Two local agencies recognize low vision awareness month

 
January 30, 2012 – Cincinnati, OH – In honor of low vision awareness month, Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) and Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, two not-for-profit organizations located in greater Cincinnati are joining together to spread the word about low vision. Both agencies exist to increase independence for people who are blind or visually impaired, but also work to assist the sighted community in understanding the meaning of low vision.
The purpose of low vision awareness month is to raise awareness about the meaning of low vision and the resources available to assist people in making the most of their remaining eyesight…topics in which Clovernook Center and CABVI are well versed.
CABVI and Clovernook Center define low vision as a term commonly used to mean partial sight, or sight that is not corrected with contact lenses or standard glasses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading causes of blindness and low vision in the United States are primarily age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. 
Do you find yourself or a loved one, suffering from low vision - and you have been notified by your regular eye-care physician that nothing else that can be done to correct your eyesight? This is where CABVI and Clovernook Center can help. Both organizations offer on-site (and satellite) low vision clinics in which an eye-care provider who has been specially trained in low vision, evaluates remaining vision and prescribes the most effective low vision aids (such as magnifiers and enhanced lighting) based on each person’s needs and preferred activities.
For additional information about clinic locations or additional services, please contact Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired at 513-221.8558 or visit www.cincyblind.org or contact Clovernook Center by dialing 513-522-3860 or visiting www.clovernook.org.
 
Fast Facts:
  • Vision Problems in the U.S. reports the total number of Ohio residents currently affected by vision problem is 1,299,218.
  • According to Lighthouse International, due to an increase in the number of aging baby boomers and the growing prevalence of such diseases as diabetes and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), some 61 million Americans are at high risk of serious vision loss.
  • Only one in three people with a visual impairment, aged 16+, is in the workforce, according to The Economic Impact of Vision Problems.
 
The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) is a nonprofit organization offering blind and visually impaired people the opportunity to seek independence. CABVI was founded in 1911 and was originally created for the specific purpose of providing employment for men who are blind or visually impaired. Today CABVI provides vision rehabilitation services, as well as information services and employment. More than 4,700 people who have vision loss are served by CABVI in an eleven county area that includes Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Additionally CABVI serves an estimated 7,000 plus listeners through Radio Reading Services.
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a not-for-profit organization that empowers people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and full participants in their communities.  Program Services annually assists more than 1,100 individuals, helping them to adapt and overcome the challenges of vision impairment. Employment Services provides job opportunities and coaching for consumers who want to work in their local community, as well as positions that might be available at Clovernook Center.  Business Operations – categorized into three core departments of Braille Printing, Industrial Manufacturing and Contract Packaging – provide a variety of employment opportunities for more than 55 people with vision impairments, while generating revenues to support programs.
 

 

CABVI is honored to be named the non-profit of the year by the cincinnati USA regional chamber.

local agencies co-host national conference on employment for people who are blind; october designated national disability employment awareness month

Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) and Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will co-host 60 blind employees of the year from throughout the United States, presidential appointees, and more than 400 other attendees at the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and the National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind (NAEPB) Annual Training Conference October 6-9 at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza.

The event also kicks off the beginning of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and features Assistant Secretary of Labor Kathy Martinez, Office of Disability Employment Policy, from the U.S. Department of Labor.

CABVI is kicking off its 100th Anniversary at a Gala Party that caps the three-day conference. Employees of the year from NIB associated agencies across the country will tour Cincinnati and interact with their counterparts at CABVI and Clovernook Center.

Both local nonprofit agencies are part of NIB's network of 89 associated nonprofit agencies that create jobs for American who are blind. More than 6,000 employees throughout the United States produce products or provide services sold to the federal government and Department of Defense through the AbilityOne Program.
 

Local agencies form a task force for the betterment of people who are blind or visually impaired

July 1, 2010 – Cincinnati, OH – Two local nonprofit agencies whose missions are to promote independence for people with visual impairments, are working together through a joint planning initiative. The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) and Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CCBVI) have formed a Joint Planning Task Force (JPTF), the purpose of which is to look strategically at how both agencies operate and leverage their collective resources to promote improved efficiencies, create more cost effective means of service delivery while providing improved and greater levels of service in line with their respective missions. The JPTF is comprised of the top executive and volunteer leadership from both organizations. Since both agencies exist to serve similar constituencies, the JPTF is set out to identify which of their collective programs and products, when implemented collaboratively, will better serve people who have vision loss. “This is an exciting time for both agencies. Never before has there been such a spirit of cooperation between CABVI and CCVBI,” states John Mitchell, CABVI executive director. “We intend to build on each other’s strengths to ensure a strong, positive impact in the Greater Cincinnati community.” Robin Usalis, CCBVI president/CEO adds, “Our respective boards and senior leadership are in full agreement that now is the time to enhance our collaborative relationship and implement those areas identified in our Needs Assessment, which was our first formal joint project.” The JPTF will meet regularly to determine what programs, products and initiatives will benefit from a collaborative focus with the end result being increased efficiencies, cost savings and more extensive community services while providing growth and sustainability for both agencies.

CABVI honored
A photo of Kay Geiger, John Mitchell and John Bosse.

CABVI was named non-profit of the year runner-up in the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber 2010 Small Business Awards at the annual Small Business Awards Luncheon on May 25, 2010. Pictured left to right are Kay Geiger, PNC President, John Mitchell, CABVI Executive Director, and John Bosse, Vice President Small Business Development Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

CABVI Elects New Board Members

The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired elected new board members at its 99th Annual Meeting on April 30, 2010.

Norma Rashid (former WLWT news anchor), Jenny Franta (vice president and trust officer at Fifth Third Bank), and Dennis Dern (global controller for General Electric Company's Corporate Accounting Team) were newly elected.

Deborah Kendrick (writer and speaker on disability issues), Ron Ott (retired sales executive from Cincinnati Bell), and Dr. Michael Petersen, M.D., Ph.D. (chairman of the board of directors at the Cincinnati Eye Institute and director of the Division of Ophthalmology at Bethesda Hospitals) were re-elected to the board after a one-year hiatus.

Board members elected to a second three-year term include Michele Carey, Harry Dornheggen, Stephen Keckeis, Dr. Michael Lichstein, Thomas Long, and Reuben Shaffer.

Rosemary Bloom, Susan Friedlander and Norman Macon were each honored as a CABVI trustee emeritus after having served 35 years on the board.

Board officers elected for 2010 to 2011 include:  Michael Lichstein, Ph.D. as president; Dan Braun as vice president; Patricia D. Laub as vice president/secretary; Mary L. Rust as vice president; and Glen G. Vogel as vice president/treasurer.

CABVI Employee of the Year Named

Centerville, Ohio resident Richard Volkerding was recently honored by CABVI with the agency's Bradley L. Kaylor Blind Employee of the Year Award.

Volkerding is a sales associate at the agency's Office Runway base supply center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where he has worked since 2006. His skills in working around people come from a history of nearly 30 years in management. For twenty years prior to joining CABVI, Volkerding was a contracted manager and operator for a vending business enterprise program through the Business Services for the Visually Impaired. Before that he managed a drug store.

"Richard has a real can-do attitude of optimism and determination. He combines personality and warmth with a commitment to customer needs to further our effort of exceptional customer service. As a result, many of the Base personnel have come to know Richard personally. The same positive reaction is echoed with our BSC staff, who view Richard as a teammate, a friend, and a tireless disability advocate," said Brian Powell, CABVI director of administration.

When he is not working, Volkerding enjoys spending time in his yard and attending high school and college sports with his wife, Carol.