A.V.R.E. InSight
Summer 2005; Volume 30, Number 2
Published by the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc.
12th Annual Race For Sight
When A.V.R.E. first took over coordinating the 26-mile long B. C. Bicycle Race For Sight in 2001, there were 60 racers participating. This year, on Saturday, July 16th, we set a new record with 108 men and women of all ages joining us at the Windsor village green for a great morning of color, excitement, and fun. We also hit several other milestones this year.
One of our goals has been to encourage the participation of tandem teams. This year we had 3 tandem teams, all father-daughter teams. One of these racers (and a member of our 1st place team) was our youngest-ever racer -- 9 years old!
We raised our highest amount of money, to date, more than $7,750 for A.V.R.E. Vision Programs and Lions Club charities.
This year, for the first time, our first-place winners each received a beautiful, hand-made wood trophy, custom carved by A.V.R.E. Logistics and Facility Manager Charles Gardner. They were a great hit! Our congratulations go to our winners.
Tandem Teams. 1st Place -- Ernie & Eleanor Bayles; 1 hour, 10 min. 2nd Place -- Bill & Julie Erickson; 1 hour, 15 min. 3rd Place -- Michael & Lindsay Tersmette; 1 hour, 44 min. Women (all came in at 1 hour, 2 min.) 1st Place -- Sara Barker; 2nd Place -- Marsha Kapinus; 3rd Place -- Alaina Dietz. Men (all came in at 1 hour, 2 min.) 1st Place -- Scott Graham; 2nd Place -- Todd Kapeghian; 3rd Place -- Bill Albert.
We are extremely grateful to all of the enthusiastic racers who came out this year to Race For Sight, in support of people who have a vision disability. We are looking forward to more growth and to an even bigger and better race next year! (Photos: Racers sweeping around the corner at the Windsor Village green to begin the race; Close-up of our handmade wood trophy; Racers climbing the final hill to cross the finish line.)
The President’s Corner. We Have A Dream!
Dear Friend of A.V.R.E.;
As many of you know, there have been some very big changes here at the Association over the past few years. We have started new programs serving people who have a vision disability, added new business lines that increase and enhance employment, started our very own Foundation, engaged in a media campaign and even changed our name. Even the way we describe what we do and who we help has changed.
Services for infants and children under three years old through Early Intervention and Pre-school contracts with six counties is only a few years old. We have served children who are blind since at least 1981. But, these new contracts have resulted in twice as many young children getting assistance at much earlier ages and the demand is growing. About three years ago, we started a formal placement program, now called “Employment and Career Services" so that blind and visually impaired people can get the best job and career preparation and then find the best job for them, regardless of who the employer is or where the job is located. Last year we “reinvented” our services for older persons through our Senior Vision Services Department. We took many of our traditional independent living services and reorganized them to meet the special needs of seniors who want to maintain independence, maybe continue working or just be as self reliant as possible. Seniors identify vision problems as one of their top three health issues!
Our long standing manufacturing operation has also undergone many changes. First and foremost, people who are blind are now employed throughout the operation. Legally blind people make and package products, run machines, process orders, engage in customer service, and manage the entire business operations. We work hard at living our vision to be a “model for the community” and show that blind and visually impaired individuals can be successful! We have added product lines, purchased new machines, grown our employment and added about $1 million in sales since 1999.
A very major change was to our name. We did some research and found out that far too many people in our community, did not know about us, or confused us with some other organization, or did not understand our services. This was a very difficult decision and we know it will take some years for the new name to take hold. But, it was something we had to do in order to create our own identity and a better understanding by the public. I am very pleased to tell you that the new name is taking hold and being recognized.
Probably the biggest change is who we serve. For many years we assisted only people who are “legally blind.” Now we work with people who have a severe vision disability even if not legally blind. There are many more people (about three times as many) who have a vision problem severe enough to need some services, but who are not technically legally blind.
All of these changes, and more not mentioned, have been part of a larger dream. A.V.R.E. is creating a “Center of Excellence in Vision Rehabilitation and Employment”. This center will be a model of best practice and most modern services for people in our nine New York and three Pennsylvania counties. The need is great! There are more blind and visually impaired children due to major medical advances in saving very premature infants. There are more seniors with severe vision problems due to extended life expectancies. Demand for our specialized services is growing. We will add more jobs in total, and especially more jobs for our consumers. We will add to our local economy by bringing people here for employment and services and be a base for reaching out across our territory.
As we say, A.V.R.E. is "Proud of our past and excited about our future." I hope you are too! Robert K. Hanye, President and CEO. (Photo of Mr. Hanye.)
A Favorite Email
One of the things we are very proud of here at A.V.R.E. is the fact that we manufacture several paper products that are sold to the Federal Government for use by the Military. Our goods, sold under the SKILCRAFT brand name, can actually end up anywhere in this country or even in the world, including Kuwait. One of those products is manila file folders. A while back, we received an email that we found particularly interesting:
"To all,
My name is Sergeant Guy Gould. I am a soldier in the U. S. Army and I work for the J.A.G. Office of Fort Steward, Georgia, which is the home to the 3rd Infantry Division. I am also from New York. I grew up in Chenango Forks, which is just 10 or 15 miles outside of Binghamton.
I was working on one of the many legal documents that I prepare for court when I noticed that one of the hundreds of manila folders that I use regularly was stamped 'Blind Work Association, Binghamton, New York.' [Sgt. Gould was using a folder manufactured several years ago, before we became A.V.R.E.] I know that I always use products from the blind, from pens that I write with to the folders that I put [paper] in. These give my work a professional appearance.
Thank you very much for your patriotism and support to the United States Military. God Bless America. Sergeant Guy F. Gould"
Thank you very much for your wonderful email, Sergeant, and for your service to our Country! We are glad to be helping.
A Bit of Advocacy
By Robert K. Hanye, President & CEO
One part of our mission is to help society better understand and accept vision disability. Therefore, we have a role in advocating for people who have a vision disability, and for programs that will assist our consumers. The following is a short list of some of the advocacy activities in which we are currently engaged.
1. A.V.R.E. employees, both blind and sighted, spent three days trying out various options for accessible voting machines. The group then submitted a report with comments and recommendations about the various systems to Broome County. Recent legislation requires that each polling place have at least one accessible voting machine, that would allow people who have a disability to vote without assistance.
2. A.V.R.E. Orientation and Mobility Specialist Erin Duguay is leading an initiative on Accessible (Audible) Pedestrian Signal systems. These are “talking cross walk” devices, and there is currently only one in the area. A.V.R.E. plans to hold a forum to present information about these systems and seek input from people who might want them. We hope a consensus will be built that will result in a proposal for the appropriate authorities on installing APS systems in Greater Binghamton. Look for the article on page below about APS systems.
3. A.V.R.E. is working hard with other New York agencies serving visually impaired people to obtain state licensure for our Certified Vision Rehabilitation Specialists. The state licenses many related professions but not the ones in our field. Licensing will allow consumers to have a much higher level of confidence in the qualifications of the professionals who serve them.
4. A.V.R.E. is also working with our upstate colleagues and Industries for the Blind of New York State on a possible media campaign on white cane safety. Visually impaired people are a large part of the pedestrian, non-driving public, and are overly represented in the number of vehicle-pedestrian accidents. The plan is to make drivers more aware of the law that gives the right of way to pedestrians, and especially those who are using a white cane or a guide dog.
Is It Safe To Cross?
By Erin L. W. K. Duguay, A.V.R.E. Orientation & Mobility Specialist
Accessible (Audible) Pedestrian Signal, or “APS”, is a term often used when discussing accessibility issues for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Intersections with an APS have a small speaker that is attached to the pedestrian button, fixed to every corner. When the pedestrian button is pressed, it activates the APS system, so that when it is safe to cross a sound is emitted from the speakers, communicating that information. Many different sounds are used, including bird sounds -- a cuckoo sound for North-South crossings, and a chirp sound for East-West crossings -- but newer versions speak actual words.
Orientation and Mobility (O & M) Specialists teach blind and visually impaired individuals how to navigate through their environment knowledgeably and safely. In a busy environment, one of the biggest concerns for an O & M Specialist is street crossing safety and accessibility. Because much of our environment is based on visual information, it can be expected that intersections are no different. Traffic lights are color-coded, as are pedestrian signals (the white walking man and the orange hand), and walking lanes on the street are identified by bold lines in white paint. For someone with low vision, or no vision, this visual information is often useless.
Traditionally, blind individuals have used the sounds of traffic to determine the correct time to cross a street and to help determine the location of the corner on the other side of the street. These techniques work very well in residential areas where traffic speeds are much slower, lanes are not as wide, and where drivers are looking for pedestrians. Large, complicated and heavily used intersections are now very common in our city environment, and are often situated near important resources such as grocery stores, banks, post offices, and shopping centers. In these situations, fitting an intersection with an APS not only ensures safety in determining the correct time to cross, but the sound from the speaker can also serve as a beacon to help keep the blind pedestrian on a line toward the next corner.
What is really great about APS systems, however, is that they are not just useful for people who are blind or visually impaired. Intersection safety is a concern for pedestrians of all ages, with or without a disability. For the blind or visually impaired traveler, Audible Pedestrian Signals not only increase safety, but they make more of the environment accessible.
Want More Info?
A.V.R.E. is presenting an "APS Forum" on September 22, 2005, in our conference room. If you would like to learn more about Accessible (Audible) Pedestrian Signals and would like to offer your opinion about the need for these signals in the Greater Binghamton area, plan to join us.
Registration, orientation, and refreshments will begin at 4:00 PM. The forum, which is free, will begin at 4:30 PM, followed by a community discussion, lasting until 6:30 PM.
BC Country is not available for return rides. If this is a concern, or if you will need written materials in a format other than large print or Braille, please contact Erin Duguay at 607-724-2428.
A.V.R.E. Wins Contract!
On March 11, 2005, local dignitaries, out-of-town guests, reporters, and employees of A.V.R.E. gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The occasion heralded the opening of a brand new paper product line in our manufacturing department.
The Federal government recently awarded A.V.R.E. a new contract to supply the General Services Administration with multipart paper forms. The contract is expected to generate at least a half million dollars in sales each year, and enable the Association to create more jobs for people who are blind. A brand new machine was purchased that collates multiple layers of pin-fed, carbonless computer paper, to create multipart perforated forms.
"We are delighted that we are able to add to the up tick in the local economy and meet our mission of creating good jobs," A.V.R.E. President and CEO Robert Hanye said. "We anticipate additional growth in the near future."
Local guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony included Binghamton Mayor Richard Bucci, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, and Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Alex DePersis. Our out-of-town guests were J. Z. (Yogi) Mangual, Brigadier General Retired, Chief Operating Officer of National Industries for the Blind in Alexandria, Virginia; Richard Healey, President and CEO of New York State Industries for the Blind; and Richard Thayer, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of New York State Industries for the Blind. (Photo of Mr. DePersis, A.V.R.E. Employee Todd Gray, Mayor Bucci, A.V.R.E. Board Member Mel Rhinebeck, and A.V.R.E. Employee Nancy McGovern cutting the ribbon.)
Our Wish List.
Our sincere thanks goes to the West Corners Lioness Club for their donation of $150. With their gift, we were able to purchase the Color Identifier, a talking device that reads, identifies and speaks the color of the object it is held against. This will be used as a demonstration tool for our consumers.
If you would like to make a cash donation toward any of the items on our list, or if you have something you think we might be able to use, you may call Joyce Bucci at 607-724-2428 or email jbucci@avreus.org. The dollar amount of your donation will be tax deductible, and you will receive a letter of receipt and thanks from us and a public thank you in our next newsletter.
Voila! Talking Label Reader. This device was featured in our Aids For Living column, in the Winter 2005 issue of InSight. It is a talking barcode reader that reads labels that have been attached to items. This would be used by Program Services staff to demonstrate to consumers. The Voila! costs $200.
Clearview Traveller. The Traveller is a lightweight, portable, flat screen video magnifier or CCTV (Closed Circuit Television). It can be taken to the supermarket, the library, or school to be used for reading labels, books, or for writing checks and signing forms. This would also be a great item to have for agency use and for demonstration and try-out purposes. The Traveller costs $1895.
Talking Glucometer. A number of the consumers we serve are diabetic and have vision disabilities typically associated with this condition. We would like to have a talking glucose monitor that could be made available for consumers to try out to see if it is helpful to them. The Accu-Check Voicemate costs $495.
Miniguide. This is a little, but powerful, hand-held, electronic mobility aid that is used along with a white cane or a guide dog. It detects objects in the user's path using ultrasound, and is helpful to people who are blind or deaf and blind. The audio version emits a tone and the tactile version vibrates to alert the user when an object is detected. This device would be used by our Orientation & Mobility Specialists to assist in O & M training. The cost is $359.
A Special Thank You!
Cathy Calhoun, Regional Manager for Central New York for Senator Hillary Clinton, called to tell us about a special program through the Senator’s office, Microsoft, and the Appalachian Regional Commission that makes special computer software available to non-profits, at no cost. A.V.R.E. has received software that will be used as training material for our employment services, and software that will greatly enhance our planning and publications. Thank you, Cathy, for thinking of us and for making it happen!
The Spotlight Is On: Susan Jones
Susan has joined our team in the newly created position of Director of Development and Communications. She is in charge of the fundraising (development) department.
Susan grew up in Greene, New York, and now lives in the Binghamton area with her husband Leo and their two children. She graduated from Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, receiving her BA in Social Science. Before coming to A.V.R.E., she worked for Binghamton University. (Photo of Ms. Jones seated at her desk.)
Welcome Aboard!
Erin Duguay. Erin is our newest Orientation & Mobility Specialist. She comes to us from London, Ontario, Canada, where she received her BA in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Western Ontario. She also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Orientation & Mobility (equivalent to an American Master's Degree) from Mohawk College in Brantford, Ontario. Erin worked most recently at the Wellington/Waterloo Office of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Waterloo, Ontario.
Kristy Bliss. Kristy is our new Administrative Assistant for the Program Services Division. She handles various recordkeeping and correspondence duties for our rehab staff.
Alan Eddy. Alan is the driver for Rehabilitation Therapist Ralph Gedeon. Together, they travel all around the western part of our service area.
Industries Manufacturing. Laura Gale Kenyon and David Shatara have recently joined us in this department.
Switchboards. Sharon Jones came on board with us at the Montrose campus of the VA Medical Center in the Hudson Valley.
We have also enjoyed having Kendra Ives with us part-time during the summer, working in Program Services, and our intern, Susana Yiu, who also worked with several staff in Program Services.
Letter From A Volunteer
Hi -- My name is Grace. I am a volunteer with RSVP of Broome County. I have had a wonderful experience volunteering at A.V.R.E. for the last several months. I think the nicest part of being a volunteer at A.V.R.E. is that you meet so many wonderful people and feel the closeness of the staff and their clientele. [I now have] a better understanding of what A.V.R.E.'s primary goal is: to get people back out in society as quickly as possible, doing many useful tasks, and give them the confidences they need to be a more productive individual and feel better about themselves. The primary work here is to prepare the visually handicapped to find employment, so they can go out into the community and become an important part of the workforce.
A.V.R.E., formerly the Blind Work Association, is a non-profit agency who depend much on grants and donations during their annual campaign. There are many new devices coming out daily to help the counselors here at A.V.R.E., but the grants don't go as far as we would like. There are two ways you can help: by donating at campaign time, or [in your] last will.
So, when you get the donation envelopes, please don't just toss it aside and say [it's] just another person who wants money. Sit down, open and read the information inside that tells a little more about A.V.R.E. and what your tax-deductible donation can do for them. Let's make this the biggest year ever and get at least 75% of all envelopes sent out returned with a donation enclosed.
Thank you in advance for your time and effort to help us where you can. Remember: RSVP and A.V.R.E. make a Beautiful Connection!
Note: A.V.R.E. is deeply grateful to Grace and all of our volunteers. They contribute a great deal to our success in serving people of all ages who have a vision disability. Volunteers serve in many capacities. We offer a special thank you to the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) with whom we have had a long and wonderful partnership.
Volunteers serve as members of our board, collate mailing materials, stuff envelopes, prepare newsletter mailings, work in computer databases, assist in serving consumers, transcribe print to Braille, act as officials at our B.C. Race For Sight, and other important tasks. Volunteers are very special people; volunteers make it happen!
Caring For Your Eyes - Children's Eye Safety
How can something that is so much fun be so potentially dangerous? It is a sad fact that something so seemingly harmless as a toy can actually be an instrument of injury. Each year, toys and home playground equipment cause more than 11,000 injuries to young eyes. However, there are important steps you can take to avoid childhood eye injuries:
1. Avoid toys with sharp points, shafts, spikes, rods or edges. Everyone knows of the dangers of sharp scissors and pencils, but look carefully for these hazards on your child's toys. 2. Keep toys intended for older children away from young children. Only buy toys meant for the age of your child. Show them how to use their toys safely, and keep a watchful eye on them when they play. 3. Avoid flying toys or projectile-firing toys. Just as small parts that come off can be a choking hazard, toys that shoot or have parts that fly off can damage eyes. Remember: BB guns, pellet guns, bows and arrows, and sling shots are not suitable toys for young children! 4. Buy toys that will not break into dangerous shards, and that can withstand some pretty rough play. Check the lenses and frames of your child's sunglasses; many can break and cause injury.
In addition to dangerous toys, there are other hazards around the house and yard that can cause eye injuries in children. Keeping dangerous chemicals away from young children is important for eye safety, as well as for possible ingestion. One splash into an eye can cause severe burns. Even glue can be dangerous! Falls from beds, against furniture, and down the stairs can cause injuries to vision. Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs; place temporary padding on sharp furniture corners; use side rails on the bed of a young child. In the car, make certain there are no loose objects that could fly into a child's face in the case of a quick stop. And of course, make sure your child is safely buckled into an approved baby carrier or child safety seat.
By staying alert, watchful, and educated about toys, you can help to keep your child's eyes safe and healthy. "Sight Is Precious. Take Care of Your Eyes."
All About Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is not one eye disease, but a group of diseases with common attributes that affect the retina. RP diseases are genetic and are passed down from one or both parents. An estimated 100,000 Americans are affected by RP.
Retinitis pigmentosa causes the retina, which is the thin layer of tissue in the back of the eye, to deteriorate. In particular, it damages the photoreceptor cells in the retina that capture and process light, which helps us to see. These cells are known as “rods and cones.” The rods are associated with peripheral (side) vision and night vision, and the cones are associated with the central vision and color vision.
RP often begins with “night blindness.” RP mutates the genes of the rod cells and they slowly stop working. As these rod cells stop working, peripheral vision is slowly lost, resulting in a narrow central visual field, or “tunnel vision.” Some patients experience a ring of vision loss in their mid-peripheral field, with small islands of vision in their very far periphery. Many patients with RP retain a small degree of central vision throughout their life; however, there is a strong possibility of eventual total blindness.
Other forms of RP, sometimes called cone-rod dystrophy, first affect the cone cells which affects the central vision. These patients experience a loss of central vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. With the loss of cone cells, comes loss of color perception. As the deterioration progresses, the rod cells begin to degenerate as well.
The majority of people with RP are legally blind by the age of 40, with a central visual field of less than 20 degrees in diameter. Symptoms are most often recognized in children, adolescents and young adults, with the progression of the disease continuing throughout the individual’s life. The two most common symptoms to watch for are night blindness--slowness to adapt to dim light, and loss of side vision. The pattern and degree of visual loss varies.
As yet, there is no known cure for retinitis pigmentosa. However, intensive research is under way to discover the cause, prevention, and treatment. Vitamin A supplements are showing promise in slowing the progression of the disease to some degree.
Retinitis pigmentosa and its related diseases are rare and difficult to accurately diagnose. Therefore, it is important that patients who are exhibiting symptoms see an eye care specialist who is knowledgeable in retinal degenerative diseases. A low-vision specialist can assist in making the most of limited vision. As with many eye diseases, early detection is important to plan for the disease and any loss of sight.
Peer Support Groups Update
One of our most popular services we offer seniors who have a vision disability is a peer support group. Participants tell us that our groups provide an excellent way to socialize, meet new friends, share ideas, talk about specific vision problems and share solutions. We currently have five peer groups meeting throughout our service area and hope to get more started in the future. A.V.R.E. helps start the groups. assists in finding a location, provides some speakers, and suggests topics, but the groups are independent and run by the attendees themselves.
One new group meets at the Nater Towers cafeteria in Oneonta, the first Monday of each month, from 10 to 11 AM. Another meets right here at A.V.R.E., on the second Monday of each month, from 10 to 11 AM. A group is now meeting at the Cortland Office for the Aging on the third Friday of each month, from 11 AM to 1 PM. An Ithaca group meets at the Finger Lakes Independence Center the first Tuesday of each month, from Noon to 2:30 PM. The fifth group meets at the VFW in Delhi, the second Tuesday of each month from 1 to 2 PM. In addition, we are having some success with a "Telephone Buddy" system in rural Tioga County.
Peer groups are a great way to get out of the house, meet some new people and get lots of helpful information. We are always interested in hearing from people who are willing to volunteer to drive people to and from the meetings, or to help in other ways. If you would like to join or start a group, please call us at 607-724-2428. Just tell us what county you are in and we will connect you to the right person.
Did You Know?
Theodore Roosevelt is the only President who was blind in one eye.
It is estimated that there are approximately 10 million blind and visually impaired people in the U.S.
About 5.5 million of those are aged 65 and over.
There are about 93,000 visually impaired or blind students that are served in special education programs.
There are about 7,000 people in this country who use guide dogs.
Approximately 32% of all people who are classified as legally blind are employed.
Kudos To Our Sponsors!
Without our loyal and generous sponsors, we would not be able to present our Race For Sight. We offer our sincere thanks to the following businesses:
In the H. Richterman Gold Category: Lockheed Martin – Owego; NBT Bank; Partners Trust Bank.
In the P. J. Salmon Silver Category: Broome Co. NY Assoc. of Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Contractors, Inc.; Empire Federal Credit Union; Imperial Pacific Limited; Indian Valley Industries; Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP; NewPage Corporation; NYSEG; Parlor City Paper Box; Rogers Service Group; Sourcecorp.
In the R. B. Irwin Bronze Category: Crowley Foods; Don's Automotive; Enterprise Group; Montrose Publishing Co.; New England Motor Freight; Oakdale Mall; Pyramid Brokerage; Raymond Foundation; Sentry Alarms; Warner's Gas Service
Corporate and Organizational: Binghamton-Ithaca Express; Binghamton Material Handling; Greek Peak Ski Resort; Mechanical Specialties; Piaker & Lyons, P. C.; PRL Associates; Van Cott Jewelers.
Products & Services: Babcock Bicycles; Breathe Massage Therapy; Chenango Point Cycles; Dick's Sporting Goods; Gander Mountain.; Giant Foods; Manley's Mighty Marts; New Milford Bike Shop; Nirchi's Restaurant; Pepsi Bottling Group; Price Chopper; Wal-Mart; Wegmans.
A Plan To Give
One of the easiest ways to help A.V.R.E. continue to provide our valuable Program Services is to include us in your will. A will is a legal document that protects your assets and enables you to say where you want your money and other assets to go upon your death. Many people think they must be wealthy to have a will, but this is far from true. Although wills are simple to create, about half of all Americans die without one.
A planned gift is made when you decide to leave a large gift to a nonprofit organization. This gift can be given in several forms, and assets can include cash, properties, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies and others. However, many people find the simplest way to give a planned gift is to name a charity, such as A.V.R.E., as a beneficiary in their wills.
Of course, you should consult with your attorney while creating your will, but if you would like more information about including A.V.R.E. in your will, you may contact Susan Jones, Director of Development and Communications at 607-724-2428.
Did You Miss An Issue?
We did too! We apologize that, due to circumstances beyond our control, we were not able to bring you the Spring 2005 issue of InSight. We're back on track now, with our customary dedication to bringing you the most interesting news we can find!
Publishing information.
InSight is published quarterly by the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc. (Formerly Blind Work Association), 55 Washington St., Binghamton, New York, 13901. Phone: 607-724-2428, FAX: 607-771-8045. Email: avreinfo at avreus.org. Website: w w w dot a v r e u s dot org. Editor: Joyce Bucci
A.V.R.E. is a local, private, non-profit organization that is managed by a volunteer board of directors. We serve visually impaired individuals of all ages who live in the New York counties of Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins and Schuyler, as well as the Pennsylvania counties of Bradford, Susquehanna and Tioga.
A.V.R.E. is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. If you would like more information about A.V.R.E. or its services, please feel free to contact us.
Our vision is to be the first in choice and quality with respect to vision rehabilitation and employment services in the Twin Tiers, and to be a model for the broader community in understanding vision disability.
End of newsletter.