NABA provides services throughout the greater Capital Region to residents of Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, eastern Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington counties.

KidSight
This unique vision screening service, offered by NABA, aims to identify and address potential vision problems in children. Early identification of vision problems is vital to ensuring timely treatment and prevention.

Vision Rehabilitation Therapy - Independence and Self-Sufficiency
NABA works with individuals to develop the skills and techniques that enable them to live independently. These skills may include household management, health and personal care, and safe meal preparation.  Individuals may also receive training in the use of low vision aids and/or adaptive technology designed for people with little or no vision. 

The Business Enterprise Program provides training opportunities for individuals to be self-employed as managers of one of several vending facilities located in Federal and state office buildings throughout the state. Through classroom and on-site instruction, consumers become proficient in all aspects of retail management including purchasing products, controlling inventory, marketing products, maintaining good customer relations, hiring staff and keeping accurate records.

Orientation & Mobility - Safe Travel
Being able to travel independently and safely is a critical part of dealing with vision loss. NABA specialists instruct individuals on safe travel skills and ways to establish and maintain orientation. Lessons are individualized, taught inside and outdoors, and may incorporate the use of a sighted guide, cane skills, public transportation, and existing vision as aided by low vision equipment.

Social Work - Adjusting to Vision Loss
Adjusting to and coping with vision loss can be very difficult emotionally. NABA assists individuals adjust to their vision loss, helping them to develop coping, problem-solving and decision-making skills while reducing stress and anxiety. This encourages the individual's personal growth and complements the vision rehabilitation program.

Harry M. Judge Vision Rehabilitation Center
Recognizing the unique needs of those with some remaining vision, NABA's Low Vision Specialist determines the individual's level of functional vision. The Specialist prescribes low vision aids and trains the individual in their use allowing the individual to maximize his or her remaining vision.   Click here to learn more!

Job Readiness and Employment
For individuals seeking employment, NABA helps to identify abilities, aptitudes, and interests that lead to the selection of an employment goal. Job training and professional job-seeking skills are provided to help the individual achieve his or her goal. Employment and internship opportunities are developed in many areas to meet unique needs.

Assistive Technology Services
To address the growing need for computer technology skills, NABA assesses the needs of the individual, and recommends a computer system and software that will allow him or her to continue to utilize technology for work or school. Training is provided on how to use the adaptive software and hardware. NABA specialists are available to consult with schools, businesses and other enterprises that may have employees or students needing assistive technology services.

Defining Legal Blindness
The majority of individuals served by NABA are legally blind. As part of the organization's efforts to educate, NABA offers this explanation of legal blindness:

Legal blindness does not mean the same thing as total blindness.  Many people who are legally blind retain some usable vision.  An ophthalmologist (a medical doctor who has received additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease) or optometrist (doctor who is trained and licensed to prescribe eyeglasses or other optical devices) determines this during an eye exam.

During an eye exam, the individual is asked to read an eye chart. Each line on the chart is measured in distance from an object (the patient). Perfect vision is 20/20-i.e., what the patient should see at 20 feet from himself or herself is indeed seen accurately from 20 feet. If the individual is only able to read the 20/200 line on the eye chart with the better eye and with the best possible corrective lenses, he or she is considered legally blind- i.e., what should be seen from a distance of 200 feet can only be seen at 20 feet or closer.

Someone with a severe loss of side vision may also be declared legally blind if he or she can only see within a small field of vision (less than 20 degrees across). Although the individual may be able to read further down an eye chart than 20/200, the limited visual field renders him or her legally blind.