Center For The Visually Impaired Inc

THE CENTER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED(CVI) PROVIDES VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND ALL DEGREES OF VISION LOSS WHO RESIDE, WORK OR ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE 13-COUNTY METRO ATLANTA AREA. SERVING NEARLY 4,000 CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY, CVI'S HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF OF CERTIFIED VISION REHABILITATION THERAPISTS, VISION TEACHERS, LOW VISION THERAPISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, VOCATIONAL SPECIALISTS, AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT EACH PERSON ACQUIRE SKILLS AND INFORMATION NEEDED TO SUCCEED AT SCHOOL AND WORK, BE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND LIVE SAFELY AND INDEPENDENTLY. A STAFF OF 21 AND MORE THAN 200 VOLUNTEERS WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION THROUGH THE BEGIN, STARS, FLORENCE MAXWELL LOW VISION CLINIC AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES PROGRAMS.

EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICESSEE SCHEDULE O FOR FULL PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT. 90% OF LEARNING OCCURS THROUGH OUR VISION. BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN WITH VISION LOSS MUST RECEIVE EARLY INTERVENTION TO DEVELOP AND GROW. CVI PROVIDES FUNCTIONAL VISION ASSESSMENTS, WHICH EVALUATE A CHILD'S USE OF THEIR VISION. THESE ASSESSMENTS FORM THE BASIS OF EACH CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN. TEACHERS HELP BABIES LEARN TO ACCESS INFORMATION THROUGH SOUNDS, MOVEMENTS, TACTILE EXPERIENCES, SPATIAL ORIENTATION, AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. WE PROVIDE ONE-TO-ONE SESSIONS (WITH SAFETY PROTOCOLS) AS WELL AS TELEHEALTH VISITS. WE EQUIP PARENTS WITH TRAINING, SUPPORT AND RESOURCES SO THEY CAN BE TEACHERS AND ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE SERVED 23 FAMILIES, CVI OPERATES GEORGIA'S ONLY FULL-TIME PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL AND TODDLER AGE CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED THROUGH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND GEORGIA PINES. THE ELEVEN CHILDREN ENROLLED LEARN PRE-BRAILLE FOR LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, RESPONSIBILITY TASKS SUCH AS PUTTING AWAY TOYS, SORTING/ORGANIZING SHAPES, AND WHITE CANE NAVIGATION SKILLS. THEY ALSO GAIN THE SOCIAL SKILLS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE THEY WILL NEED TO ENJOY KINDERGARTEN AND THEIR NEXT STEPS IN SCHOOL.

ADULT REHABILITATION SERVICESSEE SCHEDULE O FOR FULL PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT. CLIENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM A MENU OF CLASSES AND TRAINING TO FOCUS ON THEIR OWN GOALS. 165 PEOPLE HAVE ENROLLED IN CLASSES AT CVI TO RECEIVE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN LEARNING TO:- USE WHITE CANE AND SAFELY NAVIGATE HOME, WORK, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.- COOK SAFELY, LABEL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, MANAGE MEDICATION, AND MORE.- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMART PHONES AS ASSISTIVE DEVICES, SCREEN MAGNIFICATION SOFTWARE (ZOOMTEXT) OR SCREEN READING SOFTWARE (JAWS) TO RETURN TO WORK, CONTINUE HOBBIES OR LIVING INDEPENDENTLY OR KEEP UP WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY BY EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA.CLIENTS CAN ALSO SHARE EXPERIENCES, GAIN SUPPORT, AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER THROUGH CVI'S FACILITATED SUPPORT GROUPS.

FLORENCE MAXWELL LOW VISION CLINICSEE SCHEDULE O FOR FULL PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT. PEOPLE WITH VISION LOSS TURN TO CVI ONCE THEIR DOCTORS CAN NO LONGER TREAT THEIR VISION LOSS MEDICALLY OR WITH GLASSES. CLIENTS LEARN TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR REMAINING VISION AND CONTINUE DOING THINGS THEY ENJOY, LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, AND STAY ACTIVE WITH THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY. AN AVERAGE OF 70 CLIENTS PER MONTH HAVE RECEIVED LOW VISION EXAMS AND TRAINING IN OPTICAL AIDS SINCE CVI REOPENED IN JUNE 2020 WITH CDC SAFETY PROTOCOLS. DURING FY2021, THE CLINIC HAS HELPED 489 PEOPLE WITH 66% OF THESE CLIENTS BEING OVER AGE 55 AND THE REST ARE ADULTS OF VARIOUS AGES AS WELL AS SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO NEEDED EXAMS BEFORE RESUMING IN-PERSON SCHOOL.

YOUTH SERVICESCHILDREN K-12 WITH VISION LOSS LEARN TO THRIVE EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY AND GAIN CONFIDENCE TO CHART THEIR OWN PATH IN LIFE. STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO: - USE BRAILLE TO ENHANCE LITERACY AND COMPREHENSION - TRAVEL SAFELY AND INDEPENDENTLY AT HOME, SCHOOL, AND IN THE COMMUNITY- PREPARE FOR COLLEGE OR JOBS- USE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AT SCHOOL, WORK, AND IN LIFE.DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE SUSPENDED THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM BUT KEPT 16 STUDENTS CONNECTED IN SUPPORT GROUPS. VISABILITY STOREGEORGIA'S ONLY RETAIL STORE DEDICATED TO PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. OVER 1,000 VISION AIDS, DEVICES, AND PRODUCTS TO TESTFROM MAGNIFIERS AND KITCHEN GADGETS TO VOICE ACTIVATED CLOCKS AND CCTV MONITORS. CLIENTS CAN EXPERIMENT TO FIND THE SOLUTIONS THAT WORK BEST FOR THEIR DAILY LIVES. CVI'S OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND OPTOMETRISTS ADVISE CLIENTS AS FOLLOW UP TO A LOW VISION EXAM. OPEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH CLINIC HOURS AND WE OFFER CONCIERGE SERVICE BY PHONE AS WELL AS DELIVERY BY MAIL OR IN PERSON.