Blind Service Chicago

Name

Blind Service Chicago

Legal name

Blind Service Association

Website

https://blindserviceassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Vision Impairment Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI)

Keywords

• Blind services nonprofit
• Reading recording services
• Orientation mobility training
• Assistive technology training
• Vision impairment support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Blind Service Chicago is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that relies on donations from individuals and corporations. Contributions are tax-deductible to donors as permitted by law.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: The organization actively seeks corporate sponsors to collaborate on events and programs, with contact information provided for partnership inquiries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Blind Service Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides one-on-one reading and recording services, youth development programs (including the Pathways summer program), scholarships, orientation and mobility training, and assistive technology training to blind and low-vision individuals in the Chicago metropolitan area. All services are delivered free of charge and are funded by donations and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Blind Service Chicago is a nonprofit organization offering a unified suite of services for blind and low-vision individuals, not a technology product company per se. The core service portfolio centers on the Reading and Recording Program (providing one-on-one individualized reading assistance), Youth Programs including the Pathways summer program, Scholarships, Orientation and Mobility Training, and Technology Training. The organization also offers WayAround®, an assistive technology solution for identifying everyday items. Services are delivered through the Bernstein Center facility (opened January 2024) which includes a client technology lab, as well as via conference line activities and senior workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reading and Recording Program

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Corporate Sponsors (Unspecified)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlind Service Chicago actively seeks corporate sponsors to collaborate on events and empower Chicagoans with vision impairments. The organization offers partnership opportunities for companies to achieve their goals while engaging supporters and employees. Contact: Andy Gowdy at [email protected] or 312-236-0808.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chicago Lighthouse: Chicago-based nonprofit serving people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or multi-disabled with programs including assistive technology, employment, and youth services. Most directly comparable regional peer — same city, similar mission, overlapping programs (tech training, youth services, employment support).
• Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Nonprofit providing education, resources, and support to people with vision loss across the U.S. via distance-learning programs. Closely comparable educational-services mission and serves the same blind/low-vision population, though primarily via remote/distance delivery rather than in-person.
• Learning Ally: Nonprofit providing audio textbook and reading services for students with reading differences including visual impairments. Direct functional overlap with BSC's Reading & Recording Program for college students and competes for the same student-reader relationship.
• Lighthouse Guild: New York-based nonprofit providing services for people who are blind or visually impaired, including technology training, vision rehabilitation, and youth programs. Highly comparable service portfolio and direct program overlap with BSC's technology training, orientation & mobility, and youth offerings.
• VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired: New York-based nonprofit serving blind and visually impaired individuals through rehabilitation, social services, and youth programs. Comparable service mix including independent living skills training, youth and adult programming, and community engagement.

Broad incumbents

• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): National nonprofit addressing issues of blindness and visual impairment through advocacy, research, and resources. Operates across the broader blindness ecosystem (policy, research, technology) rather than direct local services; serves as the macro/incumbent reference point for BSC's advocacy and accessibility work.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): Largest nationwide membership organization of blind Americans, providing advocacy, education, and support through state and local chapters. Comparable mission but operates at national scale as advocacy and federation rather than direct-service provider like BSC.

Regional players

• Center for the Visually Impaired: Atlanta-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, education, and support services for people with vision loss. Highly comparable service portfolio (orientation & mobility, technology training, youth programs) but serves a different metropolitan market, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BlindService
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blind-service-association

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Blind Service Chicago