What does it mean that ABVI is a social enterprise?

It means that ABVI’s non-profit aspect is augmented by businesses that generate revenue. This revenue allows us to provide services that empower people with vision loss to lead independent, fulfilling lives.

The social enterprise model has great impact, not just on the organization or the people it serves, but also on the community. Through the services we provide and the jobs we create, ABVI is empowering people to be contributing members of their community.

For example, in 2009-2010, we:

• Provided services to over 3,000 individuals between the ages of 10 months and 102 years
• Provided over 12,220 hours of Vision Rehabilitation service to 465 individuals in their homes and 471 people at our main campus and in the InSight Shop
  
• Served 802 individuals in our Low Vision Center
  
• Provided services to 193 children with visual impairments

We currently employ over 500 people, one-fifth of whom are blind or visually impaired. We're projected to double our total number of employees and the number of employees who are blind or visually impaired by 2015!