Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, May 9, 2018
(INDIANAPOLIS) - On Friday, May 11 from noon - 3 p.m., Bosma Enterprises will host an open house to celebrate its newly renovated Center for Visionary Solutions for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Located at 7225 Woodland Drive on the northwest side of Indianapolis, the state-of-the-art facility houses all of Bosma Enterprises' rehabilitation programs and will allow the organization to offer life-changing services to a larger number of Hoosiers learning to navigate blindness.
"Those who are blind or visually impaired often have a hard time adjusting to their daily routines. Many of the things they were able to do before need to be relearned. Anything from cooking a meal, brushing their teeth, using a computer, and reading a book, to simply navigating familiar spaces, become challenges," said James Michaels, vice president of programs and services, Bosma Enterprises.
Bosma Enterprises serves nearly 1,000 clients annually, helping them learn to navigate life with vision loss and continue to live independently in the comfort of their own homes, rather than having to rely on others. The new 17,600-square-foot facility will include a spacious living skills training apartment where clients will master skills such as cooking and cleaning without sight, a lighting lab to help clients identify the best lighting to maximize usable vision, a manual skills training room where clients can learn everything from light plumbing to woodworking, a fitness center, a socialization room and computer accessibility labs that will accommodate group and individual training.
By 2030, the rate of blindness in the U.S. is estimated to double along with the country's aging population. The aging population and associated rise in the number of people experiencing vision loss means there's a greater need than ever for the type of rehabilitation services that Bosma Enterprises provides. Recently, there has been close to a 10 percent increase in the number of seniors that they serve.
The new facility provides larger spaces to facilitate more group training, serving a larger population of people who are blind or visually impaired at once. It will also help the organization decrease the number of people on the waiting list and bring more clients in at any given time.
"By renovating the facility on Woodland Drive, our goal is to become a model for the rest of the world in how to provide visionary solutions for the blind and visually impaired," said Lou Moneymaker, CEO, Bosma Enterprises. "When someone is experiencing vision loss, even one day is too long to wait for help. The new facility will allow us to achieve our goal of serving more Hoosiers when they need us the most."
The $1.5 million renovation was made possible in part through a $750,000 matching grant from United Way of Central Indiana, as well as the generosity of private donors and supporters. In addition to rehabilitation services, the Woodland Drive building also houses two of Bosma Enterprises' lines of business, both of which provide jobs for Hoosiers who are blind or visually impaired.
For event details and to RSVP, visit the Eventbrite Page.
About Bosma Enterprises
Bosma Enterprises is a nonprofit organization, with a history of more than 100 years, that provides training and employment for people who are blind or visually impaired. Our experienced staff (more than half of whom are blind) offers personalized programs ranging from counseling, to job placement, to training for daily living skills-helping adults gain the life skills they need to remain independent, and the job skills they need to stay self-sufficient. To learn more about how you can help our mission, or how our mission can help you, visit bosma.org.
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