Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

The Board of Directors will hold their annual meeting on Tuesday, May 26 from 5pm to 5:30pm. The public is invited. It is a zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 813 4399 4014
Passcode: 123

05/19/2026

A big thank-you to the American Association of Drilling Engineers for their generous donation of $2,500, presented to Casey Duer, Program Director and Tom Class, our ADL and Rural Outreach Coordinator at the Fin, Feather or Fur Food Festival, this past Friday, May 15. We very much appreciate your support for our mission.

05/13/2026

Dear Students, Families, and Community Partners,

The Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is excited to invite youth participants to our upcoming Work Ready Workshops, taking place May 26th through May 29th, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily.

These workshops are designed to help students build practical workplace readiness skills, increase confidence, and prepare for future employment opportunities in a supportive and engaging environment.

Throughout the week, participants will have opportunities to:

Explore workplace expectations and professional communication
Practice teamwork and problem-solving skills
Learn job readiness and interview techniques
Develop and practice resume writing skills
Build independence and self-advocacy skills
Participate in mock interviews, workplace scenarios, group activities, and career exploration exercises
A lunch break will be provided daily from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

Our goal is to provide meaningful and practical experiences that support students as they prepare for employment, training, and future career pathways.

Workshop Details:
Dates: May 26–29
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily
Lunch Break: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Hosted By: Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Location: Alaska DVR, 4600 Debarr Rd. STE 300, Anchorage, AK 99508 | Office Phone: (907) 269-3580

If you are interested in participating or would like additional information, please contact:

Daria Ezhova
Youth Transition Coordinator
Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
dezhova@alaskabvi.org

05/13/2026

Thank you GCI for your generous donation of the Samsung A16 and the Nokia Flip phones, to aid in the training of our clients in the use of Android phones. Phone use is very important to blind and visually impaired Alaskans. Many people need to be retrained in the use of their phones in the use of different apps that are important for independent living. GCI understands this need. Thank you again GCI!

05/05/2026

The rain has been steady, and we are no worse for the wear, but a little sunshine could do all of us good. The Center is undergoing our own version of an indoor rain maker: a sprinkler system and fire alarm upgrade. Having a grand building in Spenard has its ups and downs, and in spite of all the adventures our neighborhood is known for, we aim to keep clients and staff safe — making sure we are up to fire standards is one way we do this.
We recently had our annual board retreat and all of us left feeling optimistic and recharged, ready to move forward with some exciting new goals and a vision for ACBVI that will continue to impact blind and low vision Alaskans for another 40 years in new and sustainable ways.
Please become a supporter of the Center. It takes funding for our projects, volunteers, and positive word of mouth.
We want to give a big thanks to ConocoPhillips for the continual support of our youth program camps. Our Youth Programs are the only camps in the entire state that offer youth the opportunity to gain pre-employment skills training alongside their peers.

04/20/2026

🦁❤️ A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Lion Friends! ❤️🦁

We are deeply grateful to the following Lions Clubs for their incredible generosity and continued support of the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired:

🌟 Mt. View Lions Club, Inc.

🌟 Kachemak Bay Lions Club

🌟 Copper River Basin Lions Club, Inc.

🌟 Kodiak Lions Club

Your support makes a real difference for Alaskans across the entire state who are blind or visually impaired. We are so honored to have champions like you in our corner!

📸 Pictured here are Nate Kile and Justine Downer of the Mountain View Lions Club, photographed at the Alaska MD 49 Lions Club Convention on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at The Lakefront Anchorage Hotel. Justine is the perfect example of someone with a true Lionheart — kind, courageous, and deeply committed to serving others. We are so grateful for her and everyone at the Mountain View Lions Club!

Would you like to join these amazing Lions in supporting our work? We serve Alaskans from all corners of this great state, and every act of support — big or small — changes lives.

👉 Please consider becoming a supporter today!

Nate Kile, Executive Director

04/20/2026

Help us make a difference by nominating a nonprofit and sharing how a grant will support the organization’s mission. All nominations must be submitted by Thursday, April 30th to be considered.