From its modest beginnings in 1936 as the Catholic Guild for All the Blind, to its internationally respected rehabilitation center, The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts, is at the forefront of vision rehabilitation for people of all ages and all stages of vision loss.
Today, the NIB associated nonprofit agency is among the nation’s premier blindness organizations. It offers a wide range of support, from skills training, vocational preparation, and job placement to services for school-aged children and seniors.
“Critical to our success is that we continue to embrace the principles we were founded on: respect, independence, dignity, and a determination to open opportunities and improve the lives of everyone we touch,” said Greg Donnelly, the Carroll Center’s CEO.
A History of Innovation
The Guild was renamed in 1972 in honor of Father Thomas Carroll, a visionary leader who established many innovative programs for people who are blind. He championed equal rights, independence, and skill building for employment, college success, and community engagement.
“Father Carroll left an indelible mark by establishing the world’s first community mobility program in 1952 to teach safe travel skills to people who are blind or visually impaired,” Donnelly explained.
Two years later, he created Saint Paul’s Rehabilitation Center, the nation’s first comprehensive residential rehabilitation center for people new to vision loss. The center was based on successful programs Father Carroll had a hand in developing with the Department of Veterans Affairs after World War II. His book, Blindness: What It Is, What It Does, and How to Live with It, is required reading at many universities.
Promoting and Preserving Independence
One of the first agencies to offer computer training to people who are blind, the Carroll Center now offers services both in person and virtually. The Screen Reader User Tester Training Program (SRUTT) is one of its newest initiatives, which prepares participants to work in the field of digital accessibility and assist organizations in achieving compliance.
“SRUTT graduates understand digital accessibility in desktop and mobile environments,” Chief Program Officer Dina Rosenbaum said. “They can identify accessibility barriers and communicate issues to developers as well as non-technical stakeholders so the problems can be remediated.”
The Carroll Center’s popular youth summer programs focus on self-advocacy, social development, and independent living for young people ages 8-22. Past participants include noted blind mountain climber and motivational speaker Eric Weihenmayer.
“Eric got his first climbing experiences through our program and learned he could pursue adventure as a person who is blind,” Rosenbaum says.
The Carroll Center’s comprehensive low vision clinic provides optometric services, assessments, and training. An onsite store sells a wide range of adaptive devices, such as white canes, magnifiers, talking and braille watches, cooking tools, clocks, labeling supplies, and much more.
Holly Polgreen, a recent Carroll Center graduate, was able to return to her job as a speech therapist thanks to the services she received.
“My life took a dramatic turn after being diagnosed with an inherited form of vision loss back in 2021,” said Polgreen. Referred to the Carroll Center with hopes of being able to return to work and learn to safely travel with her changing vision, she attended an independent living program, intensive computer classes, and orientation and mobility training. “Just because I cannot see does not mean that I don’t have vision,” she said. “Thanks to the Carroll Center, I have renewed hope!”
Looking to the Future
Donnelly notes one challenge facing the Carroll Center is prevalent nationwide – an ongoing shortage of vision professionals coupled with the need for nonvocational services for older adults and children under 13 growing at a record pace. Given that government funding for such services is far less than that allocated for vocational programming, he sees fundraising as key.
“Philanthropic success is instrumental to maintain the positive outcomes for our clients while demand for our services increases dramatically each year,” Donnelly observed. “It is critical that we engage younger generations and introduce them to our transformative impact and work.”
Nonetheless, Donnelly is confident about the future, noting that the Carroll Center is embarking on its first 5-year comprehensive campaign. Designed to strategically advance and strengthen all aspects of the center, it will begin with its strongest asset – its people.
“With our 87-year history, renowned vision professionals, and game-changing programs, along with our unprecedented growth and financial sustainability, the Carroll Center has never been better positioned to serve the growing needs of people who are blind or visually impaired at all ages and stages of vision loss.”