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Voice: (702) 631-9009
E-mail: contact@blindconnect.org
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| 2009 ANNUAL REPORT |
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| BLINDCONNECT, INC. |
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Established in 1998, Blindconnect, Inc., has just completed it's
11th year of providing information, referral and peer support to
blind and visually impaired persons in Clark County, Nevada.
2009 was a year focused on positioning the organization for the future. The Board of Directors addressed infrastructure. It established and implemented a 3-year Strategic Plan and formalized operating policies and procedures. Following extensive discussion, it was determined that Blindconnect would continue its information, referral, and peer support activities but play the role of advocate or incubator organization to facilitate provision of needed programs. Focused on its mission to connect blind people to other blind persons, to available services and resources, and to their community-at-large, Blindconnect increased outreach and educational opportunities for the community and for those with severe vision loss in 2009. Blindconnect continued its outreach efforts community-wide through service on state and local boards and committee, presenting programs at service and affiliation groups, and visiting schools to ineract 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 5,000 people were provided some level of information or referral on blindness issues during 2009. 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. 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 fourth 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 2009. The Angelea's House Adjustment to Blindness project launched two exciting actitivities in 2009. One served adults and the other served transition age (14-20) youth. The first, Coping was a mental health program for adults featuring individual and small group counseling to address issues caused by vision loss. This program was provided in partnership with UNLV's Department of Counseling Education which provided the counselor. Blindconnect assumed responsibility for facilitating the peer support group that resulted from the program. Coping served 12 adults 23 to 75; there were measurable improvements in individual coping techniques. With community support from the Reynolds Foundation and Cox Charities, Blindconnect offered Transition, a 60-hour blindness skills training program for transition age youth. Fourteen 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 Easter Seals of Southern Nevada, Regional Transportation Commission, Veterans Administration Vision Services, and the State of Nevada. 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, Easter Seals of Southern Nevada, First Transit Services, Nevada Council for the Blind, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Veterans Administration Vision Services. FUNDRAISING: Blindconnect receives no Federal, State, or local funding to provide its services. Funding comes from memberships ($10/year), donations, and fundraising events. This marked the 6th Annual Angela Hoffman Poker Run which raises money for the Angela's House project. With the support of First Transit, the event was particularly innovative and fun. It was a historical tour of Las Vegas and participants and an enjoyable time. Food, raffles, and the challenge of following directions to checkpoints made October 18 a fun day for all. April marked the first time Blindconnect has done an Appeal. More than 100 letters were sent to former and current supporters of the organization and to potential donors. The activity was financially successful and also allowed Blindconnect to update supports on activities of the organization. 2009 was a transformative year for the organization. Board members feel confident that a sound infrastructure has been established, a clearer direction has been determined, and the future of Blindconnect and its services continues to look promising. |
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