Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired Announces New Name, Services and Second Location

Press Release

With expansion underway in early 2019, the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Charleston is excited to announce it has changed its name to the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina (ABVI).

In addition to offering services out of its Charleston center-based location, ABVI is opening a second location in Summerville. ABVI will also begin coordinating community-based services, including individualized in-home therapy sessions for clients who are unable to travel to the Charleston or Summerville center-based locations.

“Since the founding of our Association in 1936, we have been providing services to clients from Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties out of one office in Charleston County. We know that transportation is a major obstacle for many of our blind and visually impaired clients who simply cannot travel to Charleston to receive the critical services they need,” said Courtney Plotner, CEO of ABVI. “By opening a center-based location in Summerville, as well as coordinating in-home therapy sessions throughout the Tri-County, ABVI is thrilled to have the opportunity to expand access to an underserved segment of our population.”

To make way for these exciting changes, ABVI is in the process of updating its Charleston facility by adding additional computers in the Computer and Assistive Technologies Lab and creating a mock living space where clients can learn tips and techniques for cooking, home management and safety and self-care. Through training at one of ABVI’s center-based programs, blind and visually impaired adults can find new approaches to daily life and begin to live, learn and earn independently, despite their disability.

ABVI’s Charleston location is 1 Carriage Lane, Building A, Charleston, SC 29407. Classes are taught every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. When classes resume on January 22, ABVI clients will work with a program instructor to set individual goals around independent living and/or vocational rehabilitation.Classes and opportunities at ABVI’s Charleston location include: Activities of Daily Living, Assistive Technology, Braille, Client Connections, Computer, Orientation and Mobility (O&M) and Soft Skills.

ABVI’s new Summerville location is 230 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29438. Classes will be offered every Tuesday. Instructors will teach classes in independent living and vocational rehabilitation including Communications, Cooking, Home Management and Safety and Self-Care.

All center-based services in our Charleston and Summerville locations are free of charge and open to any adult over the age of 18 who has a visual impairment. The only requirement is to become a client of ABVI. To request a copy of the client application or learn more about center-based or community-based services, please contact Brooks Harken at bharken@abvisc.org or 843-952-7242 or visit www.abvisc.org/services.

About Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina 

The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina’s (ABVI) mission is to enrich the quality of life of the blind and visually impaired. ABVI offers three service areas to support our mission: Center-Based Services, Community-Based Services and Guide Dog Scholarships. Through Center-Based Services, ABVI offers classes geared towards independent living and vocational rehabilitation. Classes are taught at our locations in Charleston and Summerville. Through Community-Based Services, we coordinate in-home therapy sessions for clients unable to travel to ABVI. Annual Guide Dog Scholarships are provided to ABVI clients to help maintain and extend the working life of a guide dog and to enhance the quality of life for our blind and visually impaired clients. To learn more about ABVI’s services, visit www.abvisc.org/services.

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