Blind Service Association Inc

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES VARIOUS SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN THE CHICAGO AREA. IT PROVIDES READING AND RECORDING SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE TO ITS CLIENTS, IN ADDITION TO A NUMBER OF OTHER SUCCESSFUL AND POPULAR EDUCATION, RECREATIONAL, AND SUPPORT GROUPS.

READING AND RECORDING: THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE READING AND RECORDING OF MATERIAL SO THAT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE WHETHER AT SCHOOL, ON THE JOB, OR IN THEIR HOME. ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED DURING BSA'S FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022, 80 CLIENTS UTILIZED THE READING SERVICES REMOTELY OR ON A LIMITED BASIS AT THE OFFICE.

PATHWAYS (YOUTH PROGRAM): THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND BLIND STUDENTS WITH MENTORING, ACADEMIC TRACK COACHING, COLLEGE READINESS, COMPUTER TRAINING, A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER AND A 6-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED PATHWAYS. OF THOSE 99 STUDENTS, APPROXIMATELY 13 PARTICIPATED IN BSA'S SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED PATHWAYS. NORMALLY, PATHWAYS RUNS FOR FIVE HOURS A DAY FOR FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR SIX WEEKS. DURING THE PANDEMIC THE PROGRAM RAN REMOTELY FOR 4 DAYS A WEEK AND FOUR HOURS PER DAY. THE PURPOSE OF PATHWAYS IS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AS THESE YOUNG PEOPLE REACH ADULTHOOD. THEY ARE TAUGHT DAILY LIVING SKILLS, PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL AND PERFORMING ART ACTIVITIES AND LEARN CANE TRAVEL AS THEY VISIT VARIOUS CULTURAL SITES IN THE CITY. BSA ALSO PROVIDES GLASSES AND VISION AIDS TO THOSE IN NEED AND GRANTS $30,000 YEARLY IN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO LEGALLY BLIND COLLEGE, GRADUATE AND VOCATIONAL STUDENTS.

SUPPORT SERVICES: THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, RECREATION, AND SUPPORT TO BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS. THERE ARE FOUR SEPARATE SUPPORT GROUPS THAT INDIVIDUALS ATTEND ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THE PURPOSE IS TO OFFER SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO ADJUST TO THEIR EYE CONDITION. EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS ARE HELD ONE TO TWO TIMES PER MONTH IN ORDER TO OFFER INFORMATION TO HELP BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE BETTER ADAPT TO THEIR CONDITION. IN ADDITION, BSA SUPPORTS THEIR CLIENTS WITH VARIOUS CLUBS AND SOCIAL EVENTS THAT HELP THEM TO REMAIN ACTIVE. BSA ALSO PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE BRAILLE LESSONS AND ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT. DURING THE PANDEMIC ALL SUPPORT SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BRAILLE LESSONS WHICH WERE CONDUCTED OUTDOORS AND THEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE INCREASE OF COVID CASES.

VIEW (VISUAL IMPAIRMENT EMPLOYMENT WAYGATE)PART III, LINE 4D THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE 70% UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURE AMONGST PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. COACHING, MENTORING AND WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED IN GROUPS AND PRIVATELY TO HELP ASSIST CLIENTS AS THEY WORK TO FIND JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY.