Supporting Vermonters with Vision Loss at Every Stage of Life

Hello, my name is Steve Pouliot and I am the Executive Director of the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, better known as VABVI. If you aren’t familiar, VABVI was founded in 1926 to enable blind and visually impaired Vermonters to be more independent, cultivate adaptive skills, and improve their quality of life. We are the only private nonprofit organization in Vermont providing comprehensive support and services—free of charge—to the growing population of blind and visually impaired Vermonters, from birth to end of life. After a century of service, VABVI has become integral to the health and well-being of Vermont. Thank you for your generosity; donations like yours help VABVI provide life-changing services to our clients.

Good day, everybody. My name is Joe Gurton. My name is Abshiro Ibrahim. Hi, my name is Julia Bessie. Hello, we’re the Troughs family. My name is Sean, I’m 16, and I’ve been working with VABVI for two years. I started with VABVI when I was just diagnosed with my visual impairments—around six months old. I don’t remember specifically, but it was either second or third grade when I first met my TVI, and then I worked with them all the way until my senior year of high school. We have been so lucky to work with VABVI over the past five or six years. They have been great advocates for my two children as they’ve gone through the school system. VABVI has changed our life by making things easy and accessible for my son with a visual impairment. It has really been a lifeline for our family and for Sean. When he first started losing his eyesight, we weren’t really sure how to help him. They’ve given me the resources I need to thrive in my school environment. He’s made connections through VABVI with people his own age and with people who truly understand.

At age 73, I became very vision impaired. At the time, I thought I would have to abandon the consulting engineering practice I had, which involved travel. I thought, “That’s the end of my career for sure. That’s the end of certain abilities to live independently.” Not long after the sight-loss event, I was introduced to the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. They quickly convinced me that no, my life had not ended. In fact, they told me I didn’t have to stop the work I was doing unless I really wanted to. I credit VABVI with giving me the confidence and the training to live independently. They allowed us to find resources, listen to stories, and meet people that led us to a place where we were hopeful and excited about the future. In one phrase: VABVI helped us find hope.

The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired helps Vermonters experiencing vision loss by providing support services from birth to end of life. Some of these services include orientation and mobility training, daily living skills, smart device training for seniors, education for children from birth through high school graduation, support groups, volunteer transportation, and Braille services. It’s never too early to seek help—whether you have a slight visual impairment or total blindness, VABVI can assist. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact us at 1-800-639-5861.