Thank you for attending our Blindness and Mental Health Webinar in collaboration with Intuitive Counseling and Wellness, Eye2Eye Peer Support Program, American Council of the Blind Mental Health and Wellness Committee, and the 988 National Mental Health Lifeline.
Click Here for the Recording of the Webinar
Click below for the audio recording of the Blindness and Mental Health Webinar:
Click Here for the Webinar Transcript
Links and Resources:
Eye2Eye Peer Support Program Overview
Contact Eye2Eye:
- Phone: 833-932-3931
- Email: eye2eye@shp.rutgers.edu
- Twitter: @eye2eyeps
- Facebook: @Eye2Eye Peer Support
Genomic Testing:
- Click here to learn more about genomic testing
- If you have any questions, please call 1-888-633-7007
988 Overview (transcription will be added next week)
- To use 988, call 988 or 215-685-6440
Kimberley Dobb's Intuitive Counseling and Wellness
Prevent Blindness Resources:
- Vision Loss and Mental Health: Key Takeaways
- ASPECT Program Flyer
- ASPECT Patient Engagement Program Overview
Blind Mental Health Email Group:
- This email group is for individuals who are blind, have low vision or have a mental health diagnosis.
- Email: blind-mentalhealth+subscribe@groups.io
- Website: https://groups.io/g/blind-mentalhealth
Kimberely Dobbs, Director of Intuitive Counseling and Wellness
Hello! My name is Kimberley Dobbs, and with me in this photograph is my guide dog, Ursula. Since 2006 I have proudly been part of the mental health community working as a therapist in many different settings including inpatient, outpatient, intensive outpatient, and now as the owner and clinical Director of Intuitive Counseling & Wellness in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and a Master's Degree in Counseling and Human Relationships from Villanova University. I have post graduate training in the modalities of dialectical behavioral therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and sensory motor/somatic therapy. Choosing to become a mental health therapist has been one of the most meaningful choices of my life. I whole-heartedly believe that the challenges of life can feel impossible to move through, and therefore having someplace and someone to help move through these challenges can be invaluable. It is for this reason that I’ve committed my life‘s work to this mission.
In addition to practicing therapy and running my group practice, I also co host the podcast "Intuitive Choices" where my co-host and colleague, Jacob Miller, and I speak with individuals with varying backgrounds and experiences who have made meaningful and even life-changing decisions in their lives with the hope of inspiring others to do the same.
Finally I’d like to share that I am a proud member of the BVI community! I experienced blindness later in life from a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. While blindness brings forth its own unique set of challenges and limitations, I make it my personal goal each day to use these challenges and limitations as opportunities for personal growth.
Dr. Jason Barrett, PharmD/RPh, Accessible Pharmacy Services
Dr. Jason Barrett is the Chief Medical Officer and a co-founder of Accessible Pharmacy Services. Jason is a licensed pharmacist and a specialist in providing prescription medication and healthcare solutions to patients with unique needs and disabilities. Accessible Pharmacy Services is a home delivery pharmacy specializing in patients with disabilities. It is the only provider of its kind in the world and the largest blind-owned healthcare company in America. Founded by blind and sighted experts in the areas of accessibility, technology, and medicine, Accessible Pharmacy works closely with patients to address patient education and support, medication management, diabetes management, clinical pharmacist consultation and access, genomic testing, extreme simplification, cost containment, and more.
Sam Hendrickson, MA
Sam Hendrickson is a peer support specialist with the Eye2Eye Peer Support Program for Vision Loss. He has over 25 years of experience in New Jersey’s public education system, spanning roles of elementary and middle school teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district-level director of human resources. Since losing his vision over two years ago, Sam is currently writing Act Two of his life, facilitating support groups and providing one-to-one peer support services for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. He is involved in education consulting and is a national and international speaker on topics including special education, autism, parenting, marriage, and blindness. Sam is a lucky husband and proud father of six children, including a 22 year old son with autism.
Meegan Denenberg
Meegan Denenberg is the founder of Jeme Consultants, a creative brand agency built to deepen the work of Little Giant Creative, the business venture she formed in 2007 and has led for over a decade and a half. LGC is a Philadelphia-based marketing and brand strategy agency that works with local and national companies and institutions to develop and execute custom brand + communication strategies with a focus on social impact. Meegan is the architect of initiatives that are committed to racial and socioeconomic equity as cities invert and demographics shift, such as the Institute of Hip Hop Entrepreneurship, A Dream Deferred and Women Led Cities. As a co-founder of Pipeline Workspace and Gather Food Hall, Meegan is focused on developing place-based initiatives + campaigns that are rooted in and informed by the diverse ways people learn, communicate, socialize and trust.
988 is a free, 24-hour, 7-day a week lifeline that offers mental health support and intervention in times of need, emotional distress, or crisis. Philadelphia Crisis Line (PCL) operators serve all callers with compassion, and work with each caller to discover safety strategies and guide the caller through local resources. Callers will receive counseling, guidance, assessment, and referrals/warm transfers to other services as indicated.
Pam Shaw, American Council of the Blind Mental Health and Wellness Committee
Pam Shaw is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Joy Filled Life. This coaching company specializes in empowering women to live the life of their dreams by integrating faith, personal development and professional goals.
She has the distinction of being the first African American person elected to the ACB Board of Directors and as 2nd Vice President. She has chaired numerous committees including the Multicultural Affairs Committee, the Membership Committee and the International Relations Committee.
Her present assignment is the ACB Mental Health & Wellness Committee. This initiative is focused on education, advocacy and low vision. resource development for those who are blind or have
Her educational background includes a diploma from the Philadelphia High School for Girls: a Bachelor of Arts awarded by Elizabethtown College: Master of Social Work, Howard University and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Family Therapy from Catholic University of America.
She has more than 40 years of professional social work experience contributing to the develop ment of policy and practice in the fields of homelessness, community mental health, deinstitutionalization, child welfare, family services and disability rights. In addition to holding numerous managerial post, Pam was appointed by Governor Edward -Rendell to serve as Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services and was the ADA Coordinator for Pennsylvania's Career Link system.
In addition to being an active member of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind, Pam serves as an associate minister at Salem Baptist Church in Abington, Pennsylvania.
A skilled communicator, Pam is frequently an invitational speaker at retreats, conferences and other special events. She regularly presents many workshops and seminars around the country.
Favorite Quote:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr