Currently, only 3 percent of people with vision loss in the state make it from the doctor to organizations that can help them develop functional living skills. The California Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CAABVI) aims to bridge that gap.
Believing collaboration is the key to delivering services to every individual and family in need, Beyond Blindness Executive Director Angie Rowe was a driving force as a founding board member who helped to launch CAABVI in 2020. Uniting 20 agencies across the state, it advocates for effective and equitable training, education, and services for all Californians who are blind or visually impaired.
The association not only educates the public about member agencies in their community, but also helps connect the agencies to one another. This effort to align California agencies has created a stronger statewide support network to benefit residents. On a local level, that means agencies like Beyond Blindness can take more referrals from our partners regardless of their county and easily connect clients to a member agency in their area.
Leading the CAABVI is the newly installed Executive Director Anita Shafer Aaron, who served for 20 years as executive director of LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, followed by 10 years as CEO of World Institute on Disability.
In addition to facilitating community outreach and furthering the education agenda, Aaron is focused on supporting public policy to benefit people with visual impairments. California-specific research and data for vision loss from doctors and member agencies is critical for the association’s work going forward.
Through collaboration and advocacy, the CAABVI hopes to create a pathway from birth to adulthood for all individuals who are blind and visually impaired, ensuring they receive the services needed to live their fullest, most rewarding lives.
For more information, please contact CAABVI Executive Director Anita Aaron.