June 2023

We updated our core values this year to include Joy. Trying to attach the idea of "great pleasure and happiness" to the reality of blindness might seem aspirational to some, but we make it an everyday pursuit at GDABVI. We care about the people we serve. We care about each individual's path to sight loss. We care about giving people tools to preserve their vision when possible. We care about each person's challenges, dreams, and achievements, and how they feel on the journey to their goals. Our clients deserve to have laughter in their lives.

So, we're grateful for your trust in our mission. We thank you for enduring our pandemic pause. We appreciate your belief in our work. Together we can accomplish the big things we strive for as individuals and as an agency. #TeamGDABVI looks forward to helping lead the way to brighter days with you by our side. You bring us joy and we want to do the same for you.

Stefanie Worth, Executive Director

Many thanks to the J. McLaughlin store in Grosse Pointe for hosting a Sip and Shop event for GDABVI in April. It was a lovely day with treats set out just for us and wonderful hosts for the afternoon. The store donated 15% of its sales between 3 and 6 p.m. to the agency. We appreciate their giving spirit that chose us for their kindness.

In addition to our ongoing technology training, orientation and mobility, activities of daily living services, New Direction adult support group, and connecting clients to community resources they need, we've also had a lot of fun this year!

The agency hosted an Open House in January, Hands-Only CPR training in February, Blind Bowling in March, OrCam and Leader Dog presentations, and we've re-started Blind Bingo.

We have a busy summer planned! ​July activities include:

7 – Blind Bingo (first Fridays, 1-4 p.m., in-person)

11 – New Direction Adult Support Group: 1st hour – hybrid, 2nd hour – in-person Ice Cream Social (second Tuesdays, noon – 2 p.m., hybrid)

12 – Kitchen Safety class (in-person)

14-16 – African World Festival booth (tent.)

tbd – Educational Series: Diabetes, CVD, & CPR

​For additional information or to R.S.V.P, call 313.591.3792 or our main line at 313.272.3900. Visit the web site for other upcoming events and activities.

This summer, our technology classes will be happening individually to help accommodate busy schedules. Keyboarding for Beginners, Intermediate Computing, Advanced Computing, iPhone and Android device training are all available. Additionally, practice times are available in our Learning Lab. All computers are equipped with JAWS software. 

​Call 313.591.3791 to reserve your slot.

Do you need help getting food, finding housing, completing forms for these and other services, signing up for insurance, or figuring out social services in general? GDABVI is a navigation partner of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and we can help!

Contact our Community Care Coordinator today at 313.591.3790 for assistance in connecting with the services you need.

It’s been quite a year for the Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind & Visually Impaired! Moving full steam ahead in post-pandemic mode, we re-launched programming, added virtual computer training, got the support group back up and running, and made great memories at our new Movie Night outings. And more! Meanwhile, requests for services have quadrupled over the past 12 months. We’ve expanded staff and opened a new office to accommodate our growth. Most importantly, we’ve changed so many lives along the way. Our generous donors make this great work possible. Give today to help us do even more, including adding youth services for academic success.