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Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired

General Information

Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired
16625 Grand River Avenue
Detroit, MI 48227
(313) 272 3900
kullen@gdabvi.org
http://www.gdabvi.org

Brief Description

GDABVI provides rehabilitation services to people with visual impairments designed to increase independence and dignity. Programming for children and youth emphasizes activity and knowing how to do for oneself. Outreach efforts help familiarize the community with the unique needs of people who experience life in other ways than visually. GDABVI offers in-home rehabilitation services to adults and seniors, community education programs on eye health and safety, summer programming for children and youth, and Accessible Computer Training at regional libraries for the blind.

GDABVI was formerly Upshaw Institute for the Blind and is a United Way Agency, previously accredited by National Accreditation Council of Agencies Serving the Visually Handicapped (NAC).

Services Offered

  • Counseling
    • Offers psychosocial assessment, individual and group counseling, referral to community resources. Serves family members as well as clients.

  • Employment/Job Training
    • Provides consultation, specialized information services related to blind/visually impaired employment.

  • Professional Training
    • Offers internships/fieldwork placements for rehabilitation teaching and social work and in-service workshops and training opportunities.

  • Recreation Services
    • Recreational and Educational groups for adults and seniors.

  • Daily Living Skills/Independent Living Skills Training
    • Provides individual and group rehabilitation teaching in client's home, doctor's office or the community. Offers personal adjustment training, communications systems and media, home management, follow-up training for low vision clinical therapies, orientation and mobility training, low vision rehab training. Refers for other vision resources.

  • Consultation/Technical Program Assistance
    • Provides consultation concerning blindness/visual impairment to other agencies.

  • Information and Referral
    • Collects and disseminates information of interest to people who are blind or visually impaired or who provide services to people with visual impairments. Provides consultation to other agencies where blindness is a secondary disability.

  • Assessment
    • Offers individualized rehabilitation assessment to determine instructional needs.

  • Health
    • Offers prevention of blindness and public education programs.

  • Community Outreach Programs
    • Links to youth activities such as goal ball, judo, ceramics, and bowling. Links to support groups, bowling, and other organizations in the community for adults.

  • Braille and Reading Instruction
    • Offers braille instruction.