Iris Network

TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND ATTAIN INDEPENDENCE AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION.

COMMUNITY-BASED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES: THE COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION SERVICES PROGRAM EVALUATES CONSUMER NEEDS BASED UPON FUNCTIONAL VISION LOSS AND DEVELOPS A PROGRAM OF INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES PROVIDED BY NATIONALLY CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS. THESE SERVICES ALLOW INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS WHO MAY BE TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH, WORKING-AGE ADULTS, OR SENIOR CITIZENS TO CARRY ON THE FUNCTIONS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE THEY DESIRE. PROGRAM SERVICES ARE DELIVERED IN THE CONSUMER'S COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MAINE ON AN ITINERANT BASIS AND INCLUDE VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY AND COUNSELING IN THE AREA OF ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS. SERVICES MAY ALSO BE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY WHEN IN-PERSON MEETINGS ARE NOT FEASIBLE.

RESIDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM: THE IRIS NETWORK PROVIDES ONGOING RESIDENT SUPPORT SERVICES TO CERTAIN VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND RESIDENTS OF IRIS PARK APARTMENTS WHO HAVE ADDITIONAL DISABILITIES. IRIS PARK APARTMENTS FEATURES (30) ONE AND TWO BEDROOM INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENTS WHICH ARE SEPARATELY OWNED BUT MANAGED BY THE IRIS NETWORK. VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND TENANTS WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES ARE ABLE TO LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AS THEY DESIRE, SCHEDULE THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES, AND CREATE A PERSONAL PLAN FOR ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES. THE IRIS NETWORK OFFERS VISION REHABILITATION THERAPY TO PROVIDE TENANTS SUPPORT IN ALL AREAS OF INDEPENDENT LIVING. THE RESIDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM AT IRIS PARK APARTMENTS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE IRIS NETWORK IN THAT THESE SERVICES ARE OFFERED ON AN ONGOING BASIS, RATHER THAN AS INSTRUCTION OR TEACHING DESIGNED TO ALLOW CLIENTS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND USE THOSE SKILLS INDEPENDENTLY AFTER SERVICES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

REHAB TRAINING CENTER: THE CAMPUS-BASED VISION REHABILITATION TRAINING CENTER PROVIDES AN INDIVIDUALIZED, INTENSIVE VOCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. COURSEWORK ADDRESSES MULTIPLE AREAS OF LEARNING INCLUDING VOCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY, BRAILLE, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, AND MANUAL ARTS. STUDENTS LIVE IN A RESIDENCE CLOSE TO THE TRAINING CENTER AND DOWNTOWN PORTLAND. THE GROUP LIVING ENVIRONMENT INCLUDES A SHARED KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM, AS WELL AS SHARED YARD AND LAUNDRY. STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN AFTER-HOURS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE PORTLAND AND SOUTHERN MAINE.

LOW-VISION CENTER: THE IRIS NETWORK'S LOW-VISION CENTER HELPS INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THEIR REMAINING VISION BY PROVIDING OPTICAL AIDS AND EQUIPMENT SUCH AS MAGNIFIERS TO READ THE NEWSPAPER OR LABELS ON PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, TELESCOPES TO FOCUS ON DISTANT SIGNS, AND LIGHT-FILTERED LENSES TO REDUCE GLARE.