The Top Five Things I Didn’t Know About BVRS

Before Becoming President

Prior to accepting the position as BVRS’s President, I did a lot of research on the organization. I wanted to understand what the organization did, how it was composed, and what effect it had on the people who were served. After searching the website, reviewing 990’s, and talking to individuals who were familiar with the organization, I thought I had a great understanding of the organization’s impact.

Then I started and realized to really understand the impact, I had to meet the people who had been affected and hear their stories. There are so many things I have learned since I started here last July. There are five specific things that I learned that made me feel very proud to be the leader of BVRS.

1.  BVRS provides Preschool Vision Screening to more than 10,000 children per year.

I was astounded to learn that 1 in 20 children have an undiagnosed vision problem. I was further amazed to learn that if these problems are caught in children by the time they are 3 years old, they have a 95 percent correction rate. Once the child reaches age 7, this correction rate decreases to only 5 percent. I take special pride in knowing that our organization is helping to prevent vision loss in children.

2.  BVRS’s Industries program provides employment to 17 individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or who have other disabilities. Each of these individuals receives health benefits, paid sick, vacation and personal days, and a retirement plan. When conducting my research, I assumed that this program was a workshop program where individuals were paid sub-minimum wages and had no opportunity for benefits. I was so excited to learn otherwise.

3.  BVRS’s Industries staff make all of the roll-up road signs for the state of Pennsylvania. Additionally, we make charcoal filters for submarines, and sew aprons and other textile products for the armed services.

4.  BVRS does not just provide services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. We serve youth and adults with autism, developmental delays, and behavioral health diagnoses through our adult day, employment, and transition programs. Since starting at this organization, I hear over and over again that most people are not aware of this fact.

5.  Although I knew through my research that the organization provided Personal Adjustment to Blindness Training, I didn’t realize how much of a difference the program makes in people’s lives. Since coming to BVRS, I hear story after story of individuals who came to us depressed, afraid, and hopeless. After learning techniques to help return to activities they had done prior to losing their vision, each person reported a new sense of joy and independence.

Every day I learn new things about this organization that make me proud to work here. I wanted to share these items because I am sure others who are not familiar with the organization are not aware of these facts. I look forward to many more years of learning and informing the public of the great things we do here at BVRS!