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 64 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 Fiscal Year 2027.

In fiscal year 2025–2026, Beyond Blindness continued to expand its Journey of Care®, providing comprehensive services to more than 1,500 children with visual impairments and other disabilities and their families. Across our three core areas of service, each program played a vital role in reaching and supporting our community: Early Intervention served 303 children, Education & Enrichment supported nearly 150 children and young adults, and Family Support engaged more than 1,000 participants.

We are particularly proud of the following recent accomplishments:

1) EXPANDING EARLY INTERVENTION THROUGH HEAD START
Beyond Blindness successfully implemented a comprehensive Head Start program serving 64 students across five infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms while maintaining compliance with all Head Start performance standards. This important expansion combines high-quality early childhood education with our specialized expertise in vision services, inclusive learning, and family support. Beyond Blindness also continued efforts to expand preschool capacity and secure sustainable funding for a transitional preschool classroom to ensure continuity of care for children transitioning through services.

2) CREATING NEW PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH AND FUTURE PROFESSIONALS
Beyond Blindness expanded Education & Enrichment opportunities for children and young adults with visual impairments, including the successful implementation of a 13-student leadership program and the launch of our inaugural Next Steps transition camp. Social Society programming continued with an average weekly attendance of 12 students with visual impairments, while expanded transition supports helped older youth and young adults build critical life skills and prepare for greater independence.

Beyond Blindness also strengthened the pipeline of professionals equipped to serve students with visual impairments through an enhanced ExCEL Academy in partnership with Cal State LA, supporting 13 Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI) candidates. Together, these initiatives expanded access to resources, training, leadership development, and transition support for children and young adults.

3) EXPANDING FAMILY SUPPORT
Beyond Blindness made significant progress in expanding family-centered services, care coordination, and advocacy. We provided oversight and evaluation of five community parent advocacy groups, successfully implemented our CYBHI Home Visiting Services, which supported 14 families each month, and secured additional First 5 funding to sustain these services for the next two years.

The Family Support Program also achieved major milestones in the implementation of CalAIM Enhanced Care Management services, including receipt of PATH funding, establishment of a partnership with Full Circle Health Network to serve Kaiser Medi-Cal clients, and launching as an official ECM provider on June 30, 2026. These efforts expanded access to care coordination, advocacy, and supportive services for children and families.

LOOKING AHEAD: FISCAL YEAR 2026–2027

By the end of FY27, Beyond Blindness aims to strengthen its position as the go-to provider for children who are blind or visually impaired and their families in Greater Orange County, serving 2,680 children and family members. Building on the progress of our Journey of Care®, our FY27 priorities focus on increasing program quality, expanding access to specialized services, and strengthening coordinated support for children and families.

To advance these goals, each program area has established the following priorities for the fiscal year:

1) EARLY INTERVENTION

To increase the developmental impact of Early Intervention services by strengthening program quality and ensuring measurable child progress.
Key priorities include developing and implementing standard operating procedures for at least 80% of Head Start classroom operations; achieving measurable progress on individualized developmental goals for 80% of enrolled children.

2) EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT

To expand educational and enrichment opportunities that prepare children and youth for future success while increasing equitable access to specialized vision services.

Beyond Blindness aims to increase participation in Education & Enrichment programs by 15% year over year, expand access to vision services by adding at least one new Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI) or Orientation & Mobility (O&M) professional, and launch at least one new or expanded enrichment opportunity.

3) FAMILY & SUPPORT SERVICES

To strengthen family stability, connection, and access to coordinated support by expanding participation, partnerships, and scalable service pathways.

FY27 priorities include increasing participation in wraparound services—including care coordination, wellness, counseling, home visiting, and partner-delivered services—by 20% year over year.

Together, these priorities will strengthen the Journey of Care® while ensuring children with visual impairments and other disabilities and their families have access to high-quality, individualized services and support throughout every stage of their journey.

Beyond Blindness relies on private support from individuals, foundations, and corporations to supplement limited program and public funding and ensure children and families can access critical services regardless of their ability to pay. Many of the families we serve face financial and systemic barriers to accessing specialized vision, developmental, educational, and family support services. With approximately 75% of families served coming from low-to-moderate-income backgrounds, philanthropic support helps Beyond Blindness provide comprehensive, individualized services through our Journey of Care® while reducing financial barriers for families who may otherwise be unable to access the support their child needs.

Greater Orange County

For more than six decades, Beyond Blindness has been transforming lives by empowering children with visual impairments and other disabilities—and the families who support them—to achieve their greatest potential. What began as a vision to serve children who are blind or visually impaired has evolved into a comprehensive organization providing life-changing early intervention, education, family support, and therapeutic services that help children thrive from infancy through young adulthood.

As the needs of our community continue to grow, so does our commitment to innovation, inclusion, and excellence. Together with our dedicated staff, generous supporters, and valued community partners, we are expanding opportunities, removing barriers, and creating brighter futures—one child, one family, and one success story at a time.

As a member of the Beyond Blindness Board for the past five years, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact this organization has on children and families throughout Orange County. As Chair of the Board, I am committed to continuing our mission of providing compassionate support, resources, and guidance to families as they navigate the complexities that come with raising children with visual impairments and other disabilities.