About Us
We are committed, passionate, professionals determined to make a difference.
The Care 2 Care Team provides a listening ear and professional guidance that helps ophthalmic patients choose resources and programs to adjust to blindness/low vision. Care 2 Care receives referrals directly from the ophthalmologists.
Our Story
Care 2 Care was established in 2023 by a group of motivated volunteers who wanted to reduce barriers to care for individuals with severe visual impairment and blindness. To do this we have focused on building a bridge between the medical community the vision rehabilitation community and patients who are experiencing severe vision loss.
Our navigation team consists of individuals with extensive experience with vision rehabilitation space including vision rehabilitation therapists, social workers and ophthalmologists.
Meet The Team
Charlene Gordon
M.A., Vision Rehabilitation Specialist
Director of Care 2 Care Vision Services
“As one of the cofounders and the director of Care 2 Care, my goal is to ensure that this service becomes a permanent part of blind rehabilitation. Care 2 Care supports the patient early in their experience of sight loss by providing supportive counseling and information. Some people call us the triage of blind rehabilitation.
We have an amazing team that continuously looks for ways to build bridges between the medical community and the rehabilitation community. My 30 years of work in blind rehabilitation tells me that Care 2 Care is the place to commit my time and skills and the right corporation to support.”
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Mathew Trese
D.O., M.A.
Matthew Trese, D.O., M.A. is a pediatric and adult retina specialist who practices in Royal Oak, Michigan.
In this capacity he cares for patients with complex vitreoretinal diseases. All too often he hears form visually impaired/blind patients that a previous doctor said “there was nothing more that can be done.” Dr. Trese feels that this is almost never the case. In fact, he firmly believes that high quality eye care requires a multifaceted approach including exceptional medical/surgical care, cure-driven translational research, advocacy both at the legislative and patient level and when necessary, engagement with vision rehabilitation services. With that in mind, he along with other members of the Board, helped to develop Care 2 Care, an organization which acts as a conduit between eye care professionals and vision rehabilitation services. By providing this virtual connection, severely visually impaired/blind individuals can be connected to vision rehabilitation services and are able to learn the skills necessary to achieve their own personal goals allowing for greater independence and a more fulfilling life.
Roberta McCall
CVRT
Roberta McCall is a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist who retired from the Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons. She began with Care 2 Care in early 2023.
Throughout her entire career, Roberta witnessed countless individuals who lamented that they wished their medical professional had told them about Care 2 Care Vision Services. Care 2 Care's mission addresses this issue by acting as a liaison between patients and the medical community in order to guide patients toward success in their independence and rehabilitation journey.
Michelle Visscher
VRT, VRC
Michelle has a double Masters in Vocational Rehabilitation Teaching and Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Western Michigan University.
Michelle is one of the co-founders of Care 2 Care Vision Services. She has over 30 years of experience working with people who are blind/visually impaired. Michelle was one of the vision rehabilitation specialists who helped to shape the services provided through the Older Blind Program at the SOM. She also worked as a vocational counselor in placing people in employment.
Michelle has a passion for Care 2 Care because it closes the gap in services for people and they are no longer have to be sent home without support.
Sharon Lotoczky
MSW
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“Working with Care2Care has given me the opportunity to assist Ophthalmologists in their efforts to help their patients with recent legal blindness. Patients and loved ones are at the beginning of a life changing journey with many questions and concerns. By helping patients sort through their options while offering support and information can lead to a confident productive life despite their vision loss. Working with other staff members who are also in the blind community helps all of us to maintain our skills while interacting with vision rehabilitation resources here in Michigan and nationwide.”
Annette Langell
B.A., Social Work, Certified Life Coach
“I have a heart for service and a deep commitment to community care, so I bring compassion, energy, and dedication to my role at Care 2 Care. As a volunteer, I support individuals and families with empathy and respect as I provide resources for vision services in their community.
My background includes years of community involvement working in the fields of substance abuse, emotional adjustment to blindness, and community mental health.
I am especially passionate about bridging gaps in care and offering a listening ear to those in need. Whether assisting with outreach, organizing resources, or simply showing up with kindness I, believe that small acts of sincere and genuine connection can be a catalyst for positive change. I have Stargardt disease of the retina, so I can draw from both personal and professional experience as I connect with the patients at Care 2 Care. I am proud to be part of the Care 2 Care mission and continue to advocate for dignity, connection, and hope in every interaction.”
Lydia Olayinka
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“Life after vision loss is not only something that I am passionate about, but also a lived experience. Understanding the importance of support and resources, and the complexity of navigating them, has been ingrained in me on both a very personal and professional level. After the sudden and rapid loss of my vision at 23, without any available medical solution, I had the all-too-common experience of many visually impaired individuals who find themselves struggling with how to pick up the pieces and figure it out along the way. However, with support, I was able to access resources, acquire skills, and pursue my education in social work. Coping, adapting, advocating, striving, and thriving are all words that come to mind for me regarding living life after vision loss. I know firsthand how essential bridging the gap from medical diagnosis to support services and equitable access is for someone like myself, which is why I gain so much joy working with Care 2 Care alongside others on their journey after vision loss.”