According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate is 9.1 percent. Jobs are hard to come by, especially for people with a disability such as blindness or a visual impairment. Of working-age people in the United States who are legally blind, 70 percent are unemployed. Many need training to keep up with the technological demands of the workplace and assistance to re-enter the job market.
Such was the case for Jack Atkinson.
Jack began to lose his vision is his 20s due to type 1 diabetes. He has low visual acuity and is legally blind. Jack was having trouble getting to work and needed adaptive technology to continue his job as a lift truck operator. Then, after 21 years, Jack was laid off. With no public transportation in Jack’s hometown and few jobs in a depleted market, Jack was referred to Clovernook by the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired for assistance. A Clovernook employment specialist worked with Jack to find the right job match for his skills and experience. After a job opened at Clovernook in the shipping department, Jack was recommended for it and was hired.
Finding employment is a definite need for people who are blind or visually impaired. Only one-fifth of those surveyed locally have a job that provides income. This is a startling statistic. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to Clovernook Center. With your donation, you:
- Stimulate the economy and create jobs for people with disabilities. We employ 60 people who are blind or visually impaired in our industrial manufacturing and braille divisions and helped 22 people find jobs in the community last year.
- Provide rehabilitation services such as activities of daily living instruction, communication skills and assistive technology training to improve the quality of life for people with visual impairments.
- Help people adjust to recent and long-term vision loss through case management and social service supports.
This is just a sampling of all the important programs and services that your donation helps to support. Please consider making a contribution today.
"Clovernook remains on my charitable giving list because of the way they go about fulfilling their mission. I love the fact that Clovernook is privately funded, not to mention the wonderful employment opportunities they provide to the visually impaired community. It feels good to give to Clovernook."
-Robert T. Kay
"It feels good knowing I have a positive impact on the visually impaired community through my volunteer role as a Trustee, as well as being a donor. It is easy to gift Clovernook through a security exchange or cash donation. I know that my donations are spent wisely on mission support."
-Frances D. Cohen
"Since volunteering at Clovernook many years ago, it has held a special place in our hearts. Clovernook has certainly changed the lives, for the better, of many visually impaired people. Donating to Clovernook will help perpetuate their magnificent work."
-Philomena and Charles F. Miller
"By attending Clovernook's Low Vision Support Group, I am able to connect with people who are going through the same thing that I am. It feels good to know that because of the group, my confidence has grown and that I can face any situation."
-Shirley Blackmore
"For many years, I have read a number of your books and magazines that you print. I wish to thank one and all for the wonderful work you do in order to give blind people, such as myself, the independence to live normal and useful lives."
-Patrick Mulvey
"With your help to buy the "AMIGO" Reader, I can now read the newspaper and other printed materials. The "AMIGO" does all of the things that your professionals told me it would do. Thank you!"
- Ken Thiergartner
Clovernook Center for Blind and Visually Impaired's website has been designed to be as accessible as possible to all website visitors. As such this website has been created to be accessible to those with varying degrees of visual impairment and has been found to be compliant using the former Watchfire WebXact and Bobby systems. This site strives to be accessible to all, if you have found content that you are having difficulty accessing, please contact us at accessibility@clovernook.org and we will address the issue.
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