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Helping Others See And Heal
Out of a health challenge, a business is born.
Allan Nahajewski
Contributing Writer
there were so many helpful
products available," says Greg.
"It's like a hidden world, but once
hantal Jones remembers
you're exposed to it, it's easy to
receiving a Star of David
see how these products really
charm as a birthday pres-
can make a difference in people's
ent from her adoptive mother — a
lives:'
Christian woman.
For the vision impaired, avail-
"I was 12 or 13 at the time, and I
able products include talking
really didn't know why she got it for
watches, books, calendars, com-
me," she says. "Maybe she just thought
passes, scales, microwaves, ther-
it was a nice charm. I thought it was
mostats, pedometers and blood
pressure monitors; magnifying
nice, and I knew what it meant, but I
didn't think any more of it than that.
scissors, nail clippers and twee-
She passed in 1988. I never asked her
zers; reading machines, audio
about it'.'
labelers, low-vision calculators,
Chantal's life journey has been an
money identifiers, sewing prod-
uncommon one. She's biracial and was
ucts, video magnifiers, portable
born out of wedlock to a Jewish girl in
closed-circuit TVs and devices
1966. "My mother was young, times
designed to help a young person
Chantal Jones and a display of one
were different, and she didn't receive
study. Other devices help vision-
of the products available at Clear
a lot of support. It didn't set well with
impaired cooks prepare meals,
Vision and Sound
her family," she says. "She tried to
including oven guards, talking
keep me, but had to put me up for adoption:'
timers, extra large digital meat thermometers and a
At age 3, Chantal was adopted by an African American device that uses a bar-code reader to help select and
family. She grew in up in Detroit. She now lives in Troy
identify ingredients. Another item helps with reading
menus in dim restaurant lighting.
with her husband, Greg, and son Garrett, 19. Over the
years, Chantal and Greg ran a couple of businesses
"We have a device that will read your medicine bottle
together — a courier service and a dollar store.
for you," says Greg. "It will tell you the type of medica-
A few years ago, another life-changer emerged. Her
tion, what time to take it, how much you should take,
eyesight began to fade.
and when you need to reorder:'
"It came out of nowhere," she recalled. At first, I
Devices for the hearing impaired include special
thought I just needed a pair of reading glasses, but one
smoke alarms, telephone strobe flashers, bed shakers
thing led to another, and I ended up with an optometrist
that serve as alarm clocks and chair shakers that activate
who referred me to the University of Michigan for DNA
when the doorbell rings.
testing:'
The product line also includes diabetic alert necklaces
The tests revealed that she has Stargardt's Eye
and bracelets, special canes, walkers and wheelchairs.
Disease.
"Our mission is to provide information and products
"It's a genetic disorder," she said. "You're born with it,
to help people live independently," says Chantal. "We're
and typically by 15 or 16, you have extreme low vision,
dedicated to educating our customers and providing the
close to blindness. You still have some vision of light.
latest in assistive and adaptive living technology. We have
The odd thing about the disease is that it can show
products that help people of all ages:'
itself early, which it normally does, or it can show itself
Chantal and Greg are currently operating the business
in your early 40s."
from their home in Troy with some products warehoused
Chantal was in her early 40s when her eyesight got
in their basement. They are also looking into opening a
progressively worse before stabilizing.
800- to 1,000-square-foot storefront location, most likely
"It affects my central vision: , she says. "I can see all
in the Troy area.
around the sides, but I have a gray or blurry spot in the
The business is a big part of Chantal's reinvented life.
middle. I have to look off to the side to see you in detail.
Meanwhile, hopes for a cure for Stargardt's Eye Disease
Glasses won't fix it:'
recently have been raised.
Faced with a new set of challenges, Chantal began a
"Until about a year ago, there was not much hope for a
new journey of adapting to a life without clear vision.
cure, but with stem-cell research, they're starting to see a
She became involved with programs offered through the
reverse effect of it now in some people," she says.
Michigan Commission for the Blind, which has since
"There were a lot of study groups early on, and they
been renamed the Bureau of Services for Blind People.
did a lot of surgeries with it, and they're starting to see
"I met a lot of people in situations like mine," she
improvements:'
says. "I learned that there are many people who need
Chantal no longer has the Star of David charm that she
devices to help them and just don't know what is avail-
treasured. It disappeared during a move, but thanks to an
able or how to get them. I talked with my counselor
invitation from a close friend of her son, the family has
about this, and one thing led to the other, and my hus-
attended services at Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy. "A
band and I got into a new business:'
wonderful experience," she said.
In January of this year, Chantal and Greg launched
Ordern Clear Vision and Sound products through
Clear Vision and Sound, offering more than 2,500 prod- clearvisionandsound.com — or by phone at (248) 566-
ucts to help make life more manageable for people with
3700. Email: clearvisionandsound@yahoo.com. Most
impaired vision or hearing or other disabilities.
products can be shipped to customers' homes within a
"Until we starting looking into this, we had no idea
couple of days. Gift cards are also available.
C
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24 July 18 • 2013
Housing Recovery Continues
Based on single-family new home permit data compiled by the Home
Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan (HBA), 507 single-
family home permits were issued in Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair and
Wayne counties in May 2013, the first time that permits have exceeded
500 since August 2006.
Oakland County exceeded 200 permits for the first time in 2013
with 207 issued. This is only the second time since August 2006 that
more than 200 permits were issued in a single month in Oakland
County.
The HBA/ASA New Housing Permit Forecast projects a total of 2,866
permits will be issued in the six-month, June-to-November timeframe,
representing a 37 percent growth in permits compared to the same
6-month period in 2012.
Ronald McDonald House Gets Makeover
Larry Kraft, president and CEO of Serta Restokraft, and Steve Tracy,
president of Gardner White Furniture, teamed up to provide the
Ronald McDonald House in Detroit a makeover. Both companies, cel-
ebrating their 100th anniversaries, put their heads together and made
it happen at the Ronald House to the tune of $60,000.
Serta Restokraft donated mattresses and frames for all 25 bed-
rooms, while Gardner White Furniture provided an entire new living
room — leather sofas, chairs, ottomans and TV sets and six dressers
for bedrooms.
Matt McNamara of Great Lakes Internet & Consulting Inc.
brought in new computer laptops for the families to use and a
touch screen computer for the front lobby. Rick Tyner, president of
Stadium Floor Coverings, provided the flooring, installation and
labor for 10 bedrooms.
Jennifer Litomisky, executive director of the Ronald McDonald
House in Detroit, says she is walking on air.
"It was like an angel walked in the door and transformed our
house," said Litomisky. "We are so grateful for what Serta Restokraft,
Gardner White and the others have done for us. Our house looks
amazing! The dedication, determination and commitment to helping
secure our major wish list items goes way above and beyond anything
I can put in words. We appreciate all that they have done for us:'
The mission of the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit, minutes
away from Children's Hospital of Michigan, is to serve families of
sick children with a "home away from home:' A nominal daily fee
is charged for a guest room and use of common areas including a
kitchen, play and entertainment areas. No family is turned away due
to a lack of funds.
Gerald Cook Re-Elected To Lead
Jewish Historical Society
The board of directors of the Jewish Historical
Society of Michigan has re-elected Gerald S.
Cook to serve another term as president of the
organization that collects, shares and celebrates
Michigan's Jewish history.
Also elected to the board are Michael Kasky,
vice president; Harriet E Siden, vice president;
Michael (Mickey) Maddin, vice president; Jennifer
Boardman, vice president; Jules Goldman, trea-
Gerald Cook
surer; and Margery Jablin, secretary.
Chuck Domstein, Jacqui Elkus, Nicole Jahr, Susan Low, Alan
Nachman and Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz have joined the advisory
board.
Local Jewish Educators Choose
New Board Of Directors
At its recent principals' retreat, the Metro Detroit Board of Jewish
Educators elected its officers for 2013-2015: Arlene Keller, presi-
dent; Jodi Gross, vice president; Shelley Meltzer, treasurer; and
Rabbi Keren Alpert, secretary.
The Metro Detroit Board of Jewish Educators includes direc-
tors of supplemental religious schools. The MDBJE endeavors to
collaborate in educational programming, in professional develop-
ment for teachers and for educational leaders. The MDBJE meets
regularly to learn, to plan, to program and to work in tandem with
Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education.
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