Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) July 25, 2012
In order to serve a growing population of people with vision loss, Kansas City-based Alphapointe announced an expanded vision this week.
Alphapointe, a non-profit and the largest employer of people with vision loss in the area, has also changed the organizations name by removing Association for the Blind. Alphapointe, the only comprehensive rehabilitation and education agency for people with vision loss in the state of Missouri, made the change to convey the broader range of services it offers to an aging baby-boomer demographic that is beginning to experience visual impairment.
The establishment of the Low Vision Clinic nearly two years ago was one of a series of steps the agency has taken in the new direction. More recently, Alphapointe enhanced their youth programming to include summer camps and low vision services to children as young as two years old. As the need for specialized low vision services continues to grow, Alphapointe is evolving to meet the changing needs of the community.
The changes we are making reflect our unwavering commitment to serving all people who are experiencing significant vision loss. We are excited that the broader focus will meet the needs of a growing constituency, said Reinhard Mabry, president and CEO of Alphapointe.
To further position itself as the premier organization for vision support and advancement, Alphapointe partnered with the CentraSight team to provide comprehensive vision rehabilitation. Alphapointe is the only area provider to participate in the innovative new program, which implants a pea-sized telescope inside the eye to improve vision and quality of life for patients with advanced macular degeneration.
In addition, two recent Alphapointe partnerships have opened the door for more employment available to people with vision loss. Through the Contract Management Support (CMS) services in partnership with the Department of Defense, employees with vision loss utilize technology including screen readers and magnifiers to review thousands of governmental contracts awaiting closure. Alphapointe has also partnered with Guarded Exchange, which enables Alphapointe employees to utilize specialized computer software to monitor communication for the state. With these new contracts, Alphapointe has hired 22 new employees with vision loss this year.
Alphapointes comprehensive services and new cutting-edge technology is expected to help more than 35,000 people with vision problems in the Greater Kansas City area.
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About Alphapointe
Alphapointe, founded in 1911, is the only Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Education Center for the blind and those with vision loss in Missouri, as well as the largest single employer of blind individuals in the state. Alphapointes main campus, including manufacturing and office support facility employing adults who are vision impaired as well as the Low Vision Clinic and rehabilitation facilities, is located in southeast Kansas City near U.S. 71 and 75th Street. Alphapointe also employs workers at government and military facilities in Missouri and Arkansas. For more information, visit alphapointe.org.