The National Association for Visually Handicapped is the world’s largest nonprofit focusing solely on supporting the visually impaired, stressing the optimization of residual vision and providing emotional support and services so individuals can retain hope, dignity, and independence despite diminished sight.
NAVH’s approach contrasts with that of the National Federation of the Blind, which spurns the palliative “visually impaired” in favor of the word “blind” to instill pride and mitigate negative perceptions of blindness.
The distinction between blindness and limited vision, however, is crucial to NAVH, which sees gaps in the blindness system resulting in fewer specialized resources for the visually impaired. NAVH claims that only 130,000 of America’s 26 million persons with some vision loss are “blind” i.e. having no functional vision.
NAVH Forms to Aid Low-Vision Students
Dr. Lorraine Marchi, a San Francisco native, launched National Association for Visually Handicapped to address the lack of large-print educational materials for low-vision students. Marchi’s oldest son was born with albinism and had 20/200 vision—the highest acuity for those classified as legally blind. He needed special materials, but did not need braille.
Marchi’s organization was the first to institute support groups for parents of visually impaired children. Over time, NAVH has built an information repository that enables sight-impaired individuals, doctors, and blindness professionals to access vital resources and share vision-related news and research.
How NAVH Helps Sight-Impaired Readers
NAVH has four main program components to enhance reading for sight-impaired students:
- Large-Print Books: NAVH maintains the 10,000-volume Robert L. Fastie Memorial Library (including commercial fiction, nonfiction, and reference works), accessible free by mail to anyone in the United States. Most books are donated by publishers and designed according to NAVH’s large-type standards.
- Vision Aids: NAVH sells a broad selection of reading aids, including handheld, stand, and electronic magnifiers, lamps, large-print clocks and watches, and writing aids such as high-contrast paper and signature guides.
- Fun Rooms and Home Visits: NAVH’s “Fun Rooms” (New York and San Francisco) enable the visually impaired and blindness professionals to try the latest low-vision aids and adaptive technology. Staff visits are available for homebound seniors.
- Public & Professional Education: NAVH annual events include its Public Awareness Showcase at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital and the Kambara Low Vision Symposium for ophthalmologists at NAVH’s New York headquarters. NAVH’s Educational Series includes: “Guidelines for Comprehensive Low Vision Care,” “Professional Guide - Growth and Development of the Partially Seeing Child,” and “The Adult Partially Seeing - A Professional Guide.”
Accessing the NAVH Large-Print Library
- Call 888.205.5951 or write to NAVH (address below) to request a catalogue.
- Submit list of selected titles and authors
- Receive two books on a two-month loan, with subsequent titles sent out as books are returned
- Books ship and are returned postage free to residences only (no PO boxes)
- The service is free, though NAVH appreciates donations.
How to Contact NAVH
NAVH New York City
22 West 21st Street 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010
212 255 2804
NAVH San Francisco
507 Polk Street, Suite 420
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.775.6284
Though the government does not distinguish between total and legal blindness, NAVH sees a world of difference between the two terms and seeks to enhance lives by enabling people to maximize the vision they have.
Andrew Leibs - Andrew Leibs is Suite101’s Feature Writer for Accessible Recreation. He is a longtime chronicler of the disability movement with ...
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