ALPHAPOINTE
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Mission Statement
We Educate - We Employ - We Empower those with a vision disability. Our MISSION: to empower those with vision loss to achieve their goals and aspirations. Our VISION: a world where everyone with vision loss rises to their desired full potential. Our KEY GOALS: To be the employer of choice, the provider of choice and a vital & sustainable agency serving those with vision loss. Through our services and programs our clients are able to live with independence, obtain job training and secure employment and/or continue into higher education. We help maximize independence for those who are visually impaired.
About This Cause
Alphapointe serves people who are legally blind by providing employment and resources that empower them to live independent lives. Legally blind refers to a very specific portion of the vision loss population, those with a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the best possible correction, and/or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. Most clients have recently lost or are losing vision due to Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, Cortical Visual Impairment, Retinopathy of Prematurity and Albinism. We are the only agency in the area that provide these critical services to those with vision loss. As the population ages, the need for vision rehabilitation will outpace the availability of services. Alphapointe needs to continue growing & providing vision rehab, low vision services, youth programs, education, training & employment services to those with vision loss in the region. Existing state and federal funding are unable to cover the entire costs of delivering services to the community. The states’ reimbursement rate is 60%, leaving 40% of programming expense unfunded. Insurance does not cover a portion of our low vision exams & does not cover adaptive aids (CCTVs, filters, lighting, magnification). These aids allow people to remain independent and age in place. We would like an increase in KC businesses participate in our Employment Services, that provide employers qualified candidates, on & off site training & ongoing support. Research indicates that customers favor companies that employ people with disabilities. As a manufacturing business we need to stay competitive & vibrant being able to secure top-of-the-line equipment as machinery becomes obsolete & not cost-effective to repair. This equipment ensures that we are able to continue employing workers who are blind; whose rate of unemployment is 70%. People who are blind are five times more likely to be unemployed than the general public. Factors include the misconception of one's abilities by potential employers, the lack of adequate training and use of technological resources. Those with visual impairments who are excluded from the workplace also feel unproductive within society and become discouraged, feel unvalued and experience social and economic isolation. In 1911, Alphapointe's founder Catherine Hale brought together 30 blind individuals to form the Allied Blind Workers Association of Kansas City. The group incorporated in 1916 to become the Kansas City Association for the Blind and founded a men's employment workshop to make furniture and a home for blind women. In 1958, Alphapointe helped establish the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired. In 1993, the Kansas City Association for the Blind changed its name to Alphapointe Association for the Blind. In 1995, Alphapointe began to manufacture plastic, adding new employment opportunities for those with vision loss. In 2000, Alphapointe further expanded its services by establishing the region’s only Comprehensive Vision Rehabilitation Center. In 2010, Alphapointe cut the ribbon on the Low Vision Clinic. In 2012, the Association for the Blind was removed from the Alphapointe name and a rebranding campaign began (Alphapointe = Vision, Work, Community – Vision. For Life). Following a successful capital campaign, Alphapointe consolidated operations in 2002 and moved to the Life Skills Campus at 7501 Prospect in Kansas City Missouri. The Life Skills Campus offers rehabilitation, vocational education, employment, and support services not only to blind and visually impaired Kansas City residents but the region. In May 2014, Alphapointe successfully merged with New York City Industries for the Blind. Since the merger, we have added a state-of-the-art Contact Center, secured new Department of Defense contracts and continued to manufacture and supply a broad range of quality products and services. Today we have 397 employees with 222 being legally blind; making us the 3rd largest employer of those who are visually impaired in the USA.