Looking Ahead to Our Final Seminars of the Year

By Creanna Gallegos, for the Sandy Standard

The Hull Foundation & Learning Center is preparing to host our final three seminars of 2026 — programs designed not only to teach necessary living skills, but to build confidence and strengthen independence for people living with sight loss. With generous grants that support helping reduce costs, these seminars are more accessible than ever.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 12 million adults in the United States are living with some form of vision impairment. Studies consistently show that people with sight loss experience higher rates of social isolation, reduced confidence in daily tasks, and barriers to employment and community participation. Yet skill-building programs, peer support, and adaptive training can significantly increase independence, safety, and emotional well-being. These outcomes are exactly what our seminars are designed to deliver.

Our upcoming Daily Living Sight Loss Seminar held July 7–10, focuses on the essential skills that support independence at home and in the community. Thanks to a generous grant from St. James Lutheran Church, we can offer this seminar at a newly reduced cost, opening the door for more participants to attend. Over four days, guests will explore orientation and mobility strategies, learn from a mental health organization, practice wardrobe and daily living techniques, and gain tools for navigating social situations with confidence. Many participants report feeling more capable and more prepared after attending a seminar.  

Later in the fall, our Cooking Sight Loss Seminar invites participants into the kitchen to build adaptive cooking skills in a supportive, hands-on environment. Supported by a grant from 100+ Who Care, this seminar has a touch of creativity mixed in with practical skill-building, like helping guests learn safe cutting techniques, meal planning strategies, and how to use accessible tools and gadgets. For many, cooking is one of the most intimidating areas of daily life after vision loss. By the end of the seminar, participants can expect to feel not only safer in the kitchen, but excited to cook again — a powerful step toward independence.

Our final seminar of the year is our Arts & Hobbies Seminar, held November 17–20 and also supported by 100+ Who Care. This seminar celebrates creativity, exploration, and tactile expression, offering guests the chance to try a variety of art forms and hobbies from around the world. Creative engagement has been shown to reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, and strengthen social connection — all essential components of thriving with sight loss. Participants leave with new skills, new friendships, and a renewed sense of personal expression.

As we look toward these final seminars of the year, we are reminded of why this work matters. Each program offers more than instruction — it offers the tools needed to navigate life with greater independence and confidence. We encourage anyone interested to register early, as space is limited.  All you have to do is email oralhull@gmail.com or call our office at (503) 668-6195

Creanna Gallegos