About the Nonprofit
Visit Our Website
Mission: To create opportunities for success and independence with all people who are blind or visually impaired through vision rehabilitation services and employment.
The Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment has been serving blind and visually impaired individuals in the Southern Tier and surrounding counties for nearly 100 years. AVRE’s comprehensive vision rehabilitation services are offered free of charge to any individual who needs our help. In addition to these services, AVRE also operates a manufacturing facility in which over 90% of its workforce is legally blind.
AVRE has had a tremendous impact on blind and visually impaired individuals in the counties we service. It’s estimated that 70% of legally blind individuals do not work, but at AVRE, we provide services that offer a multitude of employment opportunities helping our consumers provide for themselves and their families. Comprehensive vision rehabilitation services are offered at no cost thanks in part to various fundraising efforts and through valuable community partnerships.
We invite you to join the growing list of community partners who support AVRE’s mission to create opportunities for success and independence with individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Enclosed, you will find information on AVRE’s signature fundraising event, Dining in the Dark.
Dining in the Dark is a fundraising and awareness event that provides guests with a brief glimpse of some of the challenges that people with vision loss encounter in their day-to-day lives. During the meal, guests will wear blindfolds and learn blindness techniques from our vision services staff, and tablemates who may be blind or visually impaired. This unique dining experience will expand our guest’s appreciation of taste, smell, touch, hearing, and vision. Our goal for Dining in the Dark is to raise awareness about vision loss and the impact that AVRE’s vision rehabilitation services and employment opportunities can make. By supporting this event, you will help us continue to offer comprehensive services across the Southern Tier.