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OVR assists man’amko under ILOB program
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation visited the Office on Aging on Thursday to provide help under the Independent Living for Older Blind program.
The program was created to assist eligible individual man’amko with significant disabilities to live and function independently.
ILOB assistant caseworker Barbara Cabrera said the program “is designed to meet the needs of individuals whose disabilities are considered significant that they do not presently have the potential for employment but may benefit from independent living services.”
The program also assists eligible individuals with vision loss by providing them with prescribed optical devices, if appropriate. It is intended to maximize the use of one’s remaining vision, learn new ways to accomplish daily living activities, and take advantage of adaptive and computer technologies.
The program will be complemented by vision rehabilitation services such as counseling and training.
“It is for 55 years and over, and those not interested in working but want to continue with independent activities, such as reading their rosaries,” Cabrera said.
According to Cabrera, the outreach assisted five applications and will be visiting the man’amko on Rota and Tinian.
One man’amko applicant, Milan Fargo, said, “It is very helpful and I hope the assistance from this program will help me, and I am happy that someone came to help.”
One other applicant felt the same way. “I feel good that they are helping me,” Ana Nakatsukasa said in Chamorro.
Aging acting director Walter Manglona told Saipan Tribune: “We are extremely happy to be working with our partnering agencies such as OVR, for taking care of our clients and providing our man’amko services because it is vital to be working in a much closer setting.”
