VISIONS / Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Full Description: VISIONS is continuing its year long 85th anniversary celebration. On Sunday, August 7, 2011 at VISIONS Center on Blindness VCB we will honor VISIONS Board members Mannie Corman, Carol S. Desmond, Burton M. Strauss, Jr. and Harriette K. Strauss with a special anniversary Nancy T. Jones Humanitarian Award. Nancy T. Jones, VISIONS President, will be presenting the awards to Carol, our "Rising Star" and to Burton, Harriette and Mannie, our "Elder Statesmen. The VISIONS Leadership Award will be presented to PCC Angelo Purcigliotti, Lion Edward 'Skip' Meinhold and PDG Maybelle Twohie, three incredibly active Lions supporters. The Baldwin Lions club will receive the John Twohie Award. VISIONS staff Desiree Creary, Teddy Kern, Cathleen McGuire, Jose Mendez, Audrey Shading, Millie Senior and Roxsonne Simms will be honored for their long term service with the Nancy D. Miller Dedicated Service Award. We invite you to join us for this special day.

However, clouds still loom over the nonprofit world. We, along with many nonprofit colleagues, are confronting dwindling government support. This past year, the New York City Department for the Aging and Department of Youth and Community Development eliminated funding for intergenerational programs and after school programs that impact blind and visually impaired high school students. Both the City and State have eliminated categories of funding used for VISIONS outreach activities. Yet because of their importance, we have secured private dollars to continue these necessary services. Despite the reductions in funding, the demand for VISIONS services continues to grow. We are experiencing increased requests from families and caregivers of blind children, youth, adults and seniors. We added new weekends for strictly observant Orthodox Jewish families with blind children and added special children, family and youth sessions at VISIONS Center on Blindness VCB overnight residential programs. VISIONS caregiver program is meeting the special needs of caregivers of blind seniors and grandparents raising their grandchildren or great-grandchildren. VISIONS rehabilitation and workforce development staff have helped over 1000 consumers achieve individual success at home, in the community, and at the workplace. VISIONS at Selis Manor has added new classes with an expanded library, active radio station and savvy computer lab teaching staff. Blindlineis updating its operations to reach more blind people, family members and professionals with up-to-date information on resources in New York.

We continue to look for opportunities to expand center services for blind and visually impaired seniors and individuals with multiple disabilities as well as their families.
Address: 500 Greenwich Street, 3rd Floor
City: New York
State: NY

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