Cambria County Association for the Blind and Handicapped

09/09/2026

September is National Service Dog Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and showing gratitude for the exceptional work Service Dogs do every day for the people in their care. Service dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities.

When in public, follow proper Service Dog etiquette by following these guidelines to ensure you are interacting appropriately with both the Service Dog and the owner.
-Ask:
Ask permission before interacting with the dog.
-Speak:
Speak directly to the handler, not the service dog.
-Respect:
Be respectful of the service dog’s space.
-Working:
Always assume the dog is working.
Remember, service Dogs play a vital role in the health and well-being of a person with a disability. When they are on the job it is imperative that you try not to interrupt or distract them – the handlers life depends on it.
For more information on National Service Dog Month please contact the Cambria County Association for the Blind and Handicapped at 814-536-3531.

09/07/2026

09/03/2026

It was a great CAB® day!

08/31/2026

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month is observed every August to focus on teaching caregivers and parents the importance of early vision screening, recognizing the signs of vision complications, and preventing eye injuries.

Recommended Eye Exam Schedule:
- Infants 6-12 mo. – 1st comprehensive eye exam
- Toddlers – 3-5 years – at least 1 eye exam or formal screening
- School age – 5+ years – Annual or by-annual check-ups
Watch for these signs of trouble:
- Squinting, blinking a lot or rubbing eyes
- Covering one eye or tilting the head to one side
- Holding books close to the face or sitting close to the TV
- Complaining of headaches or tired eyes
- Always encourage the use of eye prospective wear during sports, science
experiments or helping with yard work or mechanics

Without early detection and treatment, uncorrected vision disorders can impair healthy development, interfere with learning, and even lead to permanent vision loss. However, vision screening and regular eye care can help detect and treat potentially irreversible vision impairment. Please follow these guidelines to keep your child’s eyes healthy and safe.
For more information, please contact our Prevention of Blindness Specialist, Heather Plows, at 814-536-3531.

08/14/2026

Thank you, Camp PARC, we enjoyed spending the day with our friends!

05/01/2026

May is a key time to promote and support services designed to help individuals with vision loss!

Vision Awareness Month or Healthy Vision Month, focuses on making eye health a priority for people across the world. Vision impacts your everyday life and with early prevention, you can help avoid or delay vision loss. Healthy Vision Month is here to encourage you to take proactive steps to reduce risks…

Regular Eye Exams – Dilated eye exams can detect early signs of eye disease and conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices – To support overall eye health, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking will support overall eye health.

Eye Protection – Wearing UV-protective sunglasses helps reduce long term damage and lowers risks of cataracts, macular degeneration and eye cancers.

Safe Habits – When reading use proper lighting, avoid pro-longed screen exposure without breaks (Remember the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.) and use protective eye wear when needed.

Take charge of your vision by making eye health a priority through healthy habits, early detection and prevention.

For more information, please contact our Prevention of Blindness Specialist at 814-536-3531.

04/15/2026

Every year thousands of people suffer from sports-related eye injuries. An estimated 100,000 injuries occur annually in the U.S with about 13,500 resulting in permanent vision loss. Most of these injuries are preventable with the proper precautions and protective eyewear. Let’s emphasize this again, 13,500 people could have avoided losing vision by wearing protective eyewear.

Sports Eye Safety Month allows us to increase awareness about the importance of protective eyewear while playing sports or a recreational activity. We need to educate athletes, parents, and coaches about the risks of eye injuries in sports and work together to decrease the number of sports-related eye injuries.

Tips for Eye Safety in Sports:
1. Wear appropriate eyewear for your sport, including goggles, helmets with face shields, or poly-carbonate lenses.
2. Supervise children and young athletes to ensure they are using eye protection consistently.
3. Educate teammates and peers about the importance of eye safety.
4. Schedule eye exams during the month to check for any vision issues that could affect performance and safety.

Let’s participate in Sports Eye Safety Month not only to help prevent injuries, but also to promote a culture of safe and responsible sports participation for athletes of all ages.

For more information on ways to keep healthy vision contact your Prevention of Blindness Specialist at 814-536-3531.