484 Pageviews Read Stories
- EIN 36-2229565
- 312-236-8569
- 180 N Michigan Ave Ste 1700 Chicago IL 60601 USA
- www.guildfortheblind.org
- Add to Favorites
Volunteering
Promote This Nonprofit
Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations, Counseling, Eye Diseases, Blindness & Vision Impairments, Health, Human Services, Mental Health, Rehabilitative Care
Mission: The Guild, founded in 1947, works in partnership with our members to help them succeed in a sighted world. Vision loss is affecting an increasing number of adults, but with the proper training and support, they can lead active and independent lives. We leverage the advances made in technology with the skills and abilities of our members to help them adjust to vision loss, set and achieve career goals, learn to effectively use computers for school, work or personal use, perform activities of daily living independently and participate in recreational activities both independently and in a group setting.
Results: The Guild has been serving the needs of adults with vision loss for over 60 years. We reach over 400 seniors with new vision loss each year, helping them through the adjustment process, teaching them how to remain independent and providing them with resources. We teach over 100 adults how to use computers and other technology with adaptive software. We work with adults seeking employment, teaching them how to independently find work and manage their career. Each year, we help over 3,000 people with information and resources they are seeking for themselves or a loved one with vision loss.
Target demographics: Teens and adults with vision loss
Direct beneficiaries per year: 1,000+
Geographic areas served: Metropolitan Chicago
Programs: Computer classes offer training on the adaptive equipment used by people with vision loss (e.g. screen magnification and screen reading). Classes are small (3-6 students) to ensure each individual's needs are met. Our classes are very intensive--offering 36 hours of instruction for each software package (Adaptive Technology, MS Word, MS Excel, Internet and Email) and up to 24 hours of monitored and structured lab time. Most of our students take all four courses--four months of training. We also offer training classes offsite in partnership with community organizations. These classes are tailored to meet the needs of the students--whether they are adults seeking to improve their skills for employment or seniors looking to learn how to shop on line or use email to communicate with family or friends. Individual instruction is also provided at the Guild or at the student's place of employment or in the student's home for veterans.
Our computer lab is open five days a week. The Guild provides computer training to over 100 people each year.