Special AFB Presentation — Aging and Vision Loss: What You Need to Know and How You Can Help
August 10th, 2026, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
AFB experts visited West Virginia University’s School of Medicine, Charleston Campus, to present Aging and Vision Loss: What You Need to Know and How You Can Help. Hosted by members of AFB’s Public Policy and Research Institute (PPRI) — Dr. Priscilla Rogers, Dr. Arielle Silverman, and Angie Whistler — this session introduced participants to the fundamentals of age-related vision loss. It covered essential approaches, resources, and services that empower older adults to sustain their independence, preserve their quality of life, and remain actively connected to their communities.
Supported by the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities. Event funding made available by the James H. and Alice Teubert Charitable Trust Foundation.
Learning Objectives
AFB experts addressed the following:
- Common causes of age-related vision loss and their impact on daily activities.
- Assistive technologies and simple interventions for older people with vision loss.
- How to interact respectfully with someone who has vision loss or is blind.
- How to locate and utilize vision rehabilitation services and other useful resources.
- Both the psychological and systemic barriers limiting engagement in vision rehabilitation services for older adults.
Additional Resources
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) – Aging & Vision Loss Essentials
This resource includes information for healthcare professionals, individuals with vision loss, family members, and caregivers, including best practices for hospitals and healthcare systems.
Eldercare Locator
A national resource that helps older adults and caregivers connect with services available in their communities.
West Virginia Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
The WV ADRC helps West Virginians navigate aging and disability services and connect with available programs and resources.
Watch the recording at the link below! Please reach out to research@afb.org with any questions.
We also brought our presentation to Huntington, WV, on August 26th, 2025, at the Marshall University Student Memorial Center. Feel free to refer to this seminar to access similar information that was shared there.