Irene Takahashi

Beyond Blindness

Beyond Blindness, formerly Blind Children's Learning Center, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to empower children with visual impairments and other disabilities to achieve their fullest potential. Areas of service include Early Intervention, Education + Enrichment, and Family Support (outlined below), which help children, no matter their abilities, live full and rewarding lives. The Beyond Blindness team embraces a people-first approach and values family, connection, impact, inclusion, stewardship, and optimism. Early Intervention Early Intervention services provide comprehensive support and resources to children ages 0 to 3 to overcome early obstacles, meet key milestones, and establish a foundation for each child to reach their fullest potential. Home-based and center-based services offer vision stimulation and therapy services that help to minimize developmental delays and optimize growth towards an independent future while toddler classrooms, located onsite, focus on healthy development and school readiness. Education + Enrichment Through Beyond Blindness' Education + Enrichment services, students receive itinerant (within their public school classroom) education support with a dedicated Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), Orientation & Mobility training (O&M), and the opportunity to attend fun and valuable summer camps. Additional Education + Enrichment services include assistive technology training, peer groups, expanded core curriculum, and life-skills development. Family Support Our Family Support services enable Beyond Blindness to be a resource for families of children with visual impairments and other disabilities throughout the child's entire journey of care. These services not only offer necessary and comforting support to parents, grandparents, siblings, children and more in the form of education, training and inclusive family events, but they also help provide guidance, a sense of community, and more.