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The Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, Inc. (NABA) founded in 1908, is a not-for-profit, community-based agency that provides services and supports to help blind and visually impaired children, adults, and senior citizens. Many of those served through NABA have experienced vision loss or impairment as a result of medical conditions including: macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and retinitis pigmentosa.
NABA provides orientation and mobility instruction, vision rehabilitation teaching, specialized low vision examinations, social case work, assistive devices and training in their use, year-round social and recreational programs for youth ages 8-18 years old, KidSight preschool screenings, work readiness programs and job placements, and adaptive computers and training in their use. Our services help people cope with vision loss, stay in their homes, and travel safely in their communities. NABA employs certified instructors and therapists, and licensed social workers, an LPN, and a low vision doctor to provide specialized training and services for people who are blind or visually impaired. NABA specifically employs 19 legally blind people throughout its manufacturing, rehabilitation, development, and finance departments. In manufacturing, NABA produces items for the 3 branches of the armed forces and is the largest producer of safety vests in New York State. NABA’s KidSight program provides free early childhood screenings for preschool children to detect vision problems. NABA’s KidSight Coordinator, an LPN, visits over 75 daycare centers, preschools, and kindergartens each year. They take pictures of the children’s eyes with a photo screener. This sophisticated camera detects the presence of refractive errors like hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (near-sightedness) and amblyopia (lazy eye). When a child is flagged for a potential vision problem, NABA notifies the child’s parent/guardian, pediatrician, and school nurse for a recommended complete eye exam. Many vision problems left undetected in young children are often misdiagnosed as learning disabilities and may lead to delays or missed opportunities in early treatments and preventative measures. NABA screens over 4,000 children annually and an average of 12% are flagged. NABA’s Youth Educational and Recreational program serves blind and impaired youth ages 8-18 years. The children benefit from a continuum of services that helps them become more socially adept and self-confident. Fun and safe activities enhance daily living skills and mobility techniques.