fbpx

Eight Different Ways CABVI Provides Visual Services for People in Utica, NY

July 7, 2016

A man and woman going over paperwork.

If you or your loved one are blind or visually impaired, you know how important it is to have the support you need to live as independently as possible. You may already know about CABVI, which is a not-for-profit agency serving people who are blind or visually impaired, from newborns to the elderly, usually free of charge. But you may not know how broad our range of services actually is. We are pleased to be able to provide people throughout the Utica, NY area with numerous services that can help them achieve their full potential and maintain their independence.

Low vision care helps our clients who have a vision impairment that can’t be corrected by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery. Our mission is to help those with low vision make the most of the vision they have. We offer visual services that include evaluation of the client’s eyesight, prescriptions for low vision optical aids and devices, recommendations for special adaptive devices, and instructions to help you adjust to, and get the maximum benefit from, your new adaptive devices and techniques.

Vision rehab therapy helps people throughout the Utica, NY area with the daily tasks of everyday life. Our visual rehabilitation therapists review financial management, meal preparation, home safety, organization and health and wellness, and provide people with adaptive equipment including talking calculators, talking watches, contrast cutting boards, writing templates and medication planners. This eye service helps people get the tools they need to stay safely in their own home for as long as possible.

Orientation and mobility is a visual service that teaches techniques for safe navigation, including home and stair navigation, crossing streets, determining locations, and traveling safely throughout homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. CABVI offers people instruction in indoor travel, community travel, use of public transportation, use of a cane and other mobility tools and more.

Adjusting to vision loss can be difficult for people. There are many ways it can affect people socially, as well as at work and in personal relationships. Some of the eye services CABVI offers to people in the Utica, NY area help with this adjustment. We provide individual and group therapy, family therapy, benefit counseling, community linkages, and referrals to other organizations and programs. We also have a Sight Shoppe at our Kent Street location that provides a vast array of equipment that helps people with vision loss maintain independence while modifying their home, school or work environment.

Visual services are important for all people, but they are extremely important for children with visual impairments. CABVI provides comprehensive services for children with visual impairments from birth through age 18. The more children can do, the better image they have of themselves as they build their future. We provide early intervention for children from birth to age three, a preschool vision screening program, and school age services.

Having the right technology helps the blind and visually impaired live fuller, more independent lives. CABVI provides people throughout the Utica, NY area with the technology services they need that include text-to-speech programs, screen magnification programs, Braille output devices, portable note takers, technical assistance to businesses and schools and a technology center that teaches students computer skills and how to best use adaptive devices.

Employment services for the blind and visually impaired helps people find rewarding opportunities. In addition to our many eye services, we are happy to help people with job placement services, vocational skills training, work experience training, pre-vocational skills for young adults, and our pre-vocational skills training center. Additionally, through Central Industries, we are also able to provide employment to the blind and visually impaired in our area.

Outreach is another visual service we proudly offer throughout the Utica, NY area and beyond. We provide businesses, organizations, community venues and individuals with presentations that explain all the eye services CABVI has to offer. We show people what we can do to help with the challenges people with vision loss are facing. And, we offer a mobile version of our Sight Shoppe where a member of our professional staff will demonstrate the use of technologically advanced adaptive equipment.

If you’d like to learn more about how CABVI helps people in the Utica, NY area get the visual services they need, you may visit us at our offices at 507 Kent Street in Utica, NY, give us a call at 1-877-719-9996 or 1-315-797-2233, or contact us online. We will be more than happy to help you get the eye services you need to maintain your independence and live life to the fullest.