ABOUT US

Who We Are And Why

Founded in 1918, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind serves areas within Luzerne and Wyoming Counties. A private, nonprofit, charitable organization, we have modeled our services on the legacy of our founder, Arline Phillips, an energetic blind educator. Arline's mission was to brighten the lives of her fellow blind friends by teaching Braille communication, as well as the development of other personal skills to prepare them to live more satisfying and independent lives.

Today, our mission has been expanded to address the needs of those with limited vision and we also take an active role in the prevention of blindness.  From screening preschool aged children for possible vision problems, to visiting seniors suffering from age-related vision loss due to macular degeneration, chances are the Association has helped, or is helping, someone you know. 

Visit Us

Our facility is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM.   Just minutes from downtown Wilkes-Barre, we are conveniently located on Wyoming Avenue (Route 11).  The Luzerne County Transportation Authority runs a bus to and from Public Square in Wilkes-Barre past our building all day. 

For bus times, click on the following link:  LCTA Bus Schedule to Our Facility (Bus #11 West Pittston)

For map and directions:  Map Quest

SERVICES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

The Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind is committed to helping people with vision loss to live more satisfying lives.  Our qualified and experienced rehabilitation teachers and caseworkers provide free adaptive aids and instruction in their use.  Whether it is teaching a blind adult daily living skills, or a blind child to read Braille, each year our dedicated staff works one-on-one assisting hundreds of blind individuals in their own homes. 

The Association for the Blind believes reading should be enjoyed by all.  To this end, we provide free talking book machines from the Library of Congress.  Also, in cooperation with King's College Radio, volunteers read the daily newspaper from 10AM until noon on the Radio Home Visitor program, 88.5 FM.

Eligible individuals may receive eye examinations, eyeglasses, and low vision aids through the Marilyn Moore Maslow Vision Resource Center.  For an appointment, call us at (570) 693-3555.

A Summer Day Camp for Blind and Visually Impaired Children provided kids with the opportunity to experience many things that most of them have never done before.  A big thank you goes out to everyone who made the camp possible! 

Adjustment to Sight Loss

Socialization & Recreation

Support Group

Talking Book Machines

Communication Skills

Braille Training

Computer Classes

Independent Living

Access Technology Training

Adaptive Aids and Devices

In-Home Sighted Assistance

Life Skills Education

Summer Program for Blind Children

Vision Rehabilitation Therapy

Marilyn Moore Maslow Vision Resource Center

Assortment of Affordable Magnifiers

Eye Exams for Medically Indigent

Eyeglasses for Neighbors in Need

Low Vision Services

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS

It is not surprising that when someone grows up believing that blind people are helpless and dependent on other; he himself becomes helpless and dependent when age-related vision loss strikes.

For this reason, we teach children from a very young age that blindness can be overcome with proper training and frame of mind. Additionally, they learn to protect their precious gift of sight through a variety of age-appropriate learning programs such as the Sgt. Seymour Eye Safety and Treasure In Sight education programs.

Also, since early detection and treatment of eye problems can prevent needless sight loss, we offer free vision screenings for preschool aged children, as well as for adults.

HELPFUL HINTS OF COURTESY

HELPFUL LINKS

The Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind is not responsible for the content of any of the links listed below.  They are provided for informational purposes only.

American Foundation for the Blind

American Macular Degeneration Foundation

American Printing House of the Blind

Blindness Resource Center

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services

Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Philadelphia

National Eye Institute

Overbrook School for the Blind - Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Association for the Blind

Pennsylvania Lions Clubs

Prevent Blindness America

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic

United States Association of Blind Athletes

Vision Aware

Vision Connection

VOLUNTEERS

Each year, dozens of volunteers provide thousands of hours of service to assist in the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind's dual mission of service to the blind and the prevention of blindness.

Volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities, including assisting in preschool vision screenings, reading the newspaper on the Radio Home Visitor program, or visiting a visually impaired neighbor.

If you would like to find out more about how to volunteer, Email us here or give us a call at (570) 693-3555.

DONORS

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As a private, nonprofit, charity, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind relies on the generous support from our neighbors to help continue our valuable program of services. Support can be made in various ways:

Memorials - A lovely way to commemorate a deceased family member or friend is through a memorial contribution. Gifts can be in any amount, and you will receive an acknowledgment, the memorial will be published in our annual donor report, and the family or next-of-kin will be notified of your memorial to the Blind Association without mentioning the amount of the gift.  Tribute Gifts work in the same fashion and can be made to honor a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary.

Annual Appeal - Each Fall the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind conducts an Annual Appeal campaign to help fund the coming year's special programs and services. Support for the Association can include tangible personal property, real property, cash, or pledges which can be billed at your request.  Gifts of real estate owned for longer than one year may be entitled to a charitable deduction equal to the full fair market value of the property and allows you to avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation.  Also, consider a gift of stock.  This entitles you to a tax deduction for the market value of the donated stock; and if it has been held for more than one year, you can avoid capital gains tax on any appreciation of the stock by donating it prior to the sale.

Planned Giving - Bequests, Charitable Trusts, and gifts of Appreciated Assets are methods by which even the person of average or modest income can leave a sizable legacy.  For instance, consider these options:

• Gifts of Life Insurance - You may have purchased a policy years ago to provide for children or others that is no longer necessary.  In that case, consider donating the policy to the Association.  You can claim a charitable deduction for the policy's cash surrender value and the proceeds will be completely removed from your estate's assets.

• Life Income Plans - You irrevocably transfer some of your assets to the Association now, and in return, you receive an income for life (and a beneficiary if you wish).  These include Charitable Gift Annuities -  whereby in exchange for your gift of cash, we agree to pay you a fixed amount annually for your lifetime.  The transfer is part gift and part purchase of an annuity.  The rate of return is attractive and the payments are guaranteed for life.  Charitable Remainder Trusts - Through this life income plan, you transfer assets to a Trust that pays you an income for life.  At the end of the Trust, the remaining trust assets are transferred to the Association.  A bank or trusted advisor can serve as your trustee. 

• Retirement Plans - The assets in your 401 (k), IRA, or Keogh can be heavily taxed when passed on to your heirs.  In addition to estate taxes, retirement plan assets are subject to income taxes, resulting in as much as 75% of these assets going to the IRS instead of your heirs.  This tax burden can be avoided, getting the most from your money, by naming the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind as a beneficiary.  Or, you can name a family member as beneficiary with the Association as an alternative beneficiary.  Any amount passed on to the Association will be free of estate and income taxes.

If we may help you or a loved one, or if you would simply like to contact us for more information, please come by and see us or contact us at (570) 693-3555, or Email us here. 

Thank you for caring.  In the words of Helen Keller, "There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark."

LOVE IS BLIND Capital Campaign

With hundreds of blind and visually impaired clients to serve, things were getting a little cramped at our previous location in the Kirby Health center Annex in Wilkes-Barre.  Our new facility at 1825 Wyoming Avenue in Exeter is more centrally located within the Association's service area of Luzerne and Wyoming Counties with sufficient space to provide all programs under one roof, making operations more efficient.  Included in the new 6,090 square foot building is a kitchen-classroom where our rehabilitation therapist can teach domestic independent living skills; a technical training lab to help blind and visually impaired individuals become better prepared for competitive employment; a vision resource center for helping people with severe sight loss receive the appropriate adaptive aids and optical devices to live more independently; and a large multi-purpose room for conducting life skills education classes and social activities accommodating up to 70 people.  In July, the Association embarked on an ambitious $1.5 million capital campaign to finance this project.  Connie Scott, President of the Board of Directors states: "Although the 'Love Is Blind' campaign is a major undertaking, we felt that it was something that had to be done, not only to increase our visibility and to more adequately serve the blind and visually impaired in our community, but to prepare for increased demands for our services in the future".

A Message from our "Love Is Blind" Capital Campaign Co-Chairs

You can feel the excitement of hope.  It is our plan, indeed our dream, that in this new facility both the physical and psychological impediments will be removed.  And the blind will be empowered to live their lives with vigor and fulfillment.  The "Love Is Blind" campaign is not about bricks and mortar, it is about freedom and security for our blind and visually impaired friends.  This new center will be the only specialized facility in our region where every aspect has been designed to aid the blind.  We are very pleased to tell you that we have raised just over $1 Million to date.  As we now publicly reach out to the community, we ask you to consider making a gift to the campaign.  All gifts, no matter the amount, are most welcome and gratefully appreciated.  If you believe in the good of people to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, strongly consider your role in the "Love Is Blind" Capital Campaign.  Please make a difference by contacting the Association for the Blind at 570-693-3555, or at info@wilkesbarreblind.com.  -- Marion Pollock & Shirley Fortinsky

Naming Opportunities Available

Naming The Building - $500,000  >  Multi-Purpose Room - $250,000  (SOLD) >  Independent Living Training (Kitchen) - $100,000 (SOLD)  >  Vocational Training - $75,000  >  Reception Area - $75,000  >  Elevator - $50,000 (SOLD)  >  Access Technology Training  >  $50,000  >  Vestibule Main Entrance - $25,000  >  1st Floor Lobby - $25,000  >  2nd Floor Lobby - $25,000  >  2nd Floor Conference Room - $25,000  >  Talking Book Lending Library - $25,000  >  Executive Director's Office - $25,000  >  Vestibule, Side Entrance - $15,000  >  Director of Services Office - $15,000 (SOLD)  >  Vision Screening/Prevention Office - $15,000 (SOLD)  >  Administrative Assistant's Office - $10,000  (SOLD) >  Social Services Office - $10,000 (SOLD)  >  Development/Public Relations Office - $10,000 (SOLD)  >  Furnishings per Room or Office - $5,000 (each)

Spring 2009 and 2008 Annual Report Combined Doc.

QUARTERLY SOCIAL RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS