Over 80,000 Los Angeles County residents who are blind and visually impaired may lack access to the great outdoors; and miss experiencing the immense beauty of our local mountains, parks and coastal areas. A recently completed capacity-building project by LACDMH’s ARISE Division’s Access for All Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCC) set out to create safe opportunities and increase the blind and visually impaired community’s access to healthy recreation and mental wellness resources in Los Angeles County.
The highly successful capacity-building project, Expanding Mental Wellness Opportunities for People Who Are Blind and Low-Vision, filled an unmet need. The project’s awarded contractor, Hearts for Sight Foundation, is led and staffed by people with lived experience. This nonprofit organization’s mission is “to break down barriers to health and fitness that restrict the blind and visually impaired, so that they may pursue physical, mental, and emotional wellness.” Well-attended programs offer nutrition counseling, adaptive fitness, individual and group mental health services, and community engagement.
Many blind and visually impaired individuals experience social isolation and daily economic challenges, and depression and anxiety is common in this community. Hearts for Sight sought to reduce these barriers and increase opportunities for wellness. The organization provided transportation and support for nearly 50 participants to participate in a series of guided hikes, nature socials, picnic lunches, games, writing exercises, and discussions. Hearts for Sight staff rooted motivational discussions in Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, where the five levels were explored: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Participants reflected upon their behavior and prioritized areas for personal growth. Mental wellness discussions offered participants support and encouragement to make connections with each other and engage fully in the outdoors experiences together.
One participant shared the following powerful testimony:
I have been a Hearts for Sight participant for about four years, but mostly kept to myself, as I am quite introverted. Since joining the Hearts for Sight-LACDMH program, I have felt compelled to not only show up but to open up and share my perspectives and struggles. This has been not only therapeutic for me but energizing and refreshing since events are held in a peaceful, natural setting outdoors. As someone with much anxiety and other mental health issues, I feel at ease and welcomed at these events as staff and volunteers ensure our safety and comfort. The support and encouragement I receive from such events provides me the needed strength to seek a fuller, active lifestyle. I am truly grateful to Hearts for Sight and LACDMH for promoting a space to engage in discussions to promote a healthy mind despite our physical challenges.
This transformational project strengthened the capacity of Hearts for Sight to advance its mission. The organization is currently planning a series of activities focusing on the arts and mental health in the blind and visually impaired community. Visit heartsforsightfoundation.org. For more information on the Access for All UsCC, please visit: dmh.lacounty.gov/about/mhsa/uscc/access-for-all-uscc.
Submitted by ARISE Division.
