Visit the Center for Visually Impaired - The Center for the Visually Impaired is Georgia's largest comprehensive, fully accredited, private facility providing rehabilitation services for individuals of all ages who are blind or visually impaired.
Since 1962, the Center has grown to serve as a model of innovative services for people who have a wide range of vision impairments from low vision to total blindness. The mission of the Center for the Visually Impaired is to empower people impacted by vision loss to live with independence and dignity. See services for you below.
Low Vision Services
The Florence Maxwell Low Vision Clinic helps people who have vision that is functional to some degree but cannot be fully corrected by ordinary prescription lenses or medical treatment. The Clinic helps individuals ages 5 and older make the best use of their vision through the use of optical and non-optical devices.
Adult Classes & Training
The Adult Rehabilitation Services program offers both classes at the Center and services in the community to help clients achieve greater independence at home and at work.Each client begins with an evaluation in which his or her goals are identified and developed. One-on-one and small group instruction are offered in the following areas:
Orientation and Mobility: CVI's certified instructors teach each client safe travel techniques in real life environments. Small group classes are available in personal safety training, sensory awareness, route planning, geography of Atlanta, airport mobility, rail car orientation and inclement weather travel.
Personal and Home Management Skills: Training in the Center's Activities of Daily Living apartment provides clients with tools for independence through specialized techniques for cooking, cleaning, clothing care and identification, money management, hygiene, and health and diabetes management.
Diabetes Education: The Center's diabetes educator supplements training in the Activities of Daily Living apartment with individual and group counseling and support. Training emphasizes the use of diabetes management equipment that is specially designed for persons who are visually impaired.
Communication Skills: Communications classes develop skills needed to communicate with others including listening skills, keyboarding, tape recording and handwriting. Basic literacy classes are also offered as needed.
Braille: The Center's certified braille instructor teaches clients to read and write braille with a variety of devices. Instruction in musical notation and mathematical notation is also available.
Technology Instruction: Technology classes offer up-to-date instruction in the latest standard and adaptive software and equipment. Instruction is tailored to the individual whether he or she is a beginning or advanced computer user.
Vocational Services: The Center's vocational counselors offer individualized counseling and evaluations and are available to assist clients with employment goals and planning. Career Services specialists conduct work experience classes and job readiness classes.
Youth Services
STARS (Social Therapeutic and Recreational Services) is an educational, recreational and social skills program for students ages six to 21. Through after-school, weekend and summer programs, STARS challenges the isolation and inactivity that many blind or visually impaired youth experience.
Early Childhood & Preschool Services
The BEGIN early childhood program provides essential services to enhance development and potential for newborn to early school-aged children with severe visual impairments. Through BEGIN, families learn about their children's visual conditions and become advocates to seek the best opportunities for their children.
Support Groups
The Center's clients and their families have access to individual, group and family counseling, which can be a crucial part of the process of adjusting to vision loss. Many group sessions are open to the public.
Next Steps Towards Independence
- As the first point of contact for new adult clients, CVI's Client Services staff understands the challenges facing families and individuals coping with vision loss. Counselors answer requests for up-to-date information about vision impairment, provide access to other local and national resources, and process referrals for CVI's services.
D.O.L. General Info
