EMPOWERED CHILDREN, WHO THRIVE IN AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS.
TO PREPARE CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES, TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL IN THE SIGHTED WORLD.
A Note From Our Executive
Friends of CCVI,
Thank you for choosing to invest in the future generation at Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired. Each and every supporter creates a legacy of inclusion, belonging, and empowerment for children who are blind or visually impaired.
Our theme this year is ‘reaching beyond the limits’ and we’ve pushed to apply it in every phase of our work. We have challenged ourselves as a staff to strive for even higher quality services and expand our network of support.
As an organization that serves children with multiple disabilities, we are no stranger to hearing about limits-- from the single mother being told that her blind child will never walk to the high school graduate told he’ll never be able to live independently.
Your support is the catalyst that pushes us Your support gives our families hope, drive, and resilience.
I invite you to read the stories below about Wells, Matthew, and our top a hi t i thi i t t
kboehm@ccvi.org
Your generosity helps us reach families where they are and supports life changing services for blind and visually impaired children.
+12 from last year!
children served
+23 reached from last year!
*Total children served also includes children in both EIP/ELA/MOVE Program, Itinerant screening, Evals (not attending programs) and pool groups
When you empower a child who is visually impaired, you can provide the foundation for that child to have a career later in life, participate in social groups, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Many of our families live below the poverty line and having a child with a visual impairment, often along with multiple disabilities, comes with a lot of challenges. Your gift truly makes a difference in our work and their lives.
YOUR IMPACT SUPPORTS
REACHING ACROSS THE STATES:
With your support, you create an impact on a local and regional scale! Reaching from the Colorado Kansas border to Cape Girardeau, your generosity bridges the gap between a child with a visual impairment succeeding or falling behind.
74,539
*9,120 miles more than last year!
Miles driven by our staff to serve children in sourrounding areas
*That’s almost 3 times around the Earth!
294
Total Referrals
Zip Codes
6,237
Total Therapy Hours
*Including O&M, Occupational, Physical, Speech, Braille, & Special Instruction
25
147 Counties 48 School Districts
*+3 new zip codes
*+6 new counties reached
*7 new School Districts relationships
M E E T W E L L S
“I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM WELLS BECAUSE AS MUCH WORK AS IT IS FOR ME TO SUPPORT HIM, HE HAS TO LIVE IT OUT DAILY. HE DOES ALL THESE THINGS DAILY WITH A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE HAS A LOVE FOR LIFE AND HIS PEOPLE WHICH IS INVALUABLE TO US.
WE'RE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO THE TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO LOVED ON OUR SON AND MADE HIM FEEL SO SPECIAL AND VALUED. WE WILL ALWAYS ROOT FOR CCVI AND LOVE SHARING OUR CCVI STORY WITH OTHERS!”
- TAYLA & GREGORY
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
YEAR 2 OF OUR 7 YEAR STATEGIC PLAN
SOCIAL WORKER HIRE A YEAR IN REVIEW: HIGHLIGHTS & MILESTONES REACHED
A YEAR IN REVIEW: HIGHLIGHTS & MILESTONES REACHED
ART & MUSIC THERAPIST
REACHING FOR DUAL CERTIFICATION
Over the last year, CCVI has conducted nearly 30 professional presentations to advocate for vision services across the area. As we work towards our goal of becoming a nationally recognized organization in the field of vision, we strive to ensure that change happens at the local level first to set the standard for inclusivity.
M E E T M A T T H E W
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: THE MISSION OF ACCESSIBILITY
As we work to prepare children to reach their highest potential in the sighted world, we also strive to help make the sighted world reach its highest potential of accessibility. To do that, Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI) has launched a new program offered to community organizations that ensures individuals who are blind or visually impaired have access to beloved experiences in Kansas City and surrounding areas
To kick off this program, we have partnered with the WWI Museum and Memorial to help further their mission of accessibility. Over the last several months, Haley Sheriff, WWI Learning and Engagement Specialist, and Brooke Leisinger-Smith, Guest Services Manager at the WWI Museum and Memorial began working with Alex Olson, CCVI’s Director of Vision Services, where they communicated their desire to become a more accessible establishment to the visually impaired community, specifically to veterans.
“It’s a part of our mission to become a more accessible space for the community, both in terms of their ability and culture,” commented Haley Sherrif. “We see a huge visitorship of veterans, many of whom are visually impaired, so it’s really important to us to help tell those stories and help them access those stories ”
Understanding WWI’s mission of accessibility, Olson got straight to work. She would conduct museum walkthroughs, orienting and navigating the halls, taking notes from various angles, studying the exhibits and lighting, and even viewing the museum through the lens of different visual impairments.
“The items and space itself are so unique, and it can be so cool for someone with a visual impairment to visit. They already had some things that were accessible, but everyone at both CCVI and the museum and memorial wanted to take it to the next level, which is amazing, ” says Olson.
After collecting data, Olson suggested three new additions, which are currently in circulation: an Audio Stop Guide, a Visitors Guide in large print & braille, and an Orientation Guide. These three adaptive services would help individuals with visual impairments wonder about the museum more freely, interact with more exhibitions, and soak in the rich history written on the museum's walls.
As we continue to work with the National WWI Museum and Memorial on their mission of accessibility, our hope is that other organizations realize the importance of accessibility and are inspired to take their first step in right direction of inclusive access.
“You don’t know what people need and who is out there until you offer those adaptations and inclusive options,” states Olson. “We are hoping this partnership can open doors with other organizations to help our community become more accessible for our families, kids, and population.”
Development
Grants
Individual Giving
Special Events
$1,380,067
$548,964
$532,036
$299,067
Programs $1,965,570
School District Contracts
First Steps Contracts
Parent Pay
County
Misc.
$1,466,489
$252,641
$41,282
$203,464
$1,694
Other $213,846
Programs
Administration
Development
$3,070,985 $327,572
$696,090
We thank you for your generous support of Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired. Because of YOU, children living with visual impairments won’t get lost in the crowd and families wont get left behind.
Thank you for guiding children towards adventure, to accomplish their dreams, and reach their highest potential in the sighted world.
Stay up to date with the day-to-day moments, milestones reached, and more engaging and fun highlights by following us on our social media platforms!
*If you are interested in sharing your WHY on BONUS!
Check out CCVI’s new podcast called The Vision Mission where we talk about all thing’s special education and BVI from the field, and build community w
by
QR code or going to www.ccvi.org/give
