NuVisions Center -
What We Do, Why We Do It, and How Did It Get Started?
(A Brief History)
NuVisions took part in its first preschool vision screening in 1967. Two-Hundred-Twenty-Six (226) children were screened in Huntingdon County; sixteen were referred for testing by an eye care professional. This program expanded to include Juniata and Mifflin counties. The Prevention of Blindness (POB) Specialist conducting the screening looks for any of a list of specific characteristics during the screening, and, if found, sends a referral letter home with the child encouraging the family to have the child’s eyes examined by an eye careprofessional in order to address any vision problems before the child enters school. This can have a lifelong effect on the child's success.
Since 1996, NuVisions has been presenting interactive vision safety awareness programs in the elementary schools. The programs are age specific and designed to help children understand the importance of taking care of their eyes and preventing vision loss due to accidents and poor health habits.
In 2004, NuVisions introduced adult vision screenings and educational programs in senior centers and industrial sites.
Although the products and services have evolved over the years, NuVision’s mission is still the same. We are a service-oriented organization committed to serving the community by providing
meaningful employment for people with various disabilities as well as people without disabilities,
meaningful employment for people with various disabilities as well as people without disabilities, excellent services and outstanding products to customers,
excellent services and outstanding products to customers, education to the community regarding sight related issues of all kinds, and
education to the community regarding sight related issues of all kinds, andhelp to those who are visually impaired, encouraging them to remain independent, in their own homes, and active members of their community for as long as they can.
help to those who are visually impaired, encouraging them to remain independent, in their own homes, and active members of their community for as long as they can. In order to continue to reach these goals, the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of NuVisions Center is continually seeking new ways to improve our position in the community and the business world. Competing in today’s marketplace is increasingly more challenging; however, it is the intent of the management that this agency remains vital and meets its mission for many long years to come.
Success depends on each person involved in NuVisions Center, working together for the good of the individuals and community that we serve. As everyone works together as a cohesive team, through respect for each other, open communication and honesty, great things can be accomplished and the future can be secured. As a reflection of these changes and our expanding employee diversity, we have changed our name to NuVisions Center, but we have not left our early mission. NuVisions took part in its first preschool vision screening in 1967. Two-Hundred-Twenty-Six (226) children were screened in Huntingdon County; sixteen were referred for testing by an eye care professional. This program expanded to include Juniata and Mifflin counties. The Prevention of Blindness (POB) Specialist conducting the screening looks for any of a list of specific characteristics during the screening, and, if found, sends a referral letter home with the child encouraging the family to have the child’s eyes examined by an eye careprofessional. provider in order to address any vision problems before the child enters school. This can have a life long effect on the child's success.Since 1996, NuVisions has been presenting interactive vision safety awareness programs to individual classes in the elementary schools. The programs are age specific and designed to help children understand the importance of taking care of their eyes and preventing vision loss due to accidents and poor health habits.
In 2004, NuVisions introduced adult vision screenings and educational programs in senior centers and industrial sites.
Although the products and services have evolved over the years, NuVision’s mission is still the same. We are a service-oriented organization committed to serving the community by providing
meaningful employment for people with various disabilities as well as people without disabilities,
meaningful employment for people with various disabilities as well as people without disabilities, excellent services and outstanding products to customers,
excellent services and outstanding products to customers, education to the community regarding sight related issues of all kinds, and
education to the community regarding sight related issues of all kinds, andhelp to those who are visually impaired, encouraging them to remain independent, in their own homes, and active members of their community for as long as they can.
help to those who are visually impaired, encouraging them to remain independent, in their own homes, and active members of their community for as long as they can. In order to continue to reach these goals, the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of NuVisions Center is continually seeking new ways to improve our position in the community and the business world. Competing in today’s marketplace is increasingly more challenging; however, it is the intent of the management that this agency remains vital and meets its mission for many long years to come.
Success depends on each person involved in NuVisions Center, working together for the good of the individuals and community that we serve. As everyone works together as a cohesive team, through respect for each other, open communication and honesty, great things can be accomplished and the future can be secured. As a reflection of these changes and our expanding employee diversity, we have changed our name to NuVisions Center, but we have not left our early mission. Welcome to NuVisions Center
NuVisions Center is a not-for-profit organization
located in Lewistown, Pennsylvania,
founded in 1945.
To promote the betterment of the blind and visually impaired persons within
our communities.
To promote the welfare of persons with disabilities (vision and non-vision related) through employment opportunities.
To work to increase awareness of blindness and its prevention through vision screenings and educational programs.
vision screenings and educational programs. NuVisions Center is your resource, no matter where you are.
If you have vision loss, we will help you find the services you need and
give you information on products that may make your life easier.
We provide answers to many of your questions about vision loss.
OUR EVOLUTION: Many changes have occurred over the years in keeping pace with the changing marketplace. Today our manufacturing includes sewing washcloths, several styles of blankets, bedspreads, and window treatments for state buildings and offices. Products are sold to the State of Pennsylvania through a central nonprofit sales force (PIBH) and to the federal government through contracts with Ability One. This department maintains a minimum of 75% of its employees who are visually impaired or have other disabilities.
OUR BEGINNING: On February 28, 1945, Juniata Foundation for the Blind (now NuVisions Center) received its charter with the purpose of operating a workshop that would benefit the blind and allow continuance of services to the blind community. At that time, the Works Projects Administration (WPA) was winding down its operations of a home schooling program for the blind. The Pennsylvania legislature recognized a need for continuing these services, so the program moved under the State Council for the Blind, Department of Welfare. As a result of a survey of the central Pennsylvania geographical area showing the benefit of having a local agency to provide training and employment for blind persons, and with help from a United Fund grant (today's United Way), the workshop formally opened in November of 1945, under the direction of Carl Shoemaker, who was himself blind. Several visually impaired persons were employed in projects manufacturing leatherwork, rugs, basket weaving, rubber doormat assembly and chair caning. For a brief time brooms were made but this project was not able to compete in the marketplace. The foundation sold its items through local businesses and door-to-door sales. Eventually the agency was privatized and renamed Juniata Association for the Blind and moved to its current location in 1961, expanding the building in 1965. We maintain a strong relationship with the Mifflin-Juniata United Way.
In 1991, the agency launched into the private sector under the name of Juniata Custom Drapery (JCD). This business offers custom-made draperies and window treatments for home and office.
Today home owners can obtain JCD draperies through designers who use our workroom services.
In 2001, JCD added window treatment
installations to its services
and in 2008 sunscreen shade manufacturing.
1986-87 saw the advent of our janitorial program. This commercial cleaning service obtains its contracts through PIBH, Ability One and the private sector. A summer lawn care service was operated for several years; however, in the fall of 1999 it was decided that this service was not competitive so it was discontinued. All employees in this department have a disability.
In addition to manufacturing, several services have been added.
In 1985 the agency, represented by PIBH, began staffing the photo licensing technicians positions in PennDot's local Photo ID Cente with persons with disabilities.
To reflect these changes and our expanding employee diversity, our name was changed to NuVisions Center in 2010, but our early mission remains the same.
Proceeds from the manufacturing and services
-- help fund the Community Service Department with a goal to help blind and visually impaired persons within our communities, -- help educate our communities about prevention of vision loss,
-- help the disadvantaged obtain proper eye care. 
NuVisions Center’s mission from its beginning has been to serve the visually impaired population of Mifflin, Juniata and Huntingdon counties. The Center serves this population in practical ways with the goal of helping them remain independent members of the community.
In the past, Home Teachers/Visitors performed duties such as teaching Braille and typing to clients as preparation for employment and helping clients by delivering shopping orders, reading/writing correspondence, and talking with clients in their homes.
Today, the Center provides transportation to medical appointments, shopping, and essential errands and develops individualized service plans to help customers adjust to vision loss. Regular group meetings are held to encourage interaction between people facing similar life challenges.
These services promote independence among the visually challenged .
In 1952, the agency began a Corrective Eye Care program for the purpose of helping people obtain glasses and/or eye exams when they could not otherwise afford them. The Center has several partnership agreements with local eye care professionals, the United Way, and the New Eyes for the Needy program located in New Jersey to achieve this goal.
Opportunities include local commercial janitorial services, photo ID techs and manufacturing. We manufacture custom window treatments of all types and specialty items for state and private customers. For information on window treatments visit .www.juniatacustomdrapery.com
OUR PURPOSE:
EMPLOYMENT:
