Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment

Assembly Resolution No. 1191

BY: M. of A. Lupardo

        COMMEMORATING   the   100th   Anniversary  of  the
        Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that the  quality
and  character of life in this great Empire State is greatly enriched by
the faithful and diligent work of those  organizations  which  serve  to
meet the needs of the community and its citizenry; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate   the  100th  Anniversary  of  the  Association  for  Vision
Rehabilitation and Employment; and

  WHEREAS, The Association for Vision  Rehabilitation  and  Employment
(AVRE)  is a private, non-profit organization that creates opportunities
for success and independence with  people  who  are  blind  or  visually
impaired; and

  WHEREAS,  Serving  the  Southern  Tier  of New York since 1926, AVRE
clinical staff provide a range  of  vision  rehabilitation  services  to
people  of  all  ages across its nine-county service territory - Broome,
Chemung, Chenango, Cortland,  Delaware,  Otsego,  Schuyler,  Tioga,  and
Tompkins; its business division includes the manufacture of a variety of
paper-based  office products, customized contract packaging, and several
switchboard operations; and

  WHEREAS,  The  AVRE  Downtown   Binghamton   facility   houses   its
administrative  and  clinical  staff offices, as well as the majority of
its Business Division; and

  WHEREAS, AVRE staffs and manages switchboards at  two  VA  Hospitals
downstate - Castle Point and Montrose; and

  WHEREAS,  The  revenue  generated from the AVRE Business Division is
invested into the Vision Rehabilitation  department  thereby  offsetting
the cost of providing services; and

  WHEREAS,  Over  90%  of  AVRE's  employees  are  blind  or  visually
impaired, including its President/CEO, Ken Fernald; and

  WHEREAS,  AVRE's  Vision  Rehabilitation  department  offers  Vision
Rehabilitation  Therapy  (VRT), Low Vision Exams, Orientation & Mobility
Training, Functional Vision Assessments and  Vision  Impairment  Connect
Program, Case Management, and Support Services; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body that those
organizations  which  unselfishly  devote  their  energy,   talent   and
thoughtful  care  on behalf of improving the quality and dignity of life
in the community, are worthy and due full  praise  and  recognition  for
their noble and dedicated efforts; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate  the  100th  Anniversary  of  the  Association  for   Vision
Rehabilitation and Employment; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment.