Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation

Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation provides valuable financial assistance to organizations that directly support individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This crucial aid empowers these organizations to cater to people of all ages and diverse stages of vision loss by offering comprehensive training in essential skills like daily activities, orientation and mobility training, assistive technology, guide dog usage, low vision rehabilitation, literacy, and braille. Moreover, the Foundation extends its generous support to organizations offering career development, vocational training, recreational activities, and youth transitioning programs for blind and visually impaired persons. Rdpfs also lends a helping hand by providing an assistive technology resources list and engaging in outreach to low-vision organizations.rdpfs has a thorough grant proposal and outcome evaluation process, which helps ensure the success of the funded programs. In fiscal year 2024, rdpfs made 17 grants to 16 organizations across the united states. Grant monies were designated for:*data project for working-age blind and visually impaired adults living in new jersey. *dissemination of benefits information and crucial advocacy tips for blinded veterans. *accessible training program for high school students to learn digital efficiency and ensure websites are accessible when built. *bridging the digital divide for blind and visually impaired individuals by providing affordable, accessible, refurbished computers and training. *design and implement a national model for accessible music instruction in higher education. *support for a virtual youth enrichment program to address the needs of visually impaired children in new york state. *implement best practices for supporting and engaging individuals with vision loss or blindness and their allies as leaders and advocates for improved care, policies, and community support. *launch training and development, family support, research and data collection, and public awareness campaign on cvi. *support for a one-on-one peer support program for blind and visually impaired individuals. *support for an orientation and mobility internship program for graduate students. *support for a national teachers of the visually impaired recruitment project. *support the first phase of a national survey to study a more financially sustainable model of low-vision service delivery. *support the first phase of a new study, a national survey. *support to expand access to curriculum repository developed by faculty to support teaching accessibility to their students. *support for a newly created orientation and mobility program to help athletes become independent in their navigation around their campus and their community. *support for low vision direct care services and connecting people with vision loss to resources in pennsylvania.collectively, these programs reach thousands of blind and visually impaired individuals nationwide each year.

In fy 2024, the rdpfs extensive print publishing program significantly catered to the needs of 30,055 individuals through its "fiction favorites large print (formerly select editions large type) periodical. A total of 150,277 volumes were distributed to subscribers, ensuring they had access to engaging reading material tailored for ease of reading for those with low vision. In addition to the prominent print periodical, subscribers received a large print calendar with essential information on accessing low-vision services. By offering content formatted and printed to specific accessibility standards, the program is committed to empowering individuals with low vision, ensuring they can enjoy reading and stay informed in a way that fulfills their unique needs.