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- EIN 04-2109859
- (617) 738-5110
- 200 Ivy Street Brookline MA 02446 USA
- http://www.mabcommunity.org/massachusetts-association-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired.html
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Blind & Visually Impaired Centers, Disabilities, Education, Eye Diseases, Blindness & Vision Impairments, Health, Human Services, Residential Care & Adult Day Programs, Special Education
Mission: Founded as the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, MAB is the oldest social service organization in the country that serves adults and elders who are blind or visually impaired. After more than a century in the field, we know that vision loss doesn’t have to mean the end of a full life. But many people losing their vision don’t know how to get help. Our vision rehabilitation services help people with low vision maximize their remaining sight and learn to use adaptive strategies for completing daily tasks. Our trained specialists can help make a home safer and recommend simple devices to make life with low vision easier.
Results: Twenty-eight of 32 volunteers Strongly Agreed that volunteering with MAB is a good use of their time. The other 4 volunteers Agree. One volunteer reports, "I really look forward to my meetings with Ann Marie. We are the same age and share an interest in reading mysteries. We also walk sometimes outdoors or in the mall since we both enjoy walking. She has a wonderful personality and I truly enjoy being with her."
Target demographics: The majority of individuals experiencing vision loss are elders living with macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. Though not exclusively for elders, we serve individuals experiencing vision loss, throughout Massachusetts.
Geographic areas served: MAB offers a low vision clinic in its Worcester office, and MAB has opened another clinic in Springfield, MA. Optometrists provide low vision assessments in a clinical setting with adaptive techniques and training taught by an occupational therapist. The low vision exam provides important information about how a person functions in everyday life, and patients learn to maximize their usable vision, often with prescribed optical devices. The Low Vision Clinic in Worcester runs weekly low vision clinics on Wednesdays. Call (508) 854-0700 or (888) 613-2777 for an appointment. The Low Vision Clinic in Holyoke is held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Call (508) 854-0700 or (888) 613-2777 for an appointment. The Low Vision Clinic in Springfield is held on the second Monday of each month. Call (508) 854-0700 or (413) 734-7343 for an appointment. In Eastern Massachusetts, contact us at (617) 926-4232 or (800) 852-3029 and we will refer you to other clinics.
Programs: The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides low vision clinics, 33 support groups, one-to-one volunteer assistance, and in-home vision rehabilitation training that helps patients learn to use their remaining vision. Low vision clinics are located in Holyoke, Springfield, and Worcester, and the majority of services are provided in the communities around Boston, Brockton, Framingham, Holyoke, Springfield and Worcester. Through partnerships with the medical community we integrate vision rehabilitation into the healthcare system.