About Us | Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired

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Why CABVI?

Beginning over 100 years ago with a small group of men who made brooms and mops, today’s Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired offers employment opportunities for individuals with vision loss in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area across a range of enterprises, as well as a variety of vision and information services that foster independence and inclusion. CABVI is a private, non-profit organization that relies on the generous giving of our donors. Our goal is to always be a dynamic organization that continues to grow and change to the meet the needs of an increasing number of people who need our services. As we move forward, we’ll be faced with the challenges of identifying new sources of revenue to maintain long-term sustainability, working to increase offerings to underserved, underutilized and disadvantaged individuals, finding ways to create new markets and new products, and developing comprehensive plans to help maintain the viability of our Social Enterprises.

Mission & Value Statements

OUR MISSION

Empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with opportunities to seek independence.

OUR VISION

Ensuring full lives and community inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS

CABVI’s strategic plan sets forth a foundation guiding us through 2023. The plan focuses on four distinct objectives:

Leverage innovation to enable CABVI to inspire and earn stakeholders.
- Extend the reach and impact of CABVI Vision Services in the community.
- Increase and diversify employment opportunities offered through our social enterprises.
- Create a culture where employees, clients, volunteers, and guests feel engaged, valued, and included.
Change CABVI's economic engine to provide predictable financial sustainability.
- Capitalize on current growth opportunities for our social enterprises, such as VIE Ability and Route Transportation and Logistics as well as explore new opportunities to support long-term sustainability for the agency.
- Increase mission sustainability by growing community grant support and fee for service opportunities.
- Increase donor engagement and community support for mission services and outreach.
Increase CABVI's offerings to underserved, underutilized, and disadvantaged individuals.
- Implement mission-centered approaches and services meeting the needs of all CABVI clients, internal and external.
- Increase overall engagement with diverse populations specifically those who are marginalized, experience significant barriers and whose access to services may be limited.
Ensure CABVI has the software and systems necessary to support identified strategic initiatives.
- Implement a new, accessible system to improve data collection, reporting and analysis.
- Review and revise agency goals to best reflect current strategic initiatives.

OUR VALUES

We value each individual with their unique needs and experiences, serving all with diligence, understanding and respect.

COMPASSION

We value each individual with their unique needs and experiences, serving all with diligence, understanding and respect.

HOPE

We are optimistic and work to achieve a brighter future for our clients, customers, and stakeholders.

OPPORTUNITY

We remove barriers to dreams and provide choices for individual growth, future possibilities, and economic independence.

INTEGRITY

We do what is right and ethical in all our actions and relationships.

COLLABORATION

We value the talents and expertise of our employees and other members of our community realizing…
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

EMPOWERMENT

We empower people with knowledge, tools, and support to achieve their individual goals and create an enhanced quality of life.

Our History

1911 The Cincinnati Association for the Welfare of the Blind is founded to employ and assist people who are blind.
1946 Agency changes name to Cincinnati Association for the Blind.
1960s Cincinnati Association for the Blind initiates several rehabilitation services.
1980s Computer access services and early childhood and youth services are established.
1998 Radio Reading Services of Greater Cincinnati (RRS) joins Cincinnati Association for the Blind.
2001 Our base supply center, OFFICE RUNWAY, opens for business at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
2004 Board of Trustees approves a new name for the agency – Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI).
2013 CABVI launches a new social enterprise, CincySight Office products.
2016 CABVI establishes a new Contract Management Support (CMS) Services operation at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
2016 CincySight is rebranded as VIE Ability.
2017 CABVI opens Hornbeck Social Enterprise Center, increasing operations by more than 75%.
2022 CABVI acquired Route Transportation and Logistics, Inc., marking the 1st acquisition in CABVI’s history.

Leadership team consists of seven team member

Commitment and Experience

Our leadership team brings together a group of dedicated professionals with years of experience in not-for-profit, health, business and civic organizations.

Our Team