Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

What Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired does

The Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI), founded in 1941 by the Lions Club of Chester as a two-employee workshop, is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a vertically integrated portfolio of blindness services and employment programs in the greater Delaware Valley. Its service lines span prevention (community vision screenings and eyeglass support), rehabilitation (in-home instruction in daily living skills, orientation and mobility training, low vision exams), assistive technology training (screen readers, voice recognition, screen magnifiers, Braille, and a 2016-launched Apple Product Lab), specialized supports (casework, transportation, chore services), and youth programs (Keystone Kids for ages 8-21 and the IDEAL Transition Program, a four-week residential summer program for students ages 14-21 tuition-priced at $10,252.50). CBVI is part of the Keystone Network alongside Keystone Blind Association (KBA), Keystone Independence Management (KIM), Beaver County Association for the Blind (BCAB), and Montgomery County Association for the Blind (MCAB), an affiliation formalized in 2009 that provides shared back-office functions and cross-agency program reach.

Revenue and employment generation flow through AbilityOne (formerly Javits-Wagner O'Day Act) federal manufacturing and service contracts accessed via National Industries for the Blind, a participation relationship CBVI has held since 1954. Operationally this means CBVI operates a toilet paper factory producing approximately 90,000 rolls per week for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, distributes 50,000-100,000 industrial hard hats annually through Grainger, MSC, and LC Industries, runs janitorial services across 528,000+ square feet at Cheyney University (employing about 30 blind workers), manages 34 Pennsylvania interstate highway rest areas through Keystone plus 9 additional northwestern Pennsylvania sites under Total Property Management, provides landscape maintenance at 13 PA rest area sites, and operates two drivers license photo ID centers in Fairless Hill and Bensalem in partnership with PIBH. A 1996 partnership with GSA established a customer service call center employment program.

The organizational model is community-led, with referrals originating from the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS), school districts, the Overbrook School for the Blind, the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind, and the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Pennsylvania; donations (channeled via cbvi.net and Facebook) supplement earned revenue from contracts and tuition. Reporting on financial performance, employee headcount, or program outcomes beyond operational volume metrics (e.g., rolls/week, square feet serviced, rest areas maintained) is not disclosed in the available input, limiting external visibility into unit economics and operating margin.

Name

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Legal name

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Website

https://cbvi.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a Chester, PA nonprofit founded in 1941 that delivers vision rehabilitation, assistive technology training, youth transition programs, and AbilityOne-funded manufacturing and facility service employment for blind and visually impaired individuals in the Delaware Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation and Disability Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation services
• Assistive technology training
• Supported employment programs
• Blindness prevention services
• Nonprofit disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

West Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Manufacturing Contracts: Manufacturing products under the Javits-Wagner O'Day Act (now AbilityOne Program) for federal customers. Products include toilet paper (90,000 rolls/week for PA Department of Corrections), tools, and helmets (50,000-100,000 annually). Blind employees assemble and package these products.
2. Commercial Service Contracts: Janitorial services contract at Cheyney University (30 employees, 528,000+ sq ft), landscape maintenance at 13 PA rest area sites, rest area management at 34 interstate highway rest areas, and drivers license photo ID centers.
3. IDEAL Program Tuition: Four-week residential summer transition program for students age 14-21 with visual impairments. Total cost of $10,252.50 including room, board, and all activities. Funded through BBVS/OVR, school districts, service organizations, or private pay.
4. Donations and Memberships: Nonprofit relies on public donations and is a member of Pennsylvania Association for the Blind and other regional organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CBVI is a nonprofit agency that provides blindness prevention, rehabilitation, and employment services to visually impaired individuals in the greater Delaware Valley. Core offerings include in-home rehabilitation, assistive technology and computer training, orientation and mobility instruction, prevention of blindness screenings, casework and transportation services, and youth transition programs. Through AbilityOne federal contracts and commercial service contracts, the organization also provides Supported Employment via manufacturing (toilet paper, hard hats, tools) and services (janitorial, landscape, rest area management, driver license photo centers).

Product overview

Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI) is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of vision rehabilitation and employment services rather than a technology product platform. The organization provides core services including Computer Training (with assistive technology instruction), In-Home Rehabilitation, Prevention of Blindness programs, Specialized Services (casework, transportation, chore services), and Employment Services. Youth-specific offerings include the IDEAL Transition Program (a residential summer program for students ages 14-21) and Keystone Kids (a community program for children ages 8-21). These services work together to help visually impaired individuals prevent, prepare for, and adapt to vision loss while achieving independence and employment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Computer Training Comprehensive training program teaching individuals to use assistive technologies including voice recognition, screen readers, screen magnifiers, scanning/reading technology, accessible PDAs and cell phones, and Braille technologies. Includes a dedicated Apple Product Lab for assistive Apple ecosystem training (iPhone, iPad).
• In-Home Rehabilitation Home-based instruction teaching safe cooking, household management, laundry, appliance use, money identification, time telling, telephone use, and basic Braille for visually impaired individuals.
• Prevention of Blindness Free community programs offering vision screenings, eye safety education, eyeglass cleaning/repairs, and children's screenings for early detection of Amblyopia and other abnormalities.
• Specialized Services Programs enhancing independence including casework services with home visits and needs assessments, door-to-door transportation, chore services, and Life Skills Education Group support.
• Keystone Kids Community-based program for blind children ages 8-21 providing skills for independence and self-sufficiency through Saturday/weekend activities and social opportunities.
• IDEAL Transition Program Four-week residential summer program helping students transition from high school to college, employment, or independent living through instruction in blindness skills, access technology, career development, and independent living. Total cost of $10,252.50 including room, board, and all activities.
• Employment Services Job opportunities including management of drivers license photo ID centers, toilet paper manufacturing, janitorial services, rest area management, landscape maintenance, and distribution of industrial tools and safety helmets. Employs blind and visually impaired individuals under AbilityOne and commercial contracts.
• CBVI Sight Solution Store Retail store providing low vision aids, magnifiers, and adaptive products for individuals with vision loss.
• Online Donations and Fundraising Program CBVI maintains an online donation platform supporting its programs for local blind and visually impaired individuals, including the annual Vision Bowl bowling fundraiser held at MacDade Bowl.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.5 million toilet paper rolls produced annually for PA Department of Corrections
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Industries for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBVI is a member of National Industries for the Blind (NIB), the nation's leading nonprofit creating employment for people who are blind. Through this partnership, CBVI participates in federal contracts under the AbilityOne Program (formerly Javits-Wagner O'Day Act) for manufacturing products like toilet paper and helmets.
• Pennsylvania Industries for the Blind and Handicapped (PIBH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBVI cooperates with PIBH to supervise two drivers' license photo ID centers in Fairless Hill and Bensalem, PA. This partnership provides employment opportunities for blind individuals.
• Pennsylvania Association for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBVI is a member of the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind (PAB), an organization providing services to blind and visually impaired persons throughout Pennsylvania.
• Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBVS is a division of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) that provides funding for CBVI's IDEAL Transition Program. BBVS provides services in Pennsylvania to help those with visual impairments gain or maintain employment while living independently.
• Overbrook School for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1995, CBVI created the summer IDEAL transition program in conjunction with Overbrook School for the Blind, with support from BBVS. The program assists students in transition from high school to college, employment, or independent living.
• Keystone Independence Management (KIM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIM provides accounting, administrative, and human resources services to CBVI and other network agencies across Pennsylvania. CBVI formed affiliation with KIM in 2009.
• Keystone Blind Association (KBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBA offers services in Mercer, Crawford, Lawrence in PA and Mahoning and Trumbull Counties in Ohio. CBVI partnered with KBA in 2009 and joined their Keystone Kids Program in 2010 for children with vision loss.
• Delaware County Chamber of CommerceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBVI is a member of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, supporting local business community connections and economic development.
• Better Business Bureau of Eastern PennsylvaniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBVI is accredited/member of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Pennsylvania, demonstrating organizational accountability and trustworthiness.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Pennsylvania Association for the Blind (PAB): PAB is the statewide association of which CBVI is a member. While not directly operating services in all locations, PAB coordinates the network of agencies that deliver the same category of prevention, rehabilitation, and employment programming.

Direct peers

• Lighthouse Guild: Lighthouse Guild is a leading U.S. nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, assistive technology training, behavioral health, and employment services for people with vision loss — directly comparable to CBVI's prevention-to-employment service mix.
• Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. (Seattle): A nonprofit that runs manufacturing, vocational rehabilitation, and assistive technology training under AbilityOne. Highly comparable business model combining federal manufacturing contracts with rehabilitation services.
• The Chicago Lighthouse: The Chicago Lighthouse operates vision rehabilitation, assistive technology programs, and an AbilityOne manufacturing/social enterprises business. It mirrors CBVI's combination of human services and federally-supported employment contracts.
• Keystone Blind Association (KBA): KBA is an explicit CBVI affiliate under the Keystone Network, offering overlapping vocational rehabilitation, youth (Keystone Kids), and employment services across western PA and eastern Ohio — making it a near-identical operating counterpart.
• LC Industries: LC Industries is an AbilityOne nonprofit that manufactures and distributes products and provides employment for people who are blind. CBVI explicitly distributes helmets through LC Industries, illustrating direct operational comparability.
• Overbrook School for the Blind: Overbrook is a direct programmatic peer and explicit partner of CBVI, co-developing the IDEAL Transition Program. Comparable educational and rehabilitation services for blind/visually impaired youth in the mid-Atlantic.
• Bosma Enterprises: Bosma is an Indiana-based AbilityOne-affiliated nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation, training, and manufacturing employment for people who are blind or visually impaired — directly analogous to CBVI's combined services-plus-manufacturing model.
• Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind (WSI): WSI is an AbilityOne-affiliated nonprofit that combines federal manufacturing of hygiene and safety products with vocational rehabilitation services, mirroring CBVI's toilet paper/helmet manufacturing and rehabilitation operations.

Broad incumbents

• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): NIB is the umbrella nonprofit that negotiates federal AbilityOne contracts on behalf of its affiliated agencies, including CBVI. It is the closest comparable organization given CBVI's role as a manufacturing and service-delivery affiliate within the NIB network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CenterfortheBlind
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-the-blind-and-disabled

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired