2010 Annual Report

Centennial Annual Report 2010 Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh Changing the lives of persons with vision loss and other disabilities by fostering independence and individual choice. ontents C Letter from The President and Chairman .............................. 4 Statements of Activities .................................................... 5 Service Statistics ............................................................. 6 100-Year History .............................................................. 7 Today ............................................................................. 9 Our Future ..................................................................... 12 Board of Directors ........................................................... 13 Contributors ................................................................... 14 100of Vision Years 3 etter from The President and The Board Chairman 2010, with its challenges and oppor- methods, this is the time to think inno- tunities,L has certainly been a year to vatively and proactively. We are en- remember – it was the gaged in a strategic year that Blind & Vi- plan for the future so sion Rehabilitation Ser- that we can continue vices of Pittsburgh to weather difficult marked its 100th anni- economic times. This versary. process will help to en- While BVRS experi- sure that we are effec- enced many difficult tively and efficiently changes in 2010, the providing the most agency remained resil- needed programs to ient and dedicated to our clients. our mission. The staff We are blessed to Erika Arbogast Michael A. Romano continued to serve our have dedicated board President Chairman clients with passion, members, volunteers, love, and individualized attention de- employees, and donors that provide spite losing President Stephen Barrett both time and financial support to the to cancer in April 2010. At a time when organization. Without these giving indi- many of them were hurting, staff mem- viduals, the agency could not have en- bers funneled their pain into care and dured the last 100 years. We are ex- compassion for the individuals that we tremely grateful to these individuals for serve. the assistance that they provide to the Because of this care and compas- agency and pledge to steward their dol- sion, 10,281 preschoolers were lars in the most effective way. screened for potentially life-altering eye We are excited about the future and diseases, 37 individuals who were for the opportunities that will arise out newly blind or experiencing vision loss of challenging times. The theme of our learned how to be more independent 2010 annual report is ―100 Years of Vi- through our Personal Adjustment to sion.‖ By studying our past and updat- Blindness Training, and 252 youth and ing our current programs to meet the adults with disabilities learned skills to needs of consumers, we will ensure help them secure employment. that Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Ser- Although we continue to face fund- vices of Pittsburgh continues to flourish ing cuts and changes in service delivery in the next 100 years of service to our community. 4 5 100 Years of Vision ervice Statistics SEach year, Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh provides programs and services that enable greater independence for thousands of people with vision loss. BVRS training and employment services help clients to resume their lives, enjoy hobbies, continue working and care for themselves and their families. COMMUNITY SERVICES include Preschool Vision Screening, Transportation Ser- vices, Group Training, Information and Intake, Case Management and Public Edu- cation. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS offer Personal Adjustment to Blindness Training, Low Vision, Computer Access Technology, Career and Community Adjustment, Col- lege Preparation and Community Based Training. VOCATIONAL SERVICES include Community, Senior and Employment Transi- tion, along with Employment Support for adults and teens. BVRS accomplishes all of these services with its dedicated staff and hundreds of faithful volunteers. Below are the numbers of individuals served in 2010. 6 ne Hundred-Year History OIn 2010, we have been celebrating the this was oph- 100th anniversary of one of Blind & Vi- thalmia neo- sion Rehabilitation Services of Pitts- natorum, a burgh’s founding agencies, the Pitts- condition that burgh Blind Association (PBA). PBA was newborns incorporated in 1910 to prevent blind- contracted ness and to provide jobs for people with when ex- vision loss. posed to At the same time we’ve been com- harmful bac- memorating the rich history of the teria in the Greater Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind, birth canal. BVRS’ other founding agency that was Few people incorporated in 1959 to teach rehabili- knew that a tation techniques to vision-impaired few drops of silver nitrate placed in a clients. baby’s eyes would kill the bacteria and The work of both agencies— prevent blindness. consolidated in 1997 to become BVRS— Three private citizens stepped up to has led to greater independence for confront these problems. Phoebe J. thousands of people with vision loss Ruslander, a prominent Pittsburgh com- who, due to training and/or employ- munity leader, responded to the call of her ment services through BVRS, have been organization, the National Council of Jew- able to resume their lives, enjoy hob- ish Women, who sought to address the bies, continue working and care for needs of adults who were blind. William themselves and their families. Wightman Blair, a Pittsburgh ophthalmolo- The story of the agencies that became gist, wanted to do something about the BVRS began 100 years ago when immigra- growing number of blind people he was tion was booming and rapidly expanding seeing in his practice. Thomas McAlo- industrialization was fraught with unsafe ney, Superintendent of the Western conditions. For workers who were dis- Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, abled or blinded on the job, the choices and his Board of Directors were in- were few. creasingly concerned about the difficulty An estimated 7,000 blind adults lived that the school’s graduates had in in Pennsylvania and no social safety nets finding employment. existed: no job retraining, no workers’ From their efforts, the organiza- compensation, no social security, and no tion that became the Pittsburgh Asso- welfare. Injured workers relied on the ciation for the Blind was founded in kindness of their families or begged in 1910 to provide employment to per- the streets to survive. sons who were blind, and to promote At the same time, preventable blindness blindness prevention. 100of Vision Years was growing rapidly. A leading cause of Nearly 50 years later, Father Paul (continued) 7 One Hundred-Year History (continued) Lackner learned that In 2005 the con- the U.S. Army and solidation was com- the Veterans Admini- pleted when the stration had developed buildings of both systematic training agencies were sold methods to rehabili- and the new agency tate blinded sol- was renamed Blind & diers. Father Lackner Vision Rehabilitation was the Director of Services of Pitts- the Catholic Guild for burgh. At that time the Blind and respon- our programs and sible for transportation administration of- and social services for fices were relo- adult Catholics without cated to our cur- vision. Under the leader- rent home, the for- ship of Bishop John mer Homestead Wright, a non- Hospital located denominational reha- one mile from the bilitation center called the Greater Pitts- Waterfront Shopping Center. Our In- burgh Guild for the Blind was formed in dustries programs were moved to a 1959 to bring training to blind adults in Pitts- North Side industrial park where there burgh. Its mission was Independence is easy shipping access and room for through Rehabilitation. growth. With PAB and the Guild, vision- impaired Pittsburghers were well served. Many thanks to Dr. Richard L. Welsh, for- mer Pittsburgh Vision Services president, Over time, however, the ability to sustain for his research for our centennial year. both agencies became an increas- ing chal- lenge. In 1997 the Boards of both agencies decided to consoli- date the two into one agency that became Pitts- burgh Vision Services. 8 VRS Today BSince its inception in 1910, Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh has nur- tured a commitment to enhance the quality of life for persons with vision loss, including those with additional disabilities. This dedication has established a foundation affording the agency to grow and to meet the community’s changing needs with valuable services, effective programs, advanced technology and, ultimately, success stories. PRESCHOOL VISION SCREENING – BVRS tation and escort service from their staff with the assistance of a team of up homes to their doctor’s office, grocery to 800 volunteers, screen more than store, bank, post office and other des- 10,000 preschoolers every year for a tinations. Staff also help with small variety of conditions, some of which household tasks. can save a child’s sight if caught early. CASE MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION & SUPPORTIVE SERVICES – Through this REFERRAL – BVRS’ case managers pro- program, people in the community vide information to clients and their who have vision loss receive transpor- families about BVRS programs, help create individualized treatment plans that include onsite and community services, help clients secure funding, and provide advocacy and support. The information and referral special- ists provide information to

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