Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Sacramento-based Society for the Blind continues to create innovative ways to empower individuals living with low vision or blindness to discover, develop and achieve their full potential. Since 1954, Society for the Blind has grown from a dedicated group of volunteers to a nationally recognized agency and the only comprehensive rehabilitative teaching center that provides services for a 27-county region of northern California and the state of Nevada, with nine primary counties of Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba, El Dorado, Placer, Amador, Butte and San Joaquin. Our goal is to fully integrate individuals who are blind or have low vision into all aspects of the community, with an emphasis on careers, education, and independent living. We achieve that goal through a variety of programs.
Core Blindness Skills Programs are a comprehensive array of rehabilitation instruction covering four primary areas and available to all ages: Orientation and Mobility, Independent Living Skills, Adaptive Technology, and Braille Literacy. Programming is offered through three formats: two-hour classes offered Monday-Friday at our facility, In-home training, and on- and off-site retreats. We offer programming tailored to meet the needs of persons who are blind or low vision at different life stages. Specialized programs and services are offered for youth, adults and seniors.
Society operates a Low Vision Clinic, staffed by Optometrists with special training in low vision eye care and Occupational Therapists for training to help patients use their remaining visual function . Patients are those with Cataracts, Glaucoma, Age-related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, and other degenerative eye diseases.
Special programs and services enhance our core programs and include: An on-site retail store offering products geared to the needs of the blind or visually impaired, community outreach, and education, support groups and Access News. The Access News Telephone Reader Program is available nationwide and provides news, cultural, retail, and special interest stories 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In 2023, Society for the Blind launched its Braille Production and Training Program which is one of the only Braille production centers operating in northern and central California that focuses on producing textbooks, manuals, newsletters, menus, playbills and more.
It is our mission to empower individuals living with low vision or blindness to discover, develop, and achieve their full potential.
Senior IMPACT Project: increase access to services for blind and low vision seniors in our community, especially those in more rural areas.
Our Senior IMPACT Project serves the needs of seniors with vision loss and connects them to each other and their community. Three leading causes of vision loss typically occur in people over age 55.
CareersPLUS Adults: help provide employment training through career exploration activities and a mentor program for teens, young adults, and working-age adults who are blind or have low vision.
The unemployment rate for people who are blind or have low vision hovers around 70 percent. The desired outcome of the CareersPLUS program is to improve the confidence and competitiveness of individuals with vision loss who are seeking employment.
CareersPLUS Youth After-School Academy: This program offers one-to-one tutoring in academic skills and training in assistive technologies and Braille for children in elementary through high school with vision loss.
The Low Vision Clinic: Provide low vision evaluations and occupational therapy in-homes and in rural communities via our Low Vision Mobile Clinic.
General Operating Support: To ensure agency is run effectively and efficiently, accessibility for all our positions.
More than 5,000 youth, working-age adults, and seniors with vision loss across 27 counties in Northern CA are served by Society for the Blind each year.
Organization name
Society for the Blind
1954
Tax id (EIN)
94-1384666
Mission Category
Human Services
Operating Budget
$1,000,001-$5 million
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Funding: Unrestricted
Demographics Served
Seniors, General population
Local Counties Served
El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo
Address
1238 S StreetPlacer, CA, US
Yolo, CA, US
Sacramento, CA, US
El Dorado, CA, US