{"id":9428,"date":"2026-02-27T13:48:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T19:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9428"},"modified":"2026-02-28T07:01:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T13:01:24","slug":"more-than-a-diagnosis-seeing-hope-with-dr-sulman-alibhai-the-prevention-of-blindness-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9428","title":{"rendered":"More Than a Diagnosis: Seeing Hope with Dr. Suleiman Alibhai &amp; the Prevention of Blindness Society"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5847\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9428-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/PreventionOfBlindness2026.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/PreventionOfBlindness2026.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/PreventionOfBlindness2026.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Podcast Summary:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this episode, Jeff travels to the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington to meet CEO Caren Forsten and Dr. Suleiman Alibhai, the organization\u2019s low vision clinical director\u2014and the conversation leaves him feeling something that can be hard to come by after years of appointments: real hope. Dr. Alibhai isn\u2019t focused only on charts, drops, or procedures. He starts with the person\u2014what daily life feels like right now, what has become harder, what\u2019s been lost, and where someone is emotionally before anyone starts talking about solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Caren shares how POB\u2019s \u201cSeeing Hope\u201d programs wrap support around that medical care: local and virtual support groups, tech talks, town halls, and resource centers where people can explore tools and strategies alongside staff who bring lived experience to the table. Together, they frame low vision as a continuum, not a label\u2014and rehabilitation as a steady, human process made up of small, practical wins, encouragement, and the kind of family support that empowers instead of takes over. What comes through most is simple but powerful: you\u2019re not alone, and you\u2019re not done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Links and contact info:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prevention of Blindness Society web site &#8211;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youreyes.org\/\">YourEyes.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Give them a call at 202-234-1010<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?page_id=9425\">Full Transcript<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks for listening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5849\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9428-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/PreventionOfBlindness2026.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/PreventionOfBlindness2026.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/PreventionOfBlindness2026.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p>https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/PreventionOfBlindness2026.mp3 Podcast Summary: In this episode, Jeff travels to the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington to meet CEO Caren Forsten and Dr. Suleiman Alibhai, the organization\u2019s low vision clinical director\u2014and the conversation leaves him feeling something that can be hard to come by after years of appointments: real hope. Dr. Alibhai isn\u2019t focused [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"audio","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17,494],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-audio","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bapresents","category-personalcare","post_format-post-format-audio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-2s4","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2523,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=2523","url_meta":{"origin":9428,"position":0},"title":"Blog Post: Learn How to Use the Blind-Friendly Prodigy Voice Blood Glucose Meter","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"April 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Blind Diabetes Independence Day A 30-minute (plus Q&A) training workshop on how to use the blind-friendly Prodigy Voice Blood Glucose Meter. Blind diabetics, blindness social workers, CDEs, and those who cannot be there in person may join the meeting via conference call by dialing 641-715-0861 and entering the pin number\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5134,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=5134","url_meta":{"origin":9428,"position":1},"title":"Gratitude and Friendship \u2013 Overcoming Anything in Life: Meet Daria Zawadzki, facilitator of Tele-Support Groups for Blind and Visually Impaired Teens and So Much More!","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"June 17, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Show Summary: Blind Abilities Teen correspondent Simon Bonenfant sat down with Daria Zawadzki during his recent visit to New York City. Daria works for the\u00a0Lighthouse Guildand facilitates Tele-Support Groups for Blind and Visually Impaired teens and parents of teens as well. And you can find out more about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2262,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=2262","url_meta":{"origin":9428,"position":2},"title":"Blue Collar Blind: Not Necessarily About Blindness &#8211; The V8 Engine","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"November 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Blue Collar Blind: Not Necessarily About Blindness derives from talking to so many people who met the challenges of blindness and forged forward. 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