What we do

New Vision for Independence provides training to help individuals with low vision or blindness adapt to vision loss.

Imagine doing your daily activities -- pouring a cup of coffee, cooking breakfast, getting to work, dialing the phone, checking email -- with no vision. It would be difficult.

New Vision's free training strives to make life easier post-vision loss.

We serve Lake and Sumter Counties and The Villages. More>

For the most up-to-date news from New Vision, please visit our Facebook page and Like us! http://www.facebook.com/newvisionfl

Job opening

May 20, 2013 -- New Vision is looking for an Assistive Technology Coordinator. Check out the job posting for more information.

Register Now for the 5th Annual 5k

Register now for the 5th Annual 5k Run/Walk for New Vision!  

Date: October 26, 2013

Check In/Registration: 7 - 7:45 a.m.

Race Start Time: 8 a.m.

Location: Lake Sumter State College, Magnolia Room, 9501 US Hwy 441, Leesburg

Cost: $25 by 5 p.m. October 24; $30 after that and the day of

This event will be professionally timed. 

You will receive your choice of t-shirt or umbrella. Register by 10/9 to be guaranteed your choice of t-shirt or umbrella. After 10/9, registrants will receive umbrellas.

We will only accept online registration for this event. Register Now 

 

Other Ways to Support This Event: 

Sponsor the event. We have several unique, effective ways for you to sponsor this event. Sponsorship information

Fundraise for the event. When you register, you will have the opportunity it create a fundraising website, complete with a goal and thermometer to help you reach out to your friends and family and ask for their support. If you aren't registering for the event, you can still fundraise for us. Email cbuck@newvisionfl.org.

Donate to New Vision. You can donate online or to a fundraising team.

Form at team at the event. There are always prizes for "Biggest Team" at the 5k.

I dined in the dark!

April 25, 2013 -- Now those who attended the April 19 Dining in the Dark event have some bragging rights that many don't. From one of the evaluation cards we received at last Friday's event, "Thank you for the experience of seeing what it would be like to be blind. Scary but something that can be teachable." We hope you felt the same!

Thank you for attending Dining in the Dark 2013! Because of your attendance, bids, pledges, and support, we raised over $12,000 for vital services to enable and empower those babies, toddlers, teens, adults, and seniors with low vision or blindness to live life more independently with vision loss.

Photos of the event are being posted to our Facebook page  as we receive them so please "Like" us to be alerted of new photos, including event footage via night vision goggles from the SWAT team - coming soon! If you have photos of the event, please share them with us!

On behalf of the staff, board of directors, volunteers, and clients of New Vision for Independence, thank you for your part in ensuring free low vision services are available to those who need them most.

Latest newsletter available now

March 12, 2013 -- View the lastest New Vision News!

Stories in this issue include:

• Dining in the Dark 
• Spotlight: seniors 
• New grant received 
• Upcoming events 
• Retinal implant 
• Staff/Volunteers 
• For sale 
• Internet use & depression

Testimonial: Mr. Church

April 1, 2013 -- "Mr. Church is a very active resident in the Villages. One of his favorite games is golf. In getting to know Mr. Church we discovered he was open to trying different golf balls to see if he was able to visually locate them any easier. He was the first client to try the "low vision" golf ball which has a mirrored quality to it. I gave him one to try and told him I would check back in a few weeks.

"When I saw him next he had quite a story to tell. He said he was on the Churchill course in the Villages with his wife and he hit a hole-in-one on the third hole. When you complete a game and have gotten a hole-in-one you are asked to fill out a form as proof with witnesses signatures. When his wife began filling in the information the attendant told her she couldn't do it, that he had to if he made the hole-in-one. She said 'he can't, he's blind.' The attendant said '...but he hit a hole-in-one...' The other couple they golfed with vouched for him and the shack attendant was amazed.

"Mr. Church had to retire his golf ball (a tradition for the ball that made the hole-in-one), but plans to get more like it."

~As reported by Jenna Pruett, Vision Rehabilitation Program Coordinator

Grant received to serve Mt. Dorans

February 18, 2013 -- The Mount Dora Community Trust awarded a grant in the amount of $1,500 to New Vision for Independence. Funds will be used for scholarships to provide low vision services to 10 residents of Mount Dora. New Vision is a non-profit agency that provides rehabilitation, education, community education, and support services for people with low vision or blindness, and their families in Lake and Sumter Counties, and The Villages. For more information about New Vision and available services, call 352-435-5040.

New Annual Report

March 14, 2013 -- Check out our 2011-2012 annual report!

 Thank you to  our funders and community partners:

• State of Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services
• Lake-Sumter State College
• United Way of Lake & Sumter Counties
• Hans & Cay Jacobsen Foundation
• Lake County Board of County Commissioners Health & Human Services
• Sarah George Charitable Trust
• McKeon Family Ability Fund, administered by The Able Trust
• Blind Services Foundation of Florida
• Margaret & R. Parks Williams Charitable Foundation

Hiring someone with low vision or blindness

A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: learn about hiring someone with low vision or blindness

October 22, 2012 - October is National Disabilities Employment Month (NDEAM). NDEAM began in 1945 as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." It has since grown to a month long celebration of the contributions of workers with disabilities.

This year's theme, "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?" raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied talents of America's workers with disabilities.

New Vision for Independence recently received a $5,000 grant to provide training and support services to those job seekers with low vision or blindness. New Vision would like to present to local businesses about what they can do to help people with visual disabilities prepare for competitive job seeking.

"We encourage local businesses to commemorate this holiday by learning more about the benefits and incentives of hiring someone with a visual impairment," says Chantel Buck, executive director of New Vision. "There's a lot our local businesses can do to help someone with a visual impairment find a job and it starts with learning more."

Please contact Chantel Buck at cbuck@newvisionfl.org to schedule a presenter - in October or anytime throughout the year.

New Vision store

Check out the new New Vision store at CafePress.com. There are several shirts, a mouse pad, some bags, and more, all with New Vision's logo and other fun surprises. New Vision makes a portion of the sales of each item which will go to fund services for adults and babies with low vision or blindness.