American Council of the Blind of Ohio, Greater Cincinnati Chapter
Address: P.O. Box 805, Cincinnati, OH 45201
Phone: 513-851-6445 (President, Terry Olandese)
Website: www.acbogcc.org
Mission & Purpose
The American Council of the Blind of Ohio, Greater Cincinnati Chapter (ACBOGCC) is dedicated to improving the quality and equality of life for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the Greater Cincinnati area. To this purpose, ACBOGCC directs its skill and energy for equal access to information, education, employment, transportation, art and recreation, and all other facets of daily life, sighted people can take for granted.
ACBOGCC engages in advocacy to inform federal, state, and local officials as well as the general public on issues of importance to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Our members — the blind, the visually impaired, and sighted individuals — all work together to accomplish the objectives of the American Council of the Blind.
People who are blind or visually impaired can function on par with their sighted peers if they choose and if society learns how to include them. Members of ACBOGCC have chosen that very lifestyle and have accepted as their mission the education of others who may chose to become members.
Members are active, productive, responsible, and successful parents and grandparents, employees or retired employees, and citizens in their communities. Two achievements of ACBOGCC are audible traffic signals at many intersections in Cincinnati and accessible (talking) voting machines at the voting poles in Hamilton County.
Services
- Legislative Advocacy: Encourages members to communicate with legislators and other public officials to achieve the objectives of the American Council of the Blind.
- New Member Recruitment and Orientation
- Recreational Activities: Organized Christmas dinners, audio-described plays, boat rides, game events, and sports activities like hiking, tandem biking and skiing.
- Scholarship and Awards: three awards given to a person or a group of people who are dedicated to improving the quality and equality of life for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the Greater Cincinnati area.
- Transportation Assistance Program for members and Taxi voucher program
Eligibility
Open to any individual who lives in the Greater Cincinnati area, who is blind or visually impaired or sighted and who is interested in improving life for people who are blind or visually impaired and who can attend monthly meetings on a regular basis. Monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month, start at 6pm and meet in the YWCA on Walnut Street, across from the main branch of the Cincinnati Public Library. Guests are welcome to attend and may become members after attending twice and being voted in.
