Association For The Blind And Visually Impaired-Goodwill Industries Of Greater Rochester

Since 1911, the mission of the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) has been to prepare and empower people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and their community.

ABVI is the only provider of comprehensive vision rehabilitation programs and services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. The services we provide children focus on ways to complete schoolwork, socialize, and have fun. Through education and work experiences, young adults are prepared for a future of work. Working age adults find ways to obtain or maintain employment, often by using our expertise in adaptive technology. With older adults we focus on skills needed for their daily activities from when they get up in the morning to when they go to bed at night.

Our long history of providing services for those who are blind or visually impaired in our region makes us uniquely qualified to serve the thousands of people who turn to us each year. In 2011, we opened our new, state-of-the-art Vision Rehabilitation building, including an outdoor play area specifically designed for children who are blind or visually impaired. Our programs are constantly evolving as technology develops and the needs of those we serve change.

In 2017, ABVI touched the lives of thousands of people in our community. Our Vision Rehabilitation team worked with 2,973 people, preparing them to be self-sufficient at home, work, and in their community. We gave 771 people a low-vision exam and provided devices maximizing remaining vision to those who needed them. Our staff went out into the community to provide early vision screenings to 2,414 children under the age of five to identify possible blinding vision conditions before it's too late for treatment.

We are currently expanding the scope of our Children's Programs to provide more support for children who are blind or visually impaired and their families.