Agencies serving the blind and visually impaired
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The Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired is a private, nonprofit agency. Its mission is to promote the dignity and empowerment of the people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. WCBVI is funded through an annual drive, private grants and bequests.
Incorporated under laws of the State of Wisconsin in October 1952, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind (now known as The Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired) is comprised of 17 delegates who are appointed by the Board of Directors. All Directors are either blind or visually impaired or someone who has direct and real life connection with people who are blind or visually impaired. The Council is a strong voice for people who are blind or visually impaired in Wisconsin, representing their interests to the legislature. Many laws benefiting blind persons exist because the Council promoted their passage. Values StatementInclusivity, uncompromising respect and integrity are the core values that guide the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired in fulfilling our mission and vision in serving the greater blind and visually impaired community state-wide, while fostering long-term relationships with our partners, sister organizations, donors, policy-makers and the general public. Our values also guide the development of our goals, policies and procedures as well as influence our relationships between and among our Board of Directors and Staff. Inclusivity – As people who are blind or visually impaired, we understand the experiences of being in a minority group and at times facing adversity or discrimination. Therefore, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired affirms our commitment to actively seek and welcome diverse people, experiences and perspectives and to foster inclusivity. We affirm that practicing inclusivity creates opportunities for greater innovation, sustainability and mission-focused, responsive and person-centered programs and services. Uncompromising Respect – We affirm the dignity and worth of all individuals and groups in how we treat each other, even in times of disagreement and conflict. We acknowledge and affirm all people traveling with us on this life journey of blindness or visual impairment, including those facing rapidly changing vision. We further recognize that each individual and family must take their own path on this journey in an atmosphere of genuine support and compassion, allowing for constructive feedback, growth-centered risk-taking and creativity. Integrity – We affirm our unfailing integrity in all individual and organizational actions in stewardship of the Council’s precious human, financial and capital resources. Our goal is to say what we do and do what we say, both within the organization and outside of it, which we exemplify by the highest standards of ethics, honesty and trustworthiness as we live our mission. Our latest Annual Report is available at this link.
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The American Council of the Blind strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people by: serving as a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people.
American Council of the Blind 1155 15th St. N. W., Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 http://www.acb.org/ Our MissionThe mission of the American Foundation for the Blind is to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired. We mobilize leaders, advance understanding, and champion impactful policies and practices using research and data.
MissionAt Dreamscape Foundation, we know millions of Americans – and many more across the globe – are affected by disabilities. The people who fall into this number are all around us. They share our schools and our workplaces. They interact with the same physical and online environments we have grown dependent upon. Yet their lives are filled with unseen challenges. In silence, they wrestle with the tools, technology, and environments so often designed with people without disabilities in mind. The struggle is right in front of us, yet too often our eyes miss it. We know living with a disability can negatively impact one’s chances of success in education and employment. Yet Dreamscape Foundation, we believe we have the power to do something about it. Knowing is not enough. While nothing can prepare anyone for an unanticipated disability, there is one thing we can do, and that offers hope. We take action to help individuals with disabilities adapt to today’s world in a way that allows them to thrive. How Dreamscape Foundation Fulfills that Mission Dreamscape Foundation provides accommodations for individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of education and life-fulfilling work. Our objective is to aid the small population of people affected by sensory impairments to help them achieve success in life. We also contribute funds toward the effort to find a cure for visual impairments and encourage the community to embrace the use of accessible technology to ensure independence. With your help, we can make our communities more accessible. Our dreams reflect the dreams of so many disabled individuals, and our efforts thus far are just the beginning. Understanding Our GoalsOne out of every five Americans lives with a disability. The Dreamscape Foundation is actively working to ensure that anyone who lives with this struggle is provided with the tools and resources needed to meet their educational, employment, and independent living goals. We use the legal framework of the Americans with Disabilities Act to build the scope of our work while diving more deeply into achieving the following goals. 1.We fight to restore independence in the lives of those impacted by disabilities and diseases. We also work to ensure their schools and workplaces are accessible. Our team achieves this by working with companies who develop assistive technology and other resources to help those living with a disability meet their goals in these areas. 2 We strive to provide knowledge and resources for those with sensory impairments, as well as educate the communities they live in so they can better understand the value of accessible technology. We work to find up-to-date information and disseminate it to the public to ensure they are aware of what they can do to incorporate assistive technology into their own businesses, educational institutions, and other areas. 3. We find resources to fund research for rare impairments, disabilities, and diseases. We look for grants, private donors, and other sources to build the resources needed to fund these efforts. Together we can work towards cures to make a difference in the disabled community. Foundation Fighting Blindness: The mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Inc. is to drive research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.
American Council of the Blind (ACB): The American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all blind and visually-impaired people. The ACB was founded in 1961 but many of its state affiliates and local chapters have a history that can be traced back to the 1880s.
NLS is a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS offers books the way you want them: in braille or audio, mailed to your door for free or instantly downloadable.
NLS works to ensure that all may read by providing eligible patrons access to reading material regardless of age, economic circumstances, or technical expertise. Share the gift of reading, and spread the word about NLS so that all may read. https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/find-a-local-library/ |
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