Blindconnect Annual Report

	annual report: 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
	Established in 1998, Blindconnect, Inc. has just completed it’s 12^th year of providing information, referral, and peer support to blind and visually impaired persons in Clark County , Nevada. 2010 was another year of change for the organization. The Board of Directors was restructured to represent a broader view of the community. New members represented partner agencies, those with vision loss, and those who work with blind and visually impaired persons. The focus moved from administrative upgrading to a stronger position of leadership and programming within the community. We continued our emphasis on information, referral and peer support and focused on our mission to connect blind people to other blind persons, to available services and resources, and to their community at large. The organization continued to educate about blindness, to advocate for increased services and inclusion, and to encourage community support. Following Board of Director guidance, Blindconnect continued to work within the blindness community to identify gaps in service and to find providers or to provide the service itself. Blindconnect maintained its outreach efforts community-wide through service on state and local boards and committees, presenting programs at service and affiliation groups, and visiting schools to interact with youth with vision loss. The organization continued to provide information and referral by telephone and in-person to individuals, families, businesses, and governmental entities. Data indicates that nearly 4000 people were provided some level of information or referral on blindness issues during 2010. More than 75 individuals visited the Blindconnect office to learn about opportunities and to test computer programs and high and low-tech equipment to enhance lives.
	annual report: PROGRAMS
	Once again, Blindconnect was the lead agency in providing Vision Forum, a free program featuring workshops and resources for blind and visually impaired persons. This was the fifth year of the collaborative offering which was provided with partners Bureau of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired, City of Las Vegas Leisure Services, Nevada Council of the Blind, and the Veterans Administration Vision Services. More than 200 people attended the one-day event in March, 2010. The Angela’s House Adjustment to Blindness project provided three exciting activities in 2010. One, peer support group, served adults. A second, Transition, served youth age 14-20. The third program, Braille Club, served a cross-section of ages. The peer support program for adults met every Friday in the Blindconnect office. Participants worked together to address issues of blindness and to problem-solve and develop strategies for overcoming barriers to inclusion and employment caused by vision loss. With community support from the D.W. Reynolds Foundation and Cox Charities, Blindconnect offered Transition, a 60-hour blindness skills training program for transition age youth. Twelve youth learned skills in daily living, cane travel, interpersonal relations, advocacy, and cooking during two weeks in July. The program proved highly successful due to collaborations with our partners, Occupational Therapy Assistant program at College of Southern Nevada and Regional Transportation Commission, and our program supporters including Clark County School District, Easter Seals of Southern Nevada, Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center, Bureau of Services to Blind and Visually Impaired, and City of Las Vegas Leisure Services. Braille Club met four times monthly – twice on weekends and twice during the week to provide an introduction to Braille reading and writing and an opportunity for social interaction in a low-key setting. Approximately 20 individuals participated regularly in the two Braille Club sites. It is noteworthy that Blindconnect continues to be highly-collaborative in the provision of program. Finding that collaboration increases impact and reduces duplication of services, the organization has partnered with public and private agencies throughout the year. Partners included: Bureau of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired, City of Las Vegas Leisure Services, Clark County School District, Easter Seals of Southern Nevada, First Transit Services, Nevada Council of the Blind, Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Veterans Administration Vision Services.
	annual report: FUNDRAISING
	Blindconnect receives no Federal, State, or local funding to provide it’s services. Funding comes from grants, memberships ($10/year), donations, and fundraising events. As part of its development plan, the Board of Directors determined that the Angela’s House Poker Run was no longer a viable fundraiser. The activity had been scheduled for six years. Much Board time was spent in identifying potential fundraising activities including appeals, special events, and dinners. Plans were developed for 2011 implementation. However, the Braille Club did fundraising activities to raise money to purchase Braille training manuals and Braille supplies. Activities included making and selling Braille candy bars for the holidays. Additionally, members of Braille Club staffed two gift wrapping booths during December. 2010 marked a return of Blindconnect to a more hands-on program emphasis. Confident that its infrastructure is strong, the organization began planning for new and expanded program opportunities to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired persons In Nevada.