[September 02, 2011] Health fair helps Virgin Islanders learn how to stay independent Tweet ST. CROIX, Sep 01, 2011 (The Virgin Islands Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A roomful of senior citizens and people with disabilities listened attentively Wednesday as Joe Cooler Jr. demonstrated what Imari, his service dog, has done to help make his life easier. Cooler, who has been blind for 12 years from macular degeneration, trained with Imari for 27 days at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York before he got to bring Imari home to Frederiksted. In November, he will have had the yellow Labrador retriever for two years -- a probationary period -- and then she will be his, he said. He wanted to let people with disabilities know the kinds of things service dogs can do, he said. "I hope they know this is something they can get if they want to do it," he said after his talk. Cooler said that Imari has helped him travel with more ease. "We travel a lot together," he said. He also talked to those at the fair about etiquette around a service dog. Cooler and Imari were just one of the things on the schedule at the Assistive Technology and Health Fair at the University of the Virgin Islands Great Hall on Wednesday. The V.I. Human Services Department Division of Senior Citizens Affairs and the UVI University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities sponsored the event. One of the division's goals is to help the elderly maintain their independence and autonomy as much as possible, said Murlene VanBeverhoudt, acting administrator for the Division of Senior Citizens Affairs. "We're trying to let people know that there are options that can help people stay in their homes," she said. "We also wanted to introduce them to the number and types of products and services that are available to enhance independence." Another big demonstration at the event involved using ooVoo, which allows free video chatting via the Internet. The demonstration showed seniors and caregivers how that application could help them maintain independence. "It's just another option -- an option to use technology for caregiving and care monitoring. We're teaching people that you may not have to be at home to monitor your loved one," VanBeverhoudt said. "And we're trying to make them comfortable with what technologies can do." The demonstration linked the room at the Great Hall on St. Croix with the Queen Louise Home for the Aged on St. Thomas. The fair also featured informational booths and a financial planning workshop, which included information on the low-interest loan program offered by the Virgin Islands Assistive Technology Foundation in partnership with Banco Popular, for purchasing assistive technology devices. Those attending could also get eye screenings, hearing screenings and even do wheelchair aerobics. While people were hesitant to join in the wheelchair aerobics at first, it caught on, said Sandra Ross, assistant director of the center. "We didn't get but two or three at the beginning," Ross said. "But by the end, we had everyone going." Ross said the event "went very well. We had a great turnout." - Contact Joy Blackburn at 774-8772 ext. 455 or e-mail [email protected]. ___ (c)2011 The Virgin Islands Daily News (St. Thomas, VIR) Visit The Virgin Islands Daily News (St. Thomas, VIR) at www.virginislandsdailynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]