ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND IN...

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The Association for the Blind was organized in 1936 and chartered in 1937, making this the year we are celebrating 75 years of serving and supporting people with visual needs in the Lowcountry. In the last ten years the Association has evolved from serving as a social
outlet for the visually impaired to providing a panoply of services such as low
vision rehabilitation and prevention of blindness programs.
 

Ten years ago the Association initiated its Living Well with Partial Vision program to help individuals, mostly seniors, with severe vision loss live safely and independently in their own environments. More than 1,300 persons with vision loss from macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, accidents and strokes have received in-home low vision rehabilitation provided by occupational therapists trained in low vision.

In 2006 the Association in collaboration with the SC Commission for the Blind began offering computer training to blind and low vision clients. More than 60 persons have graduated from the course having demonstrated the ability to type 10 words per minute, send and receive email, and search the Internet using either JAWS or ZoomText assistive software. Graduates are presented rebuilt computers with the needed software program installed by the SCCB.
 

In 2009 the Association developed ReFocus, a program for delivering eye care in free medical clinics for the medically indigent who would not otherwise be receiving vision care. Licensed optometrists and opticians perform dilated eye exams in clinics of 27 clients. This program is expanding to 30 clinics in the Lowcountry in the next twelve months.

In the fall of 2010 ReFocus on Children was piloted in 7 Neighborhood of Promise schools in the Charleston County School District. Vision screenings were offered to 270 four year olds in Child Development classes in these inner city schools utilizing the Plusoptix state-of-the-art Pedia Vision® automated vision screener. Output from the machine provides pass/refer data, and 26% of the children were referred to an on-site licensed optometrist for a dilated eye exam. Of those 16% received glasses. This fall, we expanded our program and have screened over 1,100 students in Charleston, Berkley and Dorchester counties.

Ongoing services offered by the Association for the Blind include Guide Dog assistance through a bequest which covers grooming and veterinary costs for guide dog users in the Tri-county who apply. Recreational opportunities are offered to our visually impaired members through Spoleto, Piccolo Spoleto, the RiverDogs and other local organizations. An annual fishing trip sponsored by the Santee Lions Club is a favorite event for our members as well as an annual holiday party.