Recent Development

Vision Impaired Persons Support (VIPS) became a Vendor of the CA Dept. of Rehabilitation (DOR) in August 2009. This was the result of the VIPS Board of Directors' and Mauricio Molina's dedicated leadership and creative vision about how VIPS would best respond to the needs of the visually impaired individuals in our community in the months and years to come. Mauricio was the only staff member at VIPS at that time. As a "Vendor" VIPS began receiving payment for services for the Clients referred to VIPS by DOR.

To meet VIPS' growing program and services demands, the VIPS Board determined that additional staff would need to be added. Beginning January 4, 2010, Roxann Keys, Independent Living Skills Specialist and Braille Instruction Program Manager: and Jon Brooks, Program Services Director, were brought on-board as part-time employees.

Photograph of Mauricio Molina

Mauricio Molina

MauricioMolina@comcast.net

I am the Assistive Technology Training Program Director at VIPS. My particular eye condition is Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). My RP is atypical in that my central vision was affected first, while my peripheral vision is only now becoming poor.

I have been using Assistive Technology since the year 2000 and have been providing instruction since 2003. As anyone who knows me can attest, teaching assistive technology is one of my passions. I am a proud graduate of Modesto Junior College and CSU, Stanislaus (BA, History). While at these institutions of higher learning, I worked for their respective disabled services departments assisting others with visual disabilities. I have also worked for the State of California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) as an Individual Service Provider (ISP) as well as volunteering for a time at the Stanislaus County Library (Modesto Branch) teaching the use of screen readers. I have been employed at VIPS since 2006.

Photograph of Roxann Keys

Roxann Keys

modesto.vips@gmail.com

I am the Independent Living Skills Specialist and Braille Instruction Program Manager at VIPS. I have been blind since birth due to congenital cataracts. After several surgeries to remove them, my eyes hemorrhaged, and my optic nerves were damaged.

I attended Modesto Jr. College graduating with an AA degree. I then attended CSU, Stanislaus graduating with a BA in Sociology (Minor, Psychology). I worked at the Modesto Bee for 13 years in sales and collections. I was an Individual Service Provider (ISP), for the CA Dept. of Rehabilitation (DOR), for a total of 4 years providing Independent Living Skills training and Braille instruction. I came on board at VIPS on January 4, 2010. I have been married for 33 years; have 2 adult, married children; and, 2 grandchildren (with 1 on the way!). I have a guide dog from Guide dogs for the Blind (GDB). Her name is Magda. She is a yellow lab and is 8 years old.

Photograph of Jon Brooks

Jon Brooks

VisionImpaired@comcast.net to make a business appointment or schedule a VIPS presentation.

I am the Program Services Director at VIPS. My initial duties are to provide general administrative leadership to the VIPS office and to: Update/re-design the VIPS Website; Develop a PowerPoint presentation promoting VIPS services and providing information to the community about how VIPS is meeting the needs of the visually impaired in our area; and, Gain knowledge and expertise in Grant-Writing and writing Grants as a means of supporting the mission of VIPS.

I have attended day-long courses at the Foundation Center, San Francisco, and have participated in on-line "Webinars" presented by Foundation Center in Washington D.C. and Ney York City, to enhance my skill in Grant writing.

I worked as a Case-Manager/Advocate for children and adults with developmental disabilities for 28 years. I have Best's Disease, a rare, congenital condition that primarily affects my central vision--making it very difficult to read and process information without adaptive equipment. This resulted in an early disability retirement in 2008.

I became a Client of the CA Dept. of Rehabilitation in 2009. With Adaptive Equipment--and the training I received at VIPS in 2009--I was able to get back in to the workforce. I have been working at VIPS, part-time, since January 4, 2010. I have a BA in English (Minor, Philosophy) from CSU, Northridge (1977). I plan to start a Master of Public Administration degree in the Fall of 2010. I have been married for 37 years; have 3 adult, married children; and, 3 grandsons.