Beyond Blindness

Beyond Blindness empowers children with visual impairments and other disabilities to achieve their fullest potential.

Beyond Blindness is proud to have served Orange County children and families for more than 60 years. Our comprehensive programs include Early Intervention, Education and Enrichment, and Family Support. Our current strategic plan has the exciting goal of positioning Beyond Blindness as the go-to provider for blind and visually impaired children and expanding our capacity to serve 2,680 children and families throughout the Greater Orange County area by the end of the Fiscal Year 2027.

In fiscal year 2024 - 2025, we provided approximately 500 children and 1,000 family members with life-changing support and we are particularly proud of the following recent accomplishments:

1) HEAD START PARTNERSHIP LAUNCH
Beyond Blindness proudly introduced a new Head Start partnership, extending our long-standing mission to serve children with visual impairments and other complex needs. This collaboration integrates the nationally recognized Head Start early-learning framework with our Journey of Care® model, combining proven curriculum and expanded developmental screenings with our specialized expertise in vision services, inclusive classrooms, and family support. Becoming a Head Start site was a natural next step, enabling us to offer enriched early-childhood experiences and tailored support while enhancing awareness of our unique services and creating more meaningful opportunities for children with visual impairments and other disabilities to learn and grow alongside their sighted peers.

2) INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND RENOVATIONS
To prepare for this expanded early-learning program, we also completed major campus upgrades, unveiling two purpose-built playgrounds—one for infants and toddlers and another for preschoolers. Designed to strengthen every facet of our programs and welcome the broader community, these new outdoor spaces feature safety enhancements for children with visual impairments and sensory elements that inspire tactile exploration, curiosity, and confidence. This transformation was made possible through the generosity of dedicated donors who share our commitment to ensuring all children—regardless of ability—can learn, play, and thrive.

3) GOVERNMENT GRANTS DRIVING ADVOCACY AND GROWTH
Beyond Blindness also secured two pivotal government grants that advance our services and leadership in advocacy. The California Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Healthy Families Home Visitation Collaborative Grant engages us in a countywide network to strengthen home-based support for families, while the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Service Access and Equity (SAE) Grant appoints us as convener of a new parent advocacy group for families of children with visual impairments. Together, these awards diversify funding, broaden our reach, and amplify our voice in shaping systems of care so that families receive the resources and representation they need to thrive.

Beyond Blindness’ goal for fiscal year 2025–2026 is to strengthen its position as the leading provider of services for children who are blind or visually impaired and their families in Greater Orange County. This effort supports our long-term vision of reaching 2,680 children and family members by 2027. To move closer to this goal, we have identified three key priorities that will guide our work throughout the year:

1) Early Intervention
Implement a comprehensive Head Start program that delivers high-quality early childhood education, health, and family support services to promote school readiness and holistic development.
• Enroll 64 students across five classrooms, and secure a sustainable funding source to establish a sixth “transitional” preschool classroom to ensure continuity of care for all students.

2) Education and Enrichment
Create sustainable and impactful pathways for children and youth by expanding support for incoming Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) and launching new opportunities for youth leadership and life skills development.
• Develop, launch, and evaluate a life and leadership skills pilot serving 10 youth ages 14–22 who are blind or visually impaired.
• Implement an enhanced ExCel Academy in partnership with Cal State LA, providing professional preparation and mentoring for 12–16 TVI candidates.

3) Family Support
Implement the DDS Service Access and Equity program, the CYBHI Home Visiting services, and CalAIM Enhanced Core Management (ECM) programs to expand access to comprehensive support services, enhance care coordination, and improve health and developmental outcomes for children and families.
• CYBHI: Successfully complete all grant deliverables and identify sustainable funding to continue the program.
• DDS SAE: Provide oversight and evaluation of outcomes from five community parent advocacy groups.
• ECM: Achieve successful enrollment as a Medi-Cal ECM provider and secure a contract with Full Circle Network to deliver ECM services.

Beyond Blindness depends on private funding from individuals, foundations, and corporations to supplement limited program fees. Donations fund a majority of our life-changing services. Outside funding also allows Beyond Blindness to intervene at no cost to families who cannot afford recommended services. The average cost of raising a child with special needs is four times that of a typically developing child (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and 65% of families come from a low-to-moderate income background.

Greater Orange County

We are humbled and proud to be part of the Journey of Care over the last 60 years for thousands of children with visual impairments and other disabilities, and their families. We are looking forward to celebrating these stories of triumph, big and small, as well as our agency’s own evolution and expansion to positively impact a wider population of children as they prepare to live their fullest lives.

As both a parent of a child with visual impairments and the Chair of the Board at Beyond Blindness, serving this organization is deeply personal and profoundly meaningful to me. Beyond Blindness is more than a nonprofit; it is a lifeline for families navigating the challenges and triumphs of raising children with visual impairments and other disabilities. My journey as a parent has given me firsthand insight into the transformative impact of the services we provide. As Board Chair, I am honored to help guide this organization’s vision and growth and together, we are building a world where every child, regardless of ability, can live a full and rewarding life.