Laura Dulay

Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

How would you read this description if you had limited or no vision? The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) helps individuals with severe vision loss live independently and with dignity in a visually oriented world. ABVI works to improve the ability of people who are blind or visually impaired to function independently in their living environment and community. Independence includes the abilitiy to perform activities of daily living and activities that are incidental to daily living. These activities may include personal care and hygiene, reading, safe travel, cooking, managing a household, participating in recreational activites and other daily activities that we who are sighted take for granted. The program also provides our clients an opportunity to retain self-esteem, dignity and control – elements that are essential to the quality of all our lives. We offer a multipart program to achieve these goals. They include: Assessment of client functional vision; Eye exam by our optometrists who are certified low vision specialists; Prescribing low vision aids and initial training in their use; In-home follow-up by masters level blindness rehabilitation staff to assess safety, lighting and convenience and to reinforce learning use of low vision aids; Rehabilitation teaching of other skills as determined by clients and staff; Peer support groups; and Individual counseling to deal with grief and loss.