For Polly Swafford, living with macular degeneration, a disease that limits central vision, was not only challenging, but also isolating and sometimes, scary. Polly, an educator as well as an editor and publisher of a literary magazine, is passionate about using the written word to engage, inform and enlighten others. Now, Polly was cut off…
Tell us about you…… My name is Mickey Beach. I was born in south Kansas City and am an alumnus of Center High School. My wife Martha and I moved back to the Kansas City area in the fall of 2020 to be closer to children and grandchildren. We are both retired teachers, having each…
As part of the ongoing Volunteer Spotlight series, we checked in with volunteer Heath Chancey on the choice to donate time and energy to Alphapointe. Q&A with Heath Tell us about you… I was born and raised in Alabama and moved to Kansas City in 2001. I have worked for IMA Financial Group for three…
On Friday, Dec. 9, Alphapointe Youth joined the youth from Center of Hope Ministries to participate in a Community Service Project to give back to other youth in appreciation for all they have received this year. The youth celebrated T.G.I. with F.F.: being Thankful, Grateful, Impactful with Family & Friends! The goal was to have…
As part of the ongoing Volunteer Spotlight series, we checked in with volunteer Patricia Lyons Cox on why she chooses to donate her time and energy to Alphapointe. Q&A with Patricia Tell us about you… I call Kansas City my home and find great comfort being with family and friends. Kansas City has a long…
Jo Anne Cash is a senior living with neurotrophic keratitis and severe glaucoma. Her vision is near blindness. After a low vision evaluation from an optometrist and an occupational therapist at Alphapointe who both specialize in vision rehabilitation, goals were established to prepare for in-home training provided by an occupational therapy assistant. Jo Anne’s main…
Dr. Jerome Kagan, one of the most influential psychologists in recorded history, established the concept that reaching a concrete conclusion is one of the most essential behavioral activities for humans because it affects virtually every element of a person’s psyche. Rebekah Grieb knows exactly what Dr. Kagan was talking about because she’s lived without a…
As part of the ongoing Volunteer Spotlight series, we checked in with volunteer Jy Maze on why she chooses to donate her time and energy to Alphapointe. Jy’s father, who was blind, actually worked for Alphapointe for a number of years, which created a bond between Jy and the organization. Additionally, Jy joined Alphapointe’s Foundation…
Judy has age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Macular degeneration affects one’s central vision and causes “blind spots” that make it difficult to read, recognize faces and engage in many other activities. Judy began receiving training through Alphapointe’s Senior Adult Services Program earlier this summer. An individualized program was…
This is a letter written by Shirmohammad. He is a father of five children, each of whom has low vision as a result of having albinism. Along with his family, Shirmohammad fled Afghanistan in August 2021 after the Taliban captured control of the country. This is his family’s story. Today, our children are safe. They…