For nearly a century, Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh (BVRS) has provided an abundance of programs and services to people of all ages who are vision impaired, deaf-blind, or have other disabilities.

BVRS is a private, non-profit, United Way agency that believes in independence through rehabilitation. Our mission is: “To reduce the limitations that may result from the loss of vision.”

Our roots in the Pittsburgh community are deep. Nearly 100 years ago the Pittsburgh Blind Association of Oakland was formed to provide employment to people with vision loss. In 1959 the Greater Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind of Bridgeville was created to help people with vision loss develop independence skills.

Those organizations merged in 1997, and for a short time the new agency was called Pittsburgh Vision Services. With a move to Homestead, PA in 2005, the Board of Directors gave the agency a new name—Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh—to better reflect the agency’s mission and those whom it serves.

Today, the missions of both parent organizations are fulfilled through BVRS.

Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh provides services in three main areas --

Evaluation, Training and Support.

Evaluation

	For low vision devices to help with limited tasks such as reading and writing
	For adaptive computer technology for use by individuals or agencies
	For career goals, training and job placement
	For employers, assessments for work environments
	For skills to address functioning with a vision loss
	For vision problems in pre-school children

Training

	In Career skills
	In use of adaptive computer technology
	In use of low vision devices
	In independent travel and daily living skills
	In adaptive recreation and leisure skills

Support

	Counseling and referral for coping with vision loss
	Job support for employers and employees
	Limited day programming for adults with vision loss and other disabilities
	Manufacturing services for government and private contracts
	Braille production services for community agencies and companies
	Vision, Gifts and More- a retail store featuring adaptive products for the blind and visually impaired

 

To make a referral or to learn more about any of these programs please call our Information and Referral Department at 412-368-4400 or 1-800-706-5050 (within Pennsylvania).

Or 

Contact  info&ref@pghvis.org.

Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh Directors