Associated Services for the Blind Inc

Filing Period

Jul 1, 2011 to Jun 30, 2012

Signed

Feb 4, 2013

Return Version

2011v1.2

Gross Receipts

$6,340,326

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

Production & Custom Braille: For more than seventy-five years, ASB's Braille Division has been providing qualitybraille and large print materials for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, in an effort to support independence and self-determination. During the past fiscal year, the division brailled and proof-read over 74,000 master braille pages and pressed, collated, and bound over 13,000,000 braille pages. Projects included a total of 100 book titles and 4 magazines under its contract with the National Library Service for the Blind, 181 student text books for elementary, secondary, and college level students throughout the United States, and over 780 raised line graphics were produced by braille transcribers for insertion into textbooks and tests. The division also brailled 78 student tests under contracts with various testing institutions; and other items such as cookbooks, brochures, newsletters, signs, and health & recreational materials. A total of 740 braille and 2,532 large print statements were produced for banks and utility services. ASB currently has 910 braille books available in twenty (20) different categories. ASB makes braille and large print available to everyone. Customers include not only individuals who are blind or visually impaired, but corporations, non-profit organizations, schools at every level, the Library of Congress, and other governmental agencies.

Activity 3

Specialized Social Services (Grant Program) - ASB's Specialized Services Division served over 450 blind and visually impaired clients during fiscal year 2012. Through its comprehensive curriculum, individuals are provided with the necessary life skills to function independently at home, in the workplace, and in the community. ASB currently provides various levels of Life Skills Education Classes in both English and Spanish, to help participants learn skills designed to compensate for blindness and visual impairments and to allow them to remain independent. Support Groups offered in both English and Spanish include Assertiveness Training, Men's and Women's Low Vision Group, Young Adults Group, Diabetes Information and Support, and Senior-Link ASB also provides supportive services such as assistance with grocery shopping, reading mail, paying bills, handling correspondence, assisting with completion of applications for benefits, and information and referral. These services provide clients with a safe place to share their challenges, successes and frustrations; and help them to be independent allowing them to become more active in the communities where they live and work. With grant funding provided through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), ASB provided its Isolation Prevention Program (ISO) for adults 55 years of age and older. This Isolation Prevention Program was initiated to help adults 55+ break through and overcome the barriers of isolation brought on by vision loss or impairment by providing education, outreach, support, and assistive technology training within their homes. Through this program participants will be able to increase their ability to be self-sufficient in the home and community-at-large, as well as increasing their confidence, self-esteem and independence. During fiscal year 2012, through outreach activities provided with funding under the ARRA Grant, ASB was able to serve and/or provide information to 609 individuals.

Filer

EIN

23-1370508