Do-Gooders: Association has been aiding visually impaired for almost 70 years – Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County | Local news | Breaking News

“We laugh every day, even when things get frustrating,” she said. “We never say something can’t be done. We just go about finding creative ways to do it.”

Hyer said she loves coming to work because of the people she works with and the sense of satisfaction providing services to the visually impaired.

The association raises about 85 percent of its annual operating budget and relies on government sources for about 15 percent, said Hyer. The headquarters building includes a thrift store that aids with funding by selling low-cost clothing and other items.

“Vision affects so many issues, like housing and employment,” she said. “If we can’t provide a service directly, we help our clients find the people who can.”

Those services include everything from free vision screenings for children and adults, to finding the correct hand-held magnifier and assisting someone to find a person to do the grocery shopping, said Hyer.

“We kind of pick up after a doctor has done everything possible for a person’s vision,” said Hyer. “Our goal is to help people live rich, vibrant and independent lives despite their vision impairments. All our services are designed with that idea.”

Any county resident whose vision is corrected to no better than 20/70 or who has a visual field of less than 20 degrees is eligible for the organization’s services, according to the association’s executive director, Anne Marie Hyer. There’s no charge for most services and most are open to people regardless of their income level, she added.

Its mission is to “provide resources, answers and support for people with blindness or other visual impairments that maximize their ability to meet life’s daily challenges and realize their continued self-worth and value to our community. In partnership with our clients, our professional staff identifies the right combination of services, vision evaluations, ‘assistive’ technology, education, resources and support needed for personal success.”

Since 1945, the nonprofit Bucks County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has been providing a variety of services to people with problems ranging from total blindness to slight visual problems.

From its headquarters in Newtown Township, the association serves about 1,100 people.

 

Curated from Do-Gooders: Association has been aiding visually impaired for almost 70 years – Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County | Local news | Breaking News