Map page 18
The Broad Ripple Gazette
Vol. 10 No. 17
Including the Cultural Districts and Midtown: Meridian-Kessler, Butler-Tarkington, and Meridian St.
Sudoku page 10
Aug 30 - Sep 12, 2013
BRHS
45th REUNION
Row 1 (L to R) - Jai (Linda) Goodman Alpert, Janet Davis Lee, Don McCartney, Sandi Werner, Janet Confer Pfadt, Becky Miller Meyer, Barb Albert Yockey, Sharon Bradley Kaufman, Janet Shookman Simmermon, Jill Hacker Upton, Suzanne Young, Row 2 (L to R) - Marcia Janert, Lew Borman, Kathy Borneman Hillis, Karen Younger Ferguson, Cheryl Hagerman Short, Gaylen (Gail) Rosenblum Ross, Robbie Fry Ervin, Carol Guion Elson, Nancy Scott Row 3 (L to R) - Suzy Ralph Brett, Fran Wingfield Stewart, Steve Chivington, Mike LaGrave, Tom Cheshire, Gayle Crose, Linda Bauchle Lanz, Dave Schnuelle, Anne Patterson Weaver, Teresa Conner Atkinson, Judi Kuoppala Evard Row 4 (L to R) - Marcia Sakowitz Sklare, Steve Logan, Jim Fleming, Dan Cook, Gregg Butler, Doug Canull, Bill Rothbard, Carolyn Raiser, Nancy Nay McIlvain Row 5 (L to R) - Tom McLarty, Chuck Stonehill, Fritz Strack, Cliff Sellery, Doug Thurston, David Wallace, Greg King. Bob Evard, Nancy Tillett Thanks to Scott Romer for this photo. Scott is available to take photographs at your reunion - 317-255-6233
A portable magnifier available at EYE Can See.
photo by Mario Morone
EYE Can See - vision assistance By Mario Morone
mario@broadripplegazette.com
INDEX
Tom and Greg Blackman own EYE Can See, located at 6311 Westfield Boulevard, Suite 103-A. Their products and services provide support for individuals with low vision or blindness that assists them in their daily lives. “I have a master’s degree in blind rehabilitation and have taught Orientation and Mobility for many years and then developed an interest in adaptive technology which includes low vision devices and computer access software for blind individuals as well as for students with learning disabilities. We started the EYE Can See business around 16 years ago. We’ve been here in Broad Ripple for a little 6311 Westfield Boulevard over a year,” Blackman explained. (317) 258-6747 The selection of their Broad Ripple www.eyecanseeinc.com office has been advantageous. “We thought that this seemed like a good and practical location that is easy for people to find. We were looking for a certain rental rate where we could be on the first floor and have wheel chair accessibility and parking. The name (EYE Can See) is something that I thought of that people could remember, something that would be memorable, but positive,” he noted.
EYE Can See’s mission includes “Assessing and meeting each individual’s needs by providing on-site demos, delivery, set-up, training and continual support for all that use our products. Eye Can See is the authorized local dealer in Indiana, Kentucky and Metro Cincinnati for several of the best manufacturers of lowvision and blindness products.” Blackman described their work, “It’s basically demonstrating and showing products to people who know and need them and to optometrists who can share information to their patients. We work with different manufacturers of these products to get the word out that they are available and try to demonstrate them as often as we can to people and groups of individuals. We are the middle man between the manufacturer, the end user, the rehab center and the eye doctor. We can also supply people with local and discounted pricing. We can sell it for less than that because we work with them and we try to pass along discounts to people.” EYE Can See’s clients include various non-profit groups and local schools. “We work with Easter Seals, The Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Crossroads Rehabilitation and Bosma Enterprises. We work with people with macular degeneration. A retired schoolteacher recently bought a few items. We found some good refurbished equipment for him that would meet his budget,” Blackman said. Their variety of visual aids meets a range of various individuals’ specialized needs. “We go from simple low-tech, hand-held magnifiers up to desktop electronic reading and writing machines. We have scanners that scan text and read it to blind people. We also have computer software for blind and low vision users. We don’t sell ADL (adaptive daily living) items like cooking aids or large print playing cards. We refer people to Bosma Enterprises for those kind of things, like a talking wristwatch or a large-print clock and they refer people to us.” EYE Can See covers a wide-ranging sales area, as Blackman mentioned, “We’re a direct authorized dealer for Indiana and Kentucky. It’s kind of like a protected territory for us. An individual in Louisville helps us there, making it more effective for us than to go there. He has had low vision for about 10 years and uses some of the equipment that he sells. Prior to that, he was in newspaper advertising. We sell products really all over the state of Indiana and to Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation and to private paying people. We sell to K-12 schools that buy from us and universities like Ivy Tech and some items to the Veterans Administration.” Many of their products can be viewed at: www.eyecanseeinc. com, but individuals are encouraged to call 258-6747 or 413-7835 for an in-store demonstration. Inquiries can also be e-mailed on their “Contact Us” page at: www.eyecanseeinc.com/contact. A career change brought Blackman’s son, Greg, into the business, which positively impacted their operations. “He was a salesperson and was looking for something where he could have more normal hours and something more in helping people. He had helped me before part-time and knew what we did. He
See EYE pg. 3
1 EYE Can See
6 Random Rippling coliseum
10 Hidden History/Sudoku
15 Historic Ad
21 Wine Scene Jill A. Ditmire
1 45th BRHS reunion
7 Local Contacts
10 Mistakes winner
15 Crossword
21 Random Rippling e Cigs
2 Random Rippling Havana
8 Classified Ads
11 Poetic Thoughts
16 BRVA zoning meeting
22 Right in my Own Backyard
3 Calendar
8 Public Notices
13 Frog's Random Rippling
16 Round the Ripple
22 Random Rippling Cornell
4 Buzzing Around Town
9 Letters From Readers
13 Little America shout out
17 Maps/Business Directory
23 Gettin’ Ripped in Ripple
14 Random Rippling pottery
20 Public Notices
24 Random Rippling Ambrosia
5 BR Brewpub Quiz
10 Where in the Village?