History

Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, formerly Vision Enrichment Services was founded in 1913 as the Association for the Blind and for Sight Conservation. The agency was incorporated in 1921. The purposes of the agency are three-fold:

In order to appreciate and understandthe Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, one must first knowand understand Roberta A. Griffith, the founder. On October 23, 1913, withthe assistance of 18 women volunteer workers, Roberta Griffith organizedthe Grand Rapids Association for the Blind and Sight Conservation. Blindherself from an early childhood illness, Miss Griffith dedicated her lifeto the amelioration of the handicaps of others similarly stricken. She wasa leader in national and state organizations for aid to the blind andduring the more than 40 years she lived in Grand Rapids, she was the guide,counselor, and friend of virtually every blind person in the state.

Miss Griffith, born in Pennsylvania, butraised in Bay City, became a pupil at the Michigan School for the Blind inLansing at the age of twelve. Later she completed high school at the OhioSchool for the Blind in Columbus. She was awarded a scholarship to WesternReserve University in Cleveland where she graduated as the first blindwoman to receive a degree from an institution not intended for theeducation of the sightless. During her college career she paid her own wayby teaching the piano to sighted pupils.

Later, when she moved to Grand Rapids,Miss Griffith drafted plans for her own home (which she shared with hermother) making the lines with raised dots. So perfect was her conception ofthe building that the architect followed them without a change. One of hermajor accomplishments was the painstaking process of compiling a dictionaryfor the blind in six volumes, the first work of its kind. Miss Griffith'sliterary efforts were also made effective in publicizing all needs for thesightless. She was even one of the organizers of the American Foundationfor the Blind.

As an example of her contributions toprevention of blindness, she encouraged the use of ocular prophylactics fornewly born infants to prevent complications which might cause blindness.Legislation originally sponsored by Miss Griffith, made the use of ocularprophylactics compulsory. She was also vigilant in promoting itsenforcement.

To read more about Roberta Griffith's accomplishments, click here.

Highlights throughout the history ofthe Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired include, but are notlimited to the following:

Established first classrooms in thenation to integrate sighted and non-sighted children together.

Public Health Education Institute -organizing, training, a supervising vision screening volunteers -- Visionscreening was done in all of the county and city schools as well as nurseryschools. The Association was so effective in the area of pre-school visionscreening that it received a national award from the National Society forthe Prevention of Blindness.

The first occupational therapy programwas established to replace the Home Teacher Program. A nursery schoolprogram for pre-school blind children was established and conducted at theagency.

In the late 60's employed the firstOrientation and Mobility Specialist and Rehabilitation Teacher with MastersDegrees.

Low Vision Clinic was started with seedmoney from the Michigan Commission for the Blind.

Agency formed In Touch Volunteer BrailleTranscribers, a volunteeer group providing braille materials to the blind community.

The In Touch Volunteers merged withVolunteer Braille Services. Acquired a braille embosser, a KurzweilPersonal Reader and began updating the Low Vision Clinic with high-techtrial equipment including a CCTV.

A community wide contest was held tofind a new name for the agency. Out of 1200 entries, Vision EnrichmentServices was selected the winner.

A satellite Low Vision Clinic was openedin Muskegon and currently operates approximately two to three times permonth.

Roberta Griffith, founder of the agency,was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.

The Community Outreach Program wasestablished to target minority clients for service.

A capital campaign was conducted forremodeling of the facility at 215 Sheldon, S.E. and for purchase ofup-to-date technology in the Low Vision Technology and Media Technologyrooms. Equipment purchased included Closed Circuit TV's, reading lamps andstands, computers with large print and speech software, braille embosser,auditory reading machines, and a NOMAD audio-tactile pad to allow the blindto study tactual graphics.

Staff and Board Members

Staff

Richard A. Stevens, Executive Director, rstevens@abvimichigan.org
George Kremer, Director of Rehabilitation Services, gkremer@abvimichigan.org
Ron Zoet, Development,  rzoet@abvimichigan.org
Ron Hoekstra, Accountant, ronhoeks@abvimichigan.org
Joy Wahby, Office Administrator, abviadmn@abvimichigan.org
Karolina Smiley, Certified Rehabilitation Therapist, ksmiley@abvimichigan.org
Linda Haven, Certified Rehabilitation Therapist, lhaven@abvimichigan.org
Kathy Konow, Certified Rehabilitation Therapist, konowk@abvimichigan.org
John McElheron, Social Worker, jmclhron@abvimichigan.org
Michelle Cameron, Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist, mcameron@abvimichigan.org
Amy Schreiner, Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist, aschrnr@abvimichigan.org
Joanna Butler, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, jbutler@abvimichigan.org
Charis Austin, Client Advocate, caaustin@abvimichigan.org
Judy Hollinquest, Support Services Coordinator, jhollinquest@abvimichigan.org
Rosemary Ramos, Community Outreach Coordinator, rramos@abvimichigan.org

Board of Trustees

Gary Anderson, O.D., Chair
Kim Coleman, Vice Chair
William Young, Treasurer
Jim Bonnema, Immediate Past Chair
Joy Wahby, Secretary
Richard Stevens, Executive Director
Carol Farnsworth
Sharon Inman
Joyce Jones-Davis
Glenn Morris
Gregory Patera, O.D.
Rod Prys
Karl J. Siebert, M.D.
Martin Simescu, CPA
Rev. James VanderLaan
William Zahrt