" the top story includes a photo of a young girl being measured for a facemask designed and produced by Rightfully Sewn.]

Judge rules NYC crosswalks fail to protect blind pedestrians. Most crosswalks in New York City violate laws protecting people with disabilities by failing to properly protect blind and low-vision pedestrians, a judge ruled Tuesday. . U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in Manhattan said the city has violated three laws protecting the disabled with its failure to equip most crosswalk signals to aid the blind or those with bad eyesight. . This story is from the AP and we hav...e a link to that story from Spectrum News NY1 here: https://loom.ly/hG87dz8 . [Image Description: A woman attempting to cross a busy NY street with a Traffic Officer pointing to her left. There is a barricade in the crosswalk and a large orange digital sign above her head that reads "Use Crosswalk" behind her.] . #blind #blindness #VisionLoss #braille #WhiteCane #AccessibilityNotDisability #access4all #AccessForAll #accessibility #PartiallySighted #disabled #UsherSyndrome #DiversityAndInclusion #DisabilityVisibility #diversity #DisabilityAwareness #LowVision #OrientationAndMobility #eyes #vision #LegallyBlind See more

Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more. H. Jackson Brown Jr. Volunteers are involved in all areas of Alphapointe - serving on boards/committees, volunteering to provide reception for our clinic, working directly with our children/youth and much more. We couldn’t be successful without them! Become an Alphapointe volunteer. Sign up here: https://loom.ly/dcgYWc8 [image is a drawing of hands in the air, the hands have hearts in the palms.]

Happy Halloween from all of us at Alphapointe! [Image is an orange background with the words "Happy Halloween" in teal and a black Alphapointe logo at the bottom.]

Tommy Edison, who’s been blind since birth, talks about how he celebrated Halloween growing up without sight and what Halloween is like as an adult. https://loom.ly/MyvrB9Y

KCATA & Alphapointe Partner on New Transit App for Visually Impaired The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), in partnership with Alphapointe and Sensible Innovations, has developed a wayfinding app to help blind and visually impaired transit customers use transit more safely and accurately. It is the first application of its kind to be applied to an entire transit corridor in the United States. The RideKC Navigator mobile app is a custom platform to help indivi...duals with vision impairment or blindness navigate select transit stops. Anyone can download the free RideKC Navigator app on their mobile device (iOS and Android) to receive location-specific audio instructions to help navigate 51 bus stops, East Village Transit Center, 75th Street Transit Center and 31 intersections in Kansas City, MO. The project, which was developed as part of KCATA’s Prospect MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 10-mile corridor project runs from the 75th and Prospect Transit Center at Alphapointe, north on Prospect to 12th Street, and west along 12th Street into downtown Kansas City. Our partnership with Alphapointe was critical to the testing and deployment of RideKC Navigator, said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president and CEO. Our visually impaired experts at Alphapointe navigate the real world on a daily basis. Their help in orientation and mobility instructions, testing and tutorials was invaluable. . To read more, please click here: https://loom.ly/CFoRAuk . To download the app from an iPhone click here: https://loom.ly/R7wSst0 . To download the app from an Android device click here: https://loom.ly/A0y29kU

Cornell Williams, Lead Porter at Alphapointe’s facility in Richmond Hill, N.Y., was featured in a segment on the Dr. Oz Show that aired nationally on Thursday, Oct. 22. Williams, who contracted COVID-19 earlier in the spring through his volunteering activities to bring people food and medication who couldn’t leave their homes, was interviewed by Dr. Oz for the show’s One Good Thing segment. Dr. Oz asked Williams about contracting COVID-19, his recovery and about growing up ...blind before regaining a portion of his sight at the age of 12. The interview then concludes with a special surprise. [Image Description: This is a video link that can be clicked. Cornell Williams sits in the center of the screen inside one of our production areas.]

If you’re seeking inspiration today, look no further than our own Brooke Cottrell. Brooke was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and nystagmus from birth with vision acuity of 20 over 300 in her left eye and she had surgery to remove her right eye completely. Her story is amazing - taking her all the way to Blind Idol national singing competition. Read about her successes here: https://loom.ly/nKfyado . [Image Description: Brooke in her cap and gown at graduation. Brook's De...gree from @Metropolitancommunity, Brooke standing in front of a fountain.] . #blind #blindness #VisionLoss #braille #WhiteCane #AccessibilityNotDisability #access4all #AccessForAll #accessibility #PartiallySighted #disabled #UsherSyndrome #DiversityAndInclusion #DisabilityVisibility #diversity #DisabilityAwareness #LowVision #OrientationAndMobility #eyes #vision #LegallyBlind

Today is #OccupationalTherapyDay! We are proud of our Orientation and Mobility Specialists who improve the lives of those who are visually impaired and empower them to achieve their goals and aspirations every day! Thank you! [Image Description: Two of Alphapointe OT's, Morganne Appl-Culp and Shannon Crumpton, working with our community using various tools of the trade.]