Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI)
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) has the mission of “Empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with opportunities to seek independence.”
Organization Overview
Founded in 1911, CABVI provides comprehensive services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. The agency helps more than 4,000 people annually adapt to vision loss in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. This includes social services, low vision, daily living, access technology, early childhood and youth, information services and safe travel training. CABVI provides employment in our Industries Program selling products to Federal government customers through the Ability One program. CABVI also sells office products through vie-ability.org. The agency operates a Base Supply Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and provides employment in Contract Management Services as well as transportation logistics. For more information, please call (513) 221-8558 or visit www.cincyblind.org.
Partnership Overview
Many of the people who need CABVI’s services have had regular vision most of their lives and are losing vision gradually due to specific eye conditions. An estimated 63% of the people we serve are over age 65 and in need of adaptive services and equipment to help them maintain their independence.
Since 1911 CABVI has been providing employment and continues providing more jobs to reduce the national 65% unemployment rate for people with severe vision loss (as reported by the American Foundation for the Blind).
The Impact of the Donation
Donations support CABVI’s services to help individuals adapt to severe vision loss. These services help individuals to gain, maintain or improve their employability. Nearly 42% of CABVI’s team members are blind or visually impaired. Many of these individuals are employed in our social enterprise programs including Base Supply Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that sells office products, Contract Management Support at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and at the Marine Headquarters in Quantico, VA. Custom Signage employees operate a variety of printing, cutting, and laser equipment that produces superior signage that continuously exceed industry standards. In our Industries Program, CABVI produces over 200 different paper, tape and assembled products for the government and commercial market. CABVI has been assembling kitchen gadgets for over 30 years and also assembles batteries and door hardware. Route Transportation Logistics and Vie Ability office supply service provide customer service opportunities for individuals with vision loss through valuable services to the community.
At first, I was devastated by my eye condition and the big changes in my life. CABVI’s services, staff, and support groups changed my perspective from being depressed to being grateful for all the good in my life. Now I use my vision aids and my white cane at church and when I go shopping. It helps people understand, it’s almost an honor.
Sondra Stohs
