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Home2023-05-29T12:13:21-07:00

Free Classes and Services for Those with Low Vision to No Vision

At Braille Institute, we have always provided 100% FREE services for people of all ages who are experiencing vision loss. Through our individual and small groups programs, students and patrons learn new ways to do the things they love.

It’s Braille Challenge Time!

Stack of Books and Headphones

EXPLORE OUR LIBRARY

Our Library for the Visually Impaired includes Braille Books, Audio Books, Digital Books, Computers, and more!

Congratulations to The Braille Challenge Finalists!

GET INVOLVED WITH BRAILLE INSTITUTE


Braille Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to positively transform the lives of those with vision loss. Braille Institute serves more than 37,000 people through a variety of free programs, classes and services at centers and community outreach locations throughout Southern California – from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties!

SERVICES

Services

Explore our free programs & services provided online, by phone and in-person.

GIVE

Giving

Donate today to immediately help those who need it most. Because of donors our services have always been free!

VOLUNTEER

Volunteers

Get involved and make a difference at any one of our 7 centers located throughout Southern California.

Leave the stress of coffee spills behind. With the help of a liquid level indicator, you can pour with ease again. You can find this item in our Vistas Store along with other useful low vision aids. 
Is there any device you want us to demonstrate next? Let us know in the comments! 
#LowVision #VisionLoss #LowVisionAids

Leave the stress of coffee spills behind. With the help of a liquid level indicator, you can pour with ease again. You can find this item in our Vistas Store along with other useful low vision aids.

Is there any device you want us to demonstrate next? Let us know in the comments!

#LowVision #VisionLoss #LowVisionAids
...

We are proud to announce our 2023 Teacher of the Year: April Makley of Grand Rapids, Michigan! April Makley has been a Teacher Consultant of the Visually Impaired (TCVI) for more than twenty years, working with students across grade levels who have visual impairments. She teaches braille from infant preliteracy through college level classes, helping students develop key braille literacy skills for success. Thank you, April, for your dedication to your students and excellence in braille instruction. We’re looking forward to honoring you at Braille Challenge Finals in June!
Read our full press release on our website with the link in our bio.
@kent_isd 
Image Description: Inside a classroom, April Makley kneels next to a student wearing dark glasses with a braille eReader in her lap. They are both giving big smiles to the camera. 
#Braille #BrailleChallenge #BrailleLiteracy #BrailleReader

We are proud to announce our 2023 Teacher of the Year: April Makley of Grand Rapids, Michigan! April Makley has been a Teacher Consultant of the Visually Impaired (TCVI) for more than twenty years, working with students across grade levels who have visual impairments. She teaches braille from infant preliteracy through college level classes, helping students develop key braille literacy skills for success. Thank you, April, for your dedication to your students and excellence in braille instruction. We’re looking forward to honoring you at Braille Challenge Finals in June!

Read our full press release on our website with the link in our bio.

@kent_isd

Image Description: Inside a classroom, April Makley kneels next to a student wearing dark glasses with a braille eReader in her lap. They are both giving big smiles to the camera.

#Braille #BrailleChallenge #BrailleLiteracy #BrailleReader
...

What is neurological vision loss, and what are its common causes? Next week’s eye doctor workshop will cover all these questions and more. Join us on May 23 at 10.30am for an educational workshop with Dr. Laura Bonnelli, MD, of the UCLA Stein Eye Institute to learn more about neurological vision loss and the role of neuro-ophthalmology in vision care.
@uclahealth
#VisionLoss #LowVision #Neuroophthalmology #EyeHealth
Image Description: In the top left corner of the image is the Braille Institute logo. In the top right corner is an almond box with ink blue text in the center that reads "Workshop Highlight." Beneath that, in the center of the image, is heading text that says "Neuro-Ophthalmology & Vision Loss with Dr. Laura Bonnelli, MD, of UCLA Stein Eye Institute." In smaller text are the workshop details: "May 23 10.30am - 11.30am (Pacific Time) Microsoft Teams." Beneath the text is an almond button with ink blue text in the center that says "Register Today." At the bottom of the image is an illustration of Braille Institute’s services personified in cartoon form, with almond accents. It features a magnifier, plants, a snake curled around an open book, cacti, an open laptop with a person surfing on waves coming out of the screen, glasses, and more.

What is neurological vision loss, and what are its common causes? Next week’s eye doctor workshop will cover all these questions and more. Join us on May 23 at 10.30am for an educational workshop with Dr. Laura Bonnelli, MD, of the UCLA Stein Eye Institute to learn more about neurological vision loss and the role of neuro-ophthalmology in vision care.

@uclahealth

#VisionLoss #LowVision #Neuroophthalmology #EyeHealth

Image Description: In the top left corner of the image is the Braille Institute logo. In the top right corner is an almond box with ink blue text in the center that reads "Workshop Highlight." Beneath that, in the center of the image, is heading text that says "Neuro-Ophthalmology & Vision Loss with Dr. Laura Bonnelli, MD, of UCLA Stein Eye Institute." In smaller text are the workshop details: "May 23 10.30am - 11.30am (Pacific Time) Microsoft Teams." Beneath the text is an almond button with ink blue text in the center that says "Register Today." At the bottom of the image is an illustration of Braille Institute’s services personified in cartoon form, with almond accents. It features a magnifier, plants, a snake curled around an open book, cacti, an open laptop with a person surfing on waves coming out of the screen, glasses, and more.
...

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day—a worldwide call to action for better digital accessibility for all people. When Robert J. Atkinson founded the Braille Institute in 1919, the digital world might have been a far off concept, but the mission to make the world more accessible wasn’t. Today and every day, we encourage you to make accessibility a priority—on social media, websites, and beyond—to create a world with no boundaries in sight.
Our Connection Pointe assistive technology center provides free resources, classes, and workshops to help people with visual impairments leverage the digital world. Find out more and get started today by calling 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553).
While our centers are in Southern California, we offer free online workshops that anyone can join. Check out the list of our upcoming workshops by clicking the link in our bio.
Image Description: A Braille Institute student sits with an assistive technology instructor, holding a phone. They are both laughing together. At the bottom of the image is an ink blue banner with white text that says, "It's Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Let's create a world with no boundaries in sight." The words "no boundaries in sight" are underlined. The Braille Institute logo is in the top left corner.

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day—a worldwide call to action for better digital accessibility for all people. When Robert J. Atkinson founded the Braille Institute in 1919, the digital world might have been a far off concept, but the mission to make the world more accessible wasn’t. Today and every day, we encourage you to make accessibility a priority—on social media, websites, and beyond—to create a world with no boundaries in sight.

Our Connection Pointe assistive technology center provides free resources, classes, and workshops to help people with visual impairments leverage the digital world. Find out more and get started today by calling 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553).

While our centers are in Southern California, we offer free online workshops that anyone can join. Check out the list of our upcoming workshops by clicking the link in our bio.

Image Description: A Braille Institute student sits with an assistive technology instructor, holding a phone. They are both laughing together. At the bottom of the image is an ink blue banner with white text that says, "It`s Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Let`s create a world with no boundaries in sight." The words "no boundaries in sight" are underlined. The Braille Institute logo is in the top left corner.
...

Missed the Dungeons & Dragons movie in theaters? Don’t worry—you can join us this Thursday for a workshop all about creating your own stories through the popular tabletop roleplaying game. If you’re a fan of authors like J.R.R. Tolkien or Terry Pratchett, this fantasy game is for you. Join us on Thursday, May 18, at 4.00pm PT for a uniquely creative community game experience. https://bit.ly/41KDy0y
Image Description: At the top of the image is the Braille Institute logo and an ink blue square banner with white text that says "Workshop Highlight." Beneath that is ink blue text on a white background giving the workshop details: "Dungeons and Dragons May 18 4.00pm - 5.00pm (Pacific Time) Microsoft Teams." The bottom half of the image is a photo of red dice spread across a blank Dungeons & Dragons character sheet, with a sharpened pencil lying diagonally across the page.
#DungeonsAndDragons #AccessibleGaming

Missed the Dungeons & Dragons movie in theaters? Don’t worry—you can join us this Thursday for a workshop all about creating your own stories through the popular tabletop roleplaying game. If you’re a fan of authors like J.R.R. Tolkien or Terry Pratchett, this fantasy game is for you. Join us on Thursday, May 18, at 4.00pm PT for a uniquely creative community game experience. https://bit.ly/41KDy0y

Image Description: At the top of the image is the Braille Institute logo and an ink blue square banner with white text that says "Workshop Highlight." Beneath that is ink blue text on a white background giving the workshop details: "Dungeons and Dragons May 18 4.00pm - 5.00pm (Pacific Time) Microsoft Teams." The bottom half of the image is a photo of red dice spread across a blank Dungeons & Dragons character sheet, with a sharpened pencil lying diagonally across the page.

#DungeonsAndDragons #AccessibleGaming
...

OUR STORIES


Braille Institute is a community of individuals who are sighted, blind or have low vision. Every day throughout the country, we work together to empower people who live with vision loss.

These are our stories.

Braille Institute Of America Names James P. Kales As Chief Executive Officer

Braille Institute announced today that the Organization’s Board of Directors has named James P. Kales as Chief Executive Officer. He will assume day-to-day leadership of the organization as CEO on December 12, 2022. Kales, a leader in the non-profit sector, brings more than 25 years of experience working for organizations such as United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

BRAILLE INSTITUTE LOCATIONS

We offer programs and services in-person, by phone and remotely online. Appointments and/or student registration are required to visit a center. Center libraries are open to walk-ins during business hours. Los Angeles Vistas Store is open to walk-ins during business hours.

Anaheim

527 North Dale Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92801

Coachella Valley

74-245 Highway 111 #E101
Palm Desert, CA 92260

Laguna Hills

24411 Ridge Route Drive #130
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Los Angeles

741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029

Riverside

6974 Brockton Avenue #100
Riverside, CA 92506

San Diego

9635 Granite Ridge Dr. #130
San Diego, CA 92123

Santa Barbara

2031 De La Vina Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Non-Discrimination Statement

Braille Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to positively transform the lives of those with vision loss. Braille Institute serves more than 37,000 people through a variety of free programs, classes and services at centers and community outreach locations throughout Southern California – from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties.

Braille Institute admits students and clients of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, religion and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students and clients of Braille Institute. We do not discriminate against the foregoing in the administration of any of our policies or programs.