Educational Center for Visually Impaired looks to open Decatur location

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - For people who are visually impaired, it can be hard to do everyday things that many take for granted.

The Educational Center for the Visually Impaired helps people who can't see very well - or at all - have confidence they can do everything they need to do.

Now, it wants to open a Decatur location to help more people.

"We teach them new skills like the white cane and how to use an iPhone when they can't see the screen," said Peggy Dyson, the Executive Director of the center. "We teach them how to do things, daily living skills. How to get transportation, how to order audio books from the Illinois State Library, how to do small things."

The center offers a wide range of classes from cooking to walking with a cane.

Jan Thielen took the cooking class and says now she has confidence in the kitchen again.

"I'm a professional chef," Thielen said. "When I started going blind, I couldn't feel confident in the kitchen anymore. Since [the class], I've cooked my family dinner once a week. Maybe not a full dinner, I usually have someone in the room with me, but I have confidence I can cook again."

You can book an appointment now with the office in Springfield off Hedley Road.

You can call at (217) 303-9062, or visit the website by clicking here.