Keystone Blind Association preparing for baby boomers

By Jonathan Fister
President and CEO,Keystone Blind Association

The Keystone Blind Association has become one of the premier agencies serving blind and visually-impaired persons in Pennsylvania. The growth and development of agency programs has been under way for several years in preparation for a expected increase in the number of people the Blind Association serves.

Although KBA serves all ages, the largest block of people needing services are those older than 65. As people age, there is greater opportunity for vision loss. The incidence of macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract and other causes of vision loss increase as we age. Since more Americans are living longer, there has been and will continue to be significant increases in the number of people experiencing severe vision loss. This phenomenon will be exacerbated as the “baby boom” generation reaches age 65 and above.

In preparation of this increased demand, KBA has added new programs and new personnel with the special skills needed to help a growing number of visually-impaired people.

A certified orientation and mobility instructor was added to the staff in 1999. KBA had not previously offered this important service. This program is designed to increase the independence of blind and visually-impaired persons by teaching the skills necessary for safe and independent travel.

Blind and visually-impaired students in grades 1 to 6 are exposed to a variety of environments in order to increase their awareness of basic concepts (hotcold, updown, muddywaterydry) necessary to function in every day life.

Blind and visually-impaired students in grades 7 to 12 are exposed to career opportunities and the skills necessary to function in the work world through Career Caravan.

Blind and visually-impaired persons can listen to the newspaper via a voice-mail system that includes readings from the obituaries, court records, birth announcements, food ads, comics, etc.

KBA provides instruction in the use of adapted technology (computers, closed-circuit TV, etc.) to blind and visually-impaired persons to improve their job skills or for their personal use. An Adaptive Technology Center will open at the Sharon facility in the spring.

KBA continues to provide a host of other specialized and rehabilitation services to its nearly 600 clients. The agency also provides a wide variety of prevention of blindness services. KEY Enterprises workcenter is also a division of Keystone Blind Association. Anyone wanting additional information should call the agency at 3475501.

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