Braille Institute of America

There are approximately seven million adults in the United States currently struggling with vision changes. But they’re not getting the help they need.   That’s why we’re here.   Meet Vision Support America, a new initiative and program of Braille Institute of America. Our goal is to make it easier than ever for people navigating vision changes to find the support they need, wherever they are in the country. Through quick tip videos, live learning sessions, and live specialist support over the phone, we’re helping people build confidence and continue to live independently.   Now, vision support is just a click or a call away—and always 100% free.   Braille Institute is here to stay, and starting today, we’re ready to help even more people across the nation through Vision Support America.   Ready to learn more? Visit VisionSupport.org   #VisionLoss #LowVision #VisionRehabilitation #BrailleInstitute Image Description: A smiling woman wearing glasses sits on the couch in her living room, holding her phone to her ear. A banner with an ink blue drop-down shadow includes the text, "Introducing..." and the Vision Support America by Braille Institute logo in ink blue and a vibrant poppy orange.

Join us for a free, in-person estate planning workshop featuring experts Stephen Miyabe, J.D., and Rosa Lee, CFP® from Northern Trust Wealth Management and our Senior Director of Development Cindy T. Rorman, CSPG. When: Tuesday, May 19 from 12:00 to 1:30 PM Where: Braille Institute Los Angeles Center You’ll learn the basic components of an estate plan, the purpose behind many estate planning techniques, and how to incorporate charitable strategies as part of your plan for the future—including tax-efficient ways to support Braille Institute’s free services. Complimentary lunch will also be served. Space is limited, so don’t wait. Register by Friday, May 15 to save your spot! Please call Arlene Stevenson at (323) 210-2556 or register online here: https://bit.ly/4u5clEZ Image Description: White and ink blue graphic featuring two grandparents smiling at each other and their baby grandchild as they hold her in their laps and the Braille Institute and Northern Trust logos. Text reads, "Preserve Your Legacy. Join us for a free estate planning workshop, featuring experts from Northern Trust! Tuesday, May 19 from 12:00 to 1:30 PM. Braille Institute Los Angeles Center." #EstatePlanning #FinancialPlanning #LegacyPlanning #EstateStrategies

Coachella Valley, we’re home! Braille Institute has been proudly serving the Coachella Valley region since 1973. But yesterday, May 6, we celebrated the start of a new era with the official groundbreaking of our new, full-service community hub for people with blindness and low vision. One-quarter of the Coachella Valley population is 65 or older, and that number continues to grow as more people retire in the area. This age group is far more likely to develop vision loss due to macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Our new center marks an expansion of our FREE services for Coachella Valley residents to meet this growing need. Thank you to our incredible community partners for joining us yesterday and all you do to make our mission possible! Image Description: A group of smiling people wearing hardhats and holding shovels during the ceremonial turning of the soil in front of the new Braille Institute Coachella Valley center. From left to right: Katie Slimko-Tuvell, IOM – President/CEO, Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce; Sherrie Auen – Trustee of The Auen Foundation; Lynn Malotto – Rancho Mirage Mayor & City Council member; Dimitri Kales – CEO, Braille Institute; Michael O'Keefe Mayor Pro Tem & City Council member; Steve Downs – Rancho Mirage City Council member. #RanchoMirage #CoachellaValley #CommunityImpact #VisionLoss

If we had to sum up the Braille Challenge 2026 season in a single word? Record-breaking. Today we’re thrilled to announce our 2026 Braille Challenge Finalists. This season, we had participants from six different countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In order to place, the finalists had to earn the top scores out of over 2,000 total competitors across the globe. That’s no easy feat, and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and perseverance. We are also honored to announce the recipient of the 2026 Braille Challenge Teacher of the Year for Excellence in Braille Instruction: Casey L. Robertson from Mississippi. Casey is a nationally recognized educator and advocate for braille literacy. She works with the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University. Congratulations, Casey! We look forward to welcoming our finalists and Casey L. Robertson to Braille Challenge Finals next month, where Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, and content creator Mike Mulligan will join us as our keynote speaker. Read our full press release here: https://bit.ly/42TAzG6 #BrailleChallenge #Braille #BrailleLiteracy #BrailleInstitute

Join us this Friday for an open house at our Los Angeles Center! When: Friday, May 8 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Where: 741 N Vermont Ave Los Angeles, CA 90029 Discover our range of FREE programs and services for people of all ages who are blind or have low vision. Learn what a low vision rehabilitation appointment is like, get to know some of the assistive technology we teach clients to use, meet our award-winning library, discover our arts program, and so much more. If you’re curious about how you can get involved or how your organization can partner with Braille Institute, we’d love to meet you on Friday. RSVP online today: https://bit.ly/3NMgQEa Image Description: Ink blue graphic featuring the open house event information, a photo of a smiling student walking past a tactile art installation of a landscape, and the Braille Institute logo at the bottom. #LosAngelesNonprofit #Braille #Blind #LowVision

Over 110 million people have been impacted by fraud. But thanks to a great session led by AARP California Los Angeles, now our community members have the information and tools they need to protect themselves against scams. Braille Institute was honored to host this Wednesday’s AARP Fraud Fighters Community Forum at our Los Angeles Center. In addition to learning about fraud, participants got the chance to learn about our FREE services for people who are blind or have low vision. We want to give a shoutout to the incredible organizations that contributed to the panel and resource fair: the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, California Privacy Protection Agency, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Wise & Healthy Aging, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department, and Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. What a powerhouse lineup! Thank you to all our community partners who made the day a success!

Jason was thrilled to share opening remarks at the Disability Funders and Media Forum hosted by Braille Institute of America. Incredible speakers providing invaluable insights and enabling nonprofits to network with foundations and media to enhance fundraising efforts. Pictured below (L to R) is Jason Eckert with Shellena Heber, Executive Director, Valley Center for the Blind, and Dimitri Kales, CEO, Braille Institute of America. VisionServe Alliance #ValleyCenterfortheBlind #blindness #lowvision #visionrehabilitation #fundraising

Final call for 2026 Braille Challenge Sponsors! Demonstrate leadership in accessibility and inclusion and join the international literacy movement by supporting Braille Institute of America and this outstanding program. The commitment deadline is May 8th. DM me for more information or visit: https://lnkd.in/gtUpZ4qS Thank you to our committed sponsors: HumanWare, City National Bank, Waymo, Dot Inc., Vispero®, Glaukos Corporation, Del Monte Foods, LIFE LIGHT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, Delta Gamma, The Albert Parvin Foundation, and in-kind donors: American Printing House for the Blind and Meta #Literacy #GlobalImpact #EconomicMobility #Accessibility

This National Volunteer Week, we want to give a special shoutout to our incredible corporate volunteers! We’re grateful to have worked with volunteers from Ross Stores, Inc. Foundation, Health Net, Bank of America, Hoya, JPMorganChase, and so many more. Whether they’re assembling braille storybook kits for our Dots for Tots program, cheering for Braille Challenge contestants, or supporting our community during events like White Cane Day, every single corporate volunteer makes a difference. Thank you for supporting our mission! Image Descriptions: 1. Four women wearing Bank of America Community Volunteer t-shirts smile and wave pom-poms and clappers in front of a Braille Challenge backdrop. They stand on the red carpet at the SoCal Regional Braille Challenge. 2. Two JPMorganChase volunteers stick braille overlays onto the pages of an illustrated children's book for Braille Institute Dots for Tots program. 3. Two women in Health Net t-shirts smile and wave pom-poms, welcoming contestants and their families to the SoCal Regional Braille Challenge. 4. Hoya employees smile for a group photo in the Braille Institute Anaheim Center lobby after volunteering during White Cane Day. They wear Hoya t-shirts and Braille Institute volunteer baseball caps. #NationalVolunteerWeek #CorporateVolunteer #CommunityImpact