WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO AND WHY

More than 70% of the staff of Horizons for the Blind is made up of people who are blind or visually impaired. Working as a team with sighted members of the staff, we strive to improve quality of life and assist people to achieve their full potential.

OUR SERVICES BEGIN WHERE THOSE
OF REHABILITATION ORGANIZATIONS END

Horizons enhances self-sufficiency directly by providing Braille, large print, and audio cassette and CD instruction in crafts, gardening, food preparation, recreational reading and the operation of household appliances.

BRAILLE, LARGE PRINT AND AUDIO INFORMATION:

Menu, banking statements, guides, hotel information, utility bills, etc. Examples are The Hyatt Corporation, Seattle Sutton, as well as AT&T, Exelon, People's and Northern Illinois Gas Companies.

BRAILLE SIGNAGE

Providing usable signs for cultural exhibits such as Wagner Farm and Brookfield Zoo; providing signs for public facilities such as Hyatt and Marriott Hotels as well as public laundry equipment.

RECIPE BOOKLETS, CRAFT PATTERNS, PLANT AND GARDENING INFORMATION, RAISED PICTURES, BRAILLE GREETING CARDS, RECREATIONAL READING

On an individual level, we offer many other products and aim to do so at as reasonable a price as possible. Blind or visually impaired people should not have to pay premium prices for accessible materials. We also offer three series, "Kitchen Potpourri", "Craft Potpourri" and "Mini Cook Book Series" which all offer easy to handle, easy to read booklets covering various aspects of these subjects.

In addition, Horizons provides indirect services through public/private facilities and cultural organizations, by making accessible their programs and physical plants. This is done by removing barriers and improving multi-sensory programming, and working with public and private corporations to provide a complete access package for people with visual impairments (Braille and large print menus, Braille and large print statements, Braille and raised letter signs, play notes, etc.) in accessible formats.

Finally, on a more local level, Horizons alerts people who are blind and visually impaired to the opportunities available to them through its telephone information line, (815) 444-8800 (Press 4), and brochures. At the same time, Nationally, Horizons enhances public awareness of the special needs of individuals who are blind and visually impaired.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Accessibility enhances independence for all blind or visually impaired people. There is an ever growing population of older residents who are visually impaired. Accessibility allows them to remain self-sufficient and an integral part of the community. The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that, with reasonable accommodation, public facilities be made accessible to all people with disabilities. Horizons provides assistance and technical support in this access for people who are blind or visually impaired.