CSB Care

What CSB Care does

CSB Care (legally Computer Services for the Blind) is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit founded in 1996/1997 by Rabbi Nachum Lehman that develops and distributes assistive technology, Braille materials, large-print Jewish religious texts, and communication solutions for blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled individuals, with a focus on the Orthodox Jewish community. Its core technology stack includes proprietary Hebrew and Yiddish Braille display conversion software, the Wasserman Torah Touch System (electronic Braille using refreshable pin displays), the Seligsohn Multisensory Chumash audio-visual player with voice command, custom eye-tracking integration for Tobii Dynavox, Smartbox GridPad, and Eyegaze Edge devices, and custom communication software for ALS patients that is unavailable from device manufacturers. CSB also produces dual-text volumes (e.g., Chumash with Rashi) and a Braille-with-print format that allows sighted parents and teachers to assist students.

CSB operates on a donation-funded nonprofit model (Tax ID 84-4801561) with all products and services provided free of charge to clients. Annual production includes approximately 5,000 Braille magazine volumes and 2,000 large-print versions, plus customized seforim ranging from slightly enlarged print to two-words-per-page Braille. The organization serves thousands of clients globally across the USA, Australia, England, Holland, and Israel through direct distribution, remote training, in-home visits, and partnerships with rehabilitation hospitals such as Helen Hayes and Rusk. Its GTM motion is community-led and event-driven, anchored by referrals from therapists, medical professionals, schools, and rabbis, supplemented by an annual conference for the observant blind community and partnerships with Jewish publications including Mishpacha. The organization employs approximately 10 staff spanning production, development, programming, finance, and operations under Executive Director Rachel Blum.

Name

CSB Care

Legal name

Computer Services for the Blind

Website

https://computersciences.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CSB Care is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that provides assistive technology, Braille, large-print seforim, and communication solutions for blind, visually impaired, ALS, and physically disabled members of the Orthodox Jewish community worldwide, free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistive Technology Services for the Visually Impaired

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Vision & Screen Access (Screen Readers, Magnification, Braille Displays/Notetakers) (EDAFAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

Keywords

• Assistive technology services
• Hebrew Braille production
• Large print seforim
• Eye tracking communication
• Jewish accessibility nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a non-profit organization (Tax ID: 84-4801561), CSB Care relies on donations and charitable contributions to fund operations. All services are provided free of charge to clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CSB Care provides customized assistive technology solutions, embossed Hebrew Braille volumes, large print seforim, electronic Braille systems, and eye-tracking communication devices for blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled individuals, with a primary focus on enabling access to Jewish religious texts (Torah, siddurim, chumashim). All products and services are delivered free of charge to clients across North America, Israel, the UK, the Netherlands, and Australia.

Product overview

CSB Care is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of assistive technology products and services for blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled individuals, with a particular focus on Jewish religious texts (seforim). The portfolio centers on Large Print Seforim, Embossed Braille Services, and the Wasserman Torah Touch System (electronic Braille), supplemented by the Seligsohn Multisensory Chumash and Hillman Torah View System for digital learning. CSB also provides Eye Tracking Communication Services and Speech/Communication Devices for ALS clients, along with Custom Adapted Solutions for various disabilities. All services are provided free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Customized Large Print Seforim Large print Jewish religious texts (Siddurim, Tehillim, Chumashim, Rishonim, Acharonim, Gemara) distributed annually to visually impaired clients, ranging from slightly enlarged to two-words-per-page productions. Includes dual-text volumes such as Chumash/Rashi with corresponding texts on the same page.
• Embossed Braille Services Customized embossed Braille production for Jewish religious texts (Chumash/Rashi, Gemara/Rashi, Siddurim, Machzorim, weekly Jewish magazines). CSB Care is the primary producer of embossed Hebrew Braille volumes in the United States.
• Wasserman Torah Touch System Electronic Braille system using a device with hundreds of changing electronic pins to display scrolling Hebrew text. Offers an extensive library of Torah sources, user-friendly navigation, and ability to transcribe chiddushei Torah.
• The Hillman Torah View System Hi-tech digital seforim library with voice recognition and configurable viewing software designed for texts with commentaries such as Chumash, Navi, or Gemara.
• Seligsohn Multisensory Chumash Audio-visual learning tool using the classic Metsudah Chumash/Rashi, visually highlighting each segmented phrase along with its English translation while reading it aloud. Includes customizable text size, color, reading speed, and a voice command system.
• Metsudah Chumash, Seligsohn Edition Set of three CDs encompassing the entire Chumash with Rashi as well as linear translations of both. Users can command the computer to read specific parshiyot chapter by chapter in a pleasant human voice. Available internationally.
• Braille Magazine Program Weekly Jewish magazines produced in Braille format, including Mishpacha magazine. Enables visually impaired readers to access contemporary Shabbos reading material.
• Large Print Magazine Program Weekly Jewish magazines in large print format. Annual production of approximately 2,000 volumes.
• Eye Tracking Communication Services Training, support, installation, and custom programming for eye tracking systems (Tobii Dynavox I-Series, Smartbox GridPad, Eyegaze Edge) with Hebrew and Yiddish language support for clients with ALS and other motor impairments.
• Speech and Communication Devices Installation, support, training, and custom programming of speech generating devices using various access methods. Includes custom Yiddish and Hebrew speech software, games, and story books.
• Communication Boards Custom-designed communication boards for severely challenged users, with Hebrew and Yiddish language support developed by CSB Care.
• Hebrew Braille Training Training program for Hebrew Braille literacy, typically requiring 5-10 training sessions to master both electronic and embossed Braille.
• ALS Technology Services Comprehensive education, setup, training, and ongoing support for ALS clients with communication devices, including eye tracking customization for limited eye movements and chronic dry eye.
• Custom Adapted Solutions Custom hardware/software solutions for clients with physical disabilities including specialty keyboards, mice, voice recognition, sip and puff devices, motion switches, and eye tracking devices.
• Refreshable Braille Display Program Software enabling Braille displays to convert Hebrew text on screen into Braille, revolutionizing Torah learning for Braille users who previously had no access to Hebrew text on electronic Braille devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of clients served since 1996
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Mishpacha MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023CSB Care partnered with Mishpacha magazine to create a breakthrough Braille edition of the publication. This partnership enables visually impaired readers to access Shabbos reading material, addressing a void that existed when computers and electronic devices cannot be used. The magazine CEO Avi Lazar called it 'something that transcends business.' Mishpacha employees responded enthusiastically to the venture.
• Metsudah Publishers / Seligsohn EditionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSB's best-selling product is The Metsudah Chumash, Seligsohn Edition, a set of three CDs encompassing the entire Chumash with Rashi as well as linear translations. Users can command the computer to navigate through parshiyot, aliya, and perek using voice commands.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JBI International: JBI International (formerly Jewish Braille Institute) is a non-profit providing Jewish literary, cultural, and religious content in Braille, audio, and large print to blind and visually impaired individuals worldwide. Directly comparable to CSB Care in mission, target population (visually impaired Jews), product format (Braille/large print Jewish texts), and non-profit funding model.
• Yad HaChazakah: Yad HaChazakah is a Jewish organization empowering individuals with disabilities through advocacy, support services, and resource coordination. Comparable to CSB Care in serving observant Jewish individuals with disabilities, though more focused on advocacy and community support than assistive technology production.

Broad incumbents

• Bookshare (Benetech): Bookshare is the world's largest accessible online library for people with print disabilities, providing Braille, large print, and audio versions of educational and popular books. Comparable to CSB Care as a digital content accessibility platform serving people with visual impairments, though broader in scope (general content rather than Jewish religious texts) and operates at vastly larger scale.
• Braille Institute: Braille Institute is a non-profit serving people with vision loss through education, training, and Braille production across Southern California and nationally. Comparable to CSB Care in providing Braille services and assistive technology support to blind individuals, though it serves a broader general audience rather than a religious niche.
• National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS): NLS is a Library of Congress program providing Braille and audio books free to qualifying U.S. residents with visual or physical disabilities. Comparable to CSB Care as a free distribution channel for accessible reading materials to disabled populations, though operating at vastly larger institutional scale.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Perkins is one of the oldest schools for the blind in the U.S., providing education, assistive technology training, and Braille services. Comparable to CSB Care in providing assistive technology training and educational support for visually impaired individuals, though broader in scope and educational institution-based.
• Lighthouse Guild: Lighthouse Guild is a non-profit providing comprehensive vision care, rehabilitation, and assistive technology services to people with vision loss. Comparable to CSB Care in providing assistive technology solutions and training for the visually impaired community, though broader in scope with clinical healthcare services included.

Others

• Tobii Dynavox: Tobii Dynavox is the leading global provider of eye tracking and assistive communication hardware for individuals with disabilities including ALS. CSB Care integrates with and customizes Tobii Dynavox devices with Hebrew/Yiddish programming, making it a key technology partner and adjacent peer in the disability assistive technology ecosystem.
• Freedom Scientific (Vispero): Freedom Scientific is the leading developer of screen reader (JAWS) and magnification (ZoomText) software used by blind and visually impaired individuals globally. CSB provides training and support on JAWS and ZoomText products, making it a technology partner and adjacent peer in the assistive technology ecosystem.

Regional players

• Yachad (Orthodox Union): Yachad is the Orthodox Union's disability inclusion program serving Jewish individuals with developmental and learning disabilities. Comparable to CSB Care in serving the Jewish community with disabilities, though focused on inclusion programming rather than assistive technology production.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/computer-sciences-for-the-blnd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 CSB Care