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Envision asks for $600,000 to sustain statewide services for blind and visually impaired Kansans
Summary
Envision, the National Industries for the Blind agency in Kansas, asked the committee for $600,000 to continue home-based low-vision and blind-skills services it provides across roughly 75% of the state; the organization reported serving 2,000 people last year and operating at a $1.4 million deficit to sustain services.
Stacy Fuller, vice president of rehabilitation services for Envision (the National Industries for the Blind agency serving Kansas), told the Committee on Social Services Budget that Envision is the state's primary provider of services for people who are blind or have low vision and asked for $600,000 in state support to continue and expand home-based and clinic services.
Fuller said Envision travels to provide services in about 75% of the state and last year served more than 2,000 clients with more than 6,000 appointments. She said the organization is operating at a deficit of approximately $1.4 million to sustain current services and that many critical supports — independent living skills training, white-cane instruction, braille and assistive-technology training — are not fully covered by insurance.
Theresa Houston, director of Envision's Child Development Center and a longtime Envision staff member and program participant, described personal educational and rehabilitation gains made possible by Envision's services. Fuller said some essential services were removed from the state budget about 15 years ago, increasing reliance on nonprofit providers for home-based service delivery.
Ending: Envision asked the committee to partner with the agency to sustain services for Kansans who are blind or visually impaired; no formal budget action occurred at the hearing.
