Heritage for the Blind

University of Buffalo’s Regional Institute recently concluded that agencies designed to disabled New Yorkers find employment are having an impact, the Buffalo News recently reported.

The institute found that such nonprofits have secured employment for 900 workers, including 440 blind or visually impaired ones.

Still, despite these efforts, two out of three New Yorkers with vision loss are out of work, a statistic that bears out nationally, the study concludes.

But various state organizations devoted to helping those with vision loss improve their quality of life managed to generate $88 million a year in direct sales of 240 goods and services and another $80 million from spinoff industries.

The nonprofits represented have a strong affiliation with the Blind for New York State, a network that aims to eliminate barriers to employment for the disabled statewide.

“The UB Regional Institute report proves what our affiliates and workers have known for years. Blind and visually impaired workers are productive members of our community. They can be efficient, conscientious and exceptional employees,” said Richard Healey, president of the Blind of New York State, which commissioned the report, in a press release. “The missing ingredient is the opportunity,” Healey added.