Here Comes The CAAVLry!: Introducing The California Alliance On Aging And Vision Loss
Frank Welte

We are pleased to announce that we have created the California Alliance On Aging and Vision Loss, CAAVL, an organization that will work in behalf of older Californians living with vision loss. CAAVL is preparing to be an affiliate of the California Council of the Blind and of the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. We expect that we will have received charters from both groups by the time you read this article.

Our Purpose

The purpose of CAAVL shall be:

A. To build an active, inclusive and supportive community of older persons who are blind that fosters each person's self-acceptance and self-confidence, helps each person to access information, resources, products, services and opportunities that will enhance his or her experience with vision loss and provides opportunities for each person to share his or her unique personality, life experiences, talents and friendship in behalf of others in the community.

B. To promote the acceptance, accommodation and full inclusion of older blind individuals by all agencies, employers, educational institutions, businesses, and by the general public.

C. To work to improve the scope and quality of educational, cultural, rehabilitation and employment opportunities in order to enhance the quality of life for blind persons in general, and for older blind individuals in particular in the state of California.

D. To influence providers of products and services to address the specific needs of older blind individuals, including those with multiple disabilities, in the designs of those products and services.

For more information, please contact Frank Welte, CAAVL's Interim President, by email at Frank.A.Welte@gmail.com or by phone at 510-541-1442.