• Main Page
• Programs
• Community Outreach
• Aids and Appliances
• Funding and Donations

• FAQ
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Causes of Blindness
• Resources
• About Us

Programs

Low Vision Clinic
Low vision specialists prescribe magnifiers and telescopic devices to people who can no longer be helped surgically or with routine lenses. In home training is provided.

Counseling
Visual impairment is a disability that affects not only the individual, but entire families and social networks. Often, visually impaired people feel isolated and dependent, and loved ones may need help understanding their feelings of loss. Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired staff members help people express feelings, adjust to vision loss and make plans for the future. They also educate family members and help them take maximum advantage of community resources for the visually impaired. And if in-depth counseling is required, ABVI makes appropriate referrals to other agencies.

Peer Support Groups
Support groups help individuals share feelings and information, make new friends and build self-confidence. The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides a comfortable setting where groups of visually impaired people grow stronger together, and where family members and friends learn to provide more appropriate support.

Orientation and Mobility
The agency mobility instructor teaches individuals how to travel independently and safely in their homes, work places, neighborhoods, and communities.

Prevention Education
Community education on eye disease, eye safety, and prevention methods and glaucoma screenings are provided in schools, senior centers, at health fairs, and other public places. Underserved populations with a high incidence of eye disease are targeted in prevention efforts.

Daily Living Skills
In home training is provided in personal and home management, leisure activities, communications and other daily living skills which promote independence.

Volunteer Opportunities
ABVI has the right opportunity for you! Help a blind or visually impaired person read or shop. Or, assist with glaucoma screenings, special events, office work, or leisure time activities.

Aids and Appliance Store
ABVI offers a convenient way to purchase adaptive aids and appliances at the agency for people who are blind and visually impaired.

Leisure Time Activities
Recreational opportunities, discussion groups, and other leisure time activities are available to individuals throughout the year.

Braille Transcribing
Does your restaurant need its menu brailled? Does your church need hymns or scripture brailled? Would you like to send a birthday or greeting card to a blind or visually impaired friend or relative? Have ABVI meet your braille transcribing needs.

Advocacy
We advocate to change those attitudes and practices in our communities which limit opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired.

---

Low Vision Clinic

The term "low vision" refers to loss of vision which cannot be corrected by medical or surgical procedures. Although medication and/or surgery may help, damage to parts of the eye may cause visual loss resulting in low vision. Conventional eyeglasses do not help. Low vision is determined by acuity, the amount of detail an individual sees or by visual field, the size of area an individual can see. Approximately 88% of people classified as legally blind have some useful vision, but have low vision.

The purpose of the Low Vision Clinic at ABVI is to help people carry out every day tasks made difficult or impossible by low vision. The optical aids used are not like regular eye glasses. Each device is used for a special purpose. Most low vision aids are reading glasses, magnifiers on a fixed stand, hand-held magnifiers, and pocket magnifiers.

Low Vision Services include: Screening to obtain background information, examination by a certified low vision optometrist, prescription or optical devices, recommendations regarding non-optical devices, and in-home follow-up.

---

Peer Support Groups

Location and Meetings:

"The purpose of support groups is to provide education, encouragement and emotional support for adults
who are experiencing vision decline or loss of sight."

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

 

Copyright © 2008 Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Privacy/HIPPA Notice