COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions on personal interactions have been difficult for everyone, but they can be particularly difficult for people who are blind, who often rely on their sense of touch to interact with the world. To help ease the feeling of isolation caused by pandemic restrictions, NIB associated nonprofit agencies have developed creative ways to restructure their in-person community programs to continue delivering services that are critical to their clients’ […]

They get up early each weekday, often traveling great distances to assist their fellow Floridians in need. During tough economic times and record high unemployment, they consider themselves fortunate to have jobs. And despite diverse backgrounds, they share a common bond: blindness or visually impairment. Meet members of the Lighthouse Works 4Sight360 call center team […]

Utilizing its extensive textile operations and its team of experienced sewing operators, many of whom are blind, NIB associated nonprofit agency IFB Solutions is manufacturing thousands of cloth face masks to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The masks are being made for the United States Air Force and general public, and donated to VA […]

Our agencies haven’t stopped there – employees are volunteering time, donating supplies, and hosting virtual support groups to help their local communities. Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Utica, New York, organized a community collection of 50,000 cloth masks. Arizona Industries for the Blind partnered with local food banks to package and deliver food […]

It was already a leader in the production of safety vests, coveralls, and other protective gear, so when the clarion call was sounded for more resources to fight COVID-19, New York’s Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (NABA) was pleased to step up to the plate. Founded in 1908, the NIB associated nonprofit agency […]

In a storied history spanning 117 years, Milwaukee-based Beyond Vision has witnessed two World Wars, the Great Depression of the 1930s, the social changes of the 1960s and 70s, and many other cataclysmic events. The NIB associated nonprofit agency employing people who are blind or visually impaired has weathered it all. Founded in 1903, Beyond […]

Just a few months ago, employees at the Austin Lighthouse for the Blind would never have dreamed that the hand sanitizers and soaps they produce would become key weapons in the fight against one of the most formidable foes our nation has ever faced. But as the nationwide threat from the coronavirus became more apparent, […]

To do its part in the fight against the coronavirus, NIB associated nonprofit agency Bosma Enterprises is continuing its long tradition of supplying medical gloves and other supplies to aid hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which are among those at the forefront in battling COVID-19. Established in Indianapolis in 1915, Bosma […]

For those struggling with social distancing, which can be even more difficult for people who are blind, several associated agencies have been lending a virtual hand. Outlook Nebraska is operating a hotline and the Lighthouse for the Blind Fort Worth is hosting online support groups. In the Washington, D.C., area, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind […]

When the calls for help came in, he couldn’t say no. That’s how Mike Gilliam, CEO and President of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Vision Impaired, describes his response to pleas from University Hospital and the Southwest Research Institute to start making washable, reusable cloth masks for local healthcare professionals fighting the […]