NJ state park hosting free fair with food trucks to mark Blindness Awareness Month

Gene Myers, NorthJersey.com
Updated ·1 min read

New Jersey’s Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired will host an information and outreach fair next week in honor of World Blindness Awareness Month.

The Oct. 10 event will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Cheesequake State Park in Middlesex County and will cater to people with vision loss and their families and friends.

The fair — to be held at the Hooks Creek Lake Pavilion on Gordon Road in Matawan — will feature food trucks, information tables, and exhibits and activities for people of all ages.

Two students practice smartphone techniques during a class at the Vision Loss Alliance in Denville. New Jersey will hold an information and outreach fair on Oct. 10 in honor of World Blindness Awareness Month.
Two students practice smartphone techniques during a class at the Vision Loss Alliance in Denville. New Jersey will hold an information and outreach fair on Oct. 10 in honor of World Blindness Awareness Month.

Though the event is open to all, Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said she hopes seniors experiencing vision loss will attend, as a number of advocacy groups will be on hand.

"This free event plays a crucial role in empowering blind and visually impaired individuals by providing valuable information, resources, and connections that enhance quality of life and foster greater independence," Adelman said in a statement.

Representatives from several state agencies and advocacy groups, including the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, The Seeing Eye in Morristown DeafBlind Community Access Network of New Jersey and the SPAN Parents Advocacy Network, will be answering questions and giving out information.

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"Blindness Awareness Month is a time to recognize and support the crucial efforts being made throughout the state for the over 259,000 individuals living with blindness or severe vision loss,” said Bernice Davis, the commission’s executive director.

Email askCBVI@dhs.nj.gov or call (877) 685-8878 for more information.

(Correction: A prior version of this story included an incorrect date for the fair.)

Gene Myers covers disability and mental health for NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: myers@northjersey.com

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Cheesequake State Park in NJ to host free fair for Blindness Awareness