Barriers Removing
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remov i ng barriers Our mission is to eliminate blindness and severe sight loss as Barriers. We face them everyday. Many are real, physical obstacles. But a barrier to a fulfilling life. so many others are just ideas—ideas about who we are and what we can or cannot do—emotional barriers that can be more difficult to break through than even the highest fence or widest chasm. Fact is —no matter how we define barrier, most of us could use a little help in overcoming them. And for the child who is visually impaired, or for the individual who has recently experienced sight loss, even the simplest obstacles can seem impassable. Fortunately, at Braille Institute, we are actively helping people everyday—young and not so young—to remove the barriers in their lives, to break through, to live. bar.ri.er (bar-ee-er) , n. 1. anything built that blocks or is intended to block passage: For people in need, there are never any barriers before the doors of Braille Institute. 2. any natural formation or obstacle: Thanks to Braille Institute’s mobility training, the busy intersection was no longer a barrier for the woman as she walked to work. 3. any- thing that restrains or obstructs progress, access, etc.: Macular degeneration could have been a barrier to the retired teacher’s long-awaited travels if not for Braille Institute and the renewed independence he discovered there. 4. a limit or boundary of any kind: Inspired and informed by Braille Institute’s support group, the young parents were more determined than ever to help their child overcome any barrier that might stand in his way. -Syn. 1. palisade, wall. 1-3. obstruction, hindrance, impediment. 4. Those limitations we all feel when confronted with life’s toughest challenges. -Ant. 1-4. Braille Institute CAT Braille Institute location : Orange County, CA bar.ri.er (bar-ee-er) , n. WORKING 1. after years of struggling in school, finally discovering that you have Stargardt Disease, an inherited form of juvenile macular degeneration: Stargardt Disease became the barrier to Cat continuing her university education. 2. finding a passion for teaching children, but being unable to find employment: Refusing to let her sight loss become a barrier, Cat came to Braille Institute for the training and tools that she needed to achieve her goals. Through our Young Adult Program, Braille Institute assisted Cat with her résumé and provided the job-preparation skills required to find the job of her dreams—teaching at-risk teens. CAT Braille Institute location : Orange County, CA HELPING THEM MAKE THE GRADE “I was working in the university’s disabled student service center when a girlfriend told me about Braille Institute. And now I am the one making a difference in the lives of my students. I’m extremely fortunate. I love what I do.” RYAN Braille Institute location : Los Angeles, CA bar.ri.er (bar-ee-er) , n. GROWING 1. parenting a child who has experienced vision loss due to retinoblastoma, a childhood cancer of the retina: Concerned about the barriers facing their visually impaired child, Ryan’s parents looked to Braille Institute for answers. 2. growing up legally blind but still wanting to run and play and do all the things that kids want to do: Before coming to Braille Institute, Ryan was sometimes hesitant to try new activities or face the barriers life put in his way. After meeting with Braille Institute’s Child Development staff, Ryan’s parents were able to see beyond the many barriers facing them and their son. Ryan flourished in our Youth Program, and is currently knocking down barriers—and his karate instructor—every day he comes to Braille Institute. RYAN Braille Institute location : Los Angeles, CA KNOCKING DOWN LIFE’S OBSTACLES “My wife and I got a lot out of the parent groups at Braille Institute. We could see a tremendous change in Ryan almost overnight. He loves to play and make new friends, just like any kid. We’re very proud of him.” LARRY Braille Institute location : San Diego, CA bar.ri.er (bar-ee-er) , n. GARDENING 1. teaching theater to college students one day and waking up the next with macular degeneration: Larry’s sudden vision loss proved an insurmountable barrier in his life. 2. Coping with the frustration, hopelessness and anger that comes with sight loss: When a nurse told Larry about Braille Institute, Larry made the decision to confront the barriers standing in his way. Through our Counseling and Support Services, Larry was introduced to adaptive technology that helped him to overcome his barriers and improve his outlook on life. As a result, Larry’s once again doing the things he loves most—cultivating fresh minds in the university classroom and his favorite orchids in his greenhouse and garden. LARRY Braille Institute location : San Diego, CA TAKING BACK MY INDEPENDENCE “A lot of people come here with a chip on their shoulder. I was one of them—angry, frustrated, scared. But the people at Braille Institute gave me the courage to learn to live again.” DEAR FRIENDS “No one steps twice into the same river,” wrote the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus some 25 centuries ago. At a Glance And so it still is today. Change is an inescapable constant that every organization must face. At Braille Institute we have experienced unusual change in the form of People Assisted 71,944 growth and renewal that became especially evident this past year. Staff (291.7 FTE) 317 Examples include our Braille Challenge™ literacy program, which did not even Volunteers 3,602 exist a few short years ago. In 2007 it reached new heights with braille-reading youngsters from all across North America competing for top prizes. Volunteer/Staff Ratio 11 to 1 Facilities Managed 426,000 sq. ft. Another recent development has been our Braille Special Collection program which now provides nearly 1,000 titles of great children’s literature in braille to Administrative Costs 2.8% more than half of all known braille-reading children in the United States —all Fundraising Costs 9.2% free of charge to those families. Still another recent and dynamic service is our Braille Institute Telephone Reader Program. Through this innovative program, volunteers read selections from various newspapers and magazines that are accessed by more than 9,000 visu- ally impaired people here in Southern California via touchtone telephone. This program received top recognition in 2007 by the American Library Association. Through the normal process of employee turnover and retirements, we have gained some outstanding new staff members this year from vice presidents to professional service providers and supporting staff. They have all brought fresh insight and energy into our organization. Yet amidst change and growth, some things must remain the same. The vast bulk of our programs from low vision rehabilitation and child development to youth and career services, library, braille publishing and all our other rehabilitation services have continued to provide the consistent, high quality professional service for which we are known. There is one other constant at Braille Institute. None of the impact we have in the lives of thousands of blind and visually impaired men, women, children and their families would be remotely possible without the rich chemistry of our generous donors, tireless volunteers and dedicated staff. To all of you we extend our profound gratitude. James H. Jackson, Chairman Leslie E. Stocker, Jr., President Community Outreach PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Center Students Enrolled Sites Visited Communities Visited Contact Hours Los Angeles 1,192 65 65 9,916 Orange County 543 44 22 3,822 Rancho Mirage 255 56 24 2,089 Programs For Adults Universal Media Services Santa Barbara 477 48 40 13,414 More than 200 free classes in adaptation to sight loss, Our Universal Media Services has the ability to con- San Diego 1,210 69 21 21,165 orientation and mobility and independent living are vert printed materials into the various types of media Totals 3,677 282 172 50,406 offered at all five regional centers, as well as counseling formats used by blind and visually impaired people. and support services. Volunteer Services Low Vision Rehabilitation Center Volunteers Hours Child Development Services Upon free assessment of each client’s visual needs, In-home early intervention services for parents of Braille Institute provides expert recommendation Los Angeles 1,866 80,228 blind infants and toddlers ages 0 to 5 emphasize for devices and techniques to maximize client’s Core 704 63,565 developmental skills. remaining vision. Short Term 312 11,454 Occasional 850 5,209 ™ Orange County 560 28,394 Youth & Career Services The Braille Challenge Core 265 26,793 Programs for children ages 6 to 18 and for young Our innovative nation-wide academic competition Short Term 3 124 Occasional 292 1,477 adults ages 19 to 30 foster independent living skills promotes braille literacy, rewarding high achievement Rancho Mirage 131 14,777 and employment preparation skills, offering intern- and stressing the importance of braille reading and Core 111 14,358 ships, job counseling and referrals. writing skills among visually impaired youths. Short Term 0 0 Occasional 20 419 Library Services San Diego 307 13,913 Core 168 13,562 Braille Institute’s national award-winning Library Short Term 0 0 Services provides brailled and talking books by mail, Occasional 139 351 offering patrons access to thousands of titles. Santa Barbara 828 23,195 Core 314 21,275 Short Term 1 6 Occasional 513 1,914 Total 3,602 160,507 Annual Designated Assignments (unduplicated total) 5,003 Universal