You may have seen Jim Bemiller at Common Grounds, usually drinking coffee with an interesting crowd.

But, he’s never seen you. He is blind. Jim invites Icon viewers to his world on Friday evening.

His invitation is to “Eye Can!” It’s from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 7, in the Rhodes State College, Lima, Science Building, Room 100.

The evening is a collaboration of three groups. One is the Starlight Club, Lima, a support group of visually impaired and blind persons sponsored by the Lions Club.

Other sponsors are Rhodes State College and the Toledo Sight Center.

The event hopes to enable people to see the world through the eyes of the blind and visually impaired, according to Bemiller, vice president of the Starlight Club. A past president of the club is another Bluffton resident, Jodi Owens.

The evening includes:
• Sighted guide training – learn to use navigation strategies designed to help sighted people work together with blind or visually impaired

• Escape Room – challenge your senses to complete tasks by experienced experts

• Technology showcase – learn about adaptive technology and resources for the blind and visually impaired communities

“During the evening I’m going to show my toys,” chuckles Bemiller. Those “toys” will be on display. He’ll tell you all about them and how they enable him to do every day tasks.

Those tasks include counting money, taking proper doses of medication, playing cards and even determining if his socks match.

Included in his toy box are a rainbow color identifier, medicine talking pill bottle, body talking thermometer, money identifier, digital recorder and slate and stylus. And those are just for starters.

He’ll also share a Perkins Braille Writer, Braille playing cards, a GPS and white cane. There are many more toys, and we’ll let him explain them to you.

Earlier this month Bemiller shared his toys and told his story to 95 Bluffton fourth graders at the Bluffton University Lion and Lamb Center.

Bemiller and his wife, Joan, moved to Bluffton from Mansfield in 2010, to be closer to their daughter, Jackie Bourassa. Joan died in 2013.

Bemiller has retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited condition that involves both eyes. His vision decreased as he became an adult. He stopped driving when he was 35 and at age 45 was completely blind. On April 26 he will celebrate his 80th birthday.

Interested in additional information about the Rhodes State College program? Call Bemiller at 419-358-0118.

“I’ll be an agent for anyone interested in more information,” he said. And, don’t forgot to introduce yourself the next time you see him in Common Grounds.

He’s a great conversationalist. He may tell you a little-known fact about the town where he grew up. Or, he’ll tell you about his Model A Ford that will soon have a new exhaust system installed.

If you’re lucky he’ll invite you to ride with him around town on his tandem bicycle.

Be prepared. He’ll amaze you.