Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind

38 Washington Ave., Huntington, WV.  25701

(304) 522-6991

 

Serving the blind and visually impaired of 

Cabell and Wayne Counties of West Virginia 

for a quarter of a century.

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An Open Message to Friends of CWAB

Dear Friend:

Please forgive me, but may I ask you some personal questions? When you were growing up, going to school, and building a career, did you have to overcome any physical hardships? If you overcame them you are to be commended. If you did not have any, no doubt you consider yourself richly blessed.

But what if you had been visually impaired – or even blind? Could you have planned the same career? At the same school? The same classes? In the same buildings? Could you have obtained those part-time jobs that most of us had while making our way through school? Perhaps so, but I think you will agree – life surely would have been different.

Think about it – the simplest everyday tasks, like matching clothes, going to the grocery store, cooking meals, just getting around – all of these – plus the more difficult things mentioned above – grow into very intimidating problems with solutions not always simple.

Many courageous people in Cabell and Wayne counties, and beyond, have struggled all their lives with problems of visual impairment and blindness. One middle-aged lady had planned a medical career, but her visual impairment stole that dream from her. A self-employed man of middle age saw his business – and his feeling of self-worth and dignity – disappear with the onset of diabetes-related blindness. Many young people have the usual fears of growing up – plus they have to deal constantly with the reality of their progressive visual impairment – and, already for some – the stark reality of blindness.

Thankfully, they do not have to stand alone. For nearly three decades, Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind has been committed to promoting and advocating the economic, educational, and social welfare of the blind and visually impaired so that they can maintain a lifestyle comparable to others – like you and me.

In the beginning only a few could be helped. In 1989 the CWAB Services Division was formed and staffed with the aid of additional funding by the Teubert Foundation. The consumers of CWAB enjoy a combination of services offered by no other agency in this area. These include free transportation, orientation and mobility training, rehabilitation aids, the loan of closed circuit television and computers, in-home assistance with shopping and other daily errands, instruction in basic and intermediate computing, support groups, crafts, recreational activities, and many seasonal events.

Over the years, hundreds have benefited …

… like the lady, tears of joy streaming down her face, who came to thank CWAB for helping her get the first job in her life that paid more than minimum wage…

… or, like the small business owner whose spouse and he were taught basic spreadsheet use that assisted them in tracking expenses and income…

… like the excited elementary student who exclaimed, “Man, this is really cool! I didn’t think I could ever do this with a computer!” …

… like the parents who reluctantly took their visually impaired child on a CWAB-sponsored camping trip, found that they liked the experience, and are now avid campers…

 … like several college freshmen who found that orientation and mobility training from CWAB conquered many of their fears about getting around campus…

… or, like the young and elderly alike who find friends and fellowship at the various support group meetings and social events at CWAB.

Yes, CWAB offers something to people of all ages. Unfortunately, the ever-expanding consumer base is nearing six hundred (600). The space in our current building is now utilized to the limit. Therefore, CWAB now has the need to build a new facility, hire more staff, and find additional funding sources.

The new building will house office and storage space, an adaptive technology training center, a conference center, rental offices for blind-affiliated agencies, and a recreation center. The estimated cost is $1,500,000. The facility will allow us to help train other professionals working in the blindness field, regionally and nationally. Recreational activities could be scheduled in our own facility rather than being placed offsite. Social events that are now crowding our present conference room could be held much more comfortably in the proposed building. Our ability to improve our consumers’ lives would be enhanced in every way.

The property is already purchased. Most of the professional staff is in place. Architectural drawings have been made and are available for inspection. A small part of the money has been raised. But the greater need still exists.

It has been said that humankind reaches no greater height of nobility than when it reaches out to assist those in need. The visually impaired and blind consumers of the Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind are without doubt as richly deserving as any population in the region, nation, or world. They have unique challenges and unique needs. Please help us meet those needs.

I invite you to join our effort now…please reach out with us at this opportune time…reach out by contributing today the most generous gift that your position in life allows.

‘Thank you’ seems like such an inadequate expression at times like this, but please know that the depth of gratitude felt by the consumers of CWAB will be deep, long lasting, and measureless.  Thank you for the help you choose to give.