 | |
| Formation | 1919 |
|---|---|
| Founder | J. Robert Atkinson |
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Location | |
Area served | Seven locations covering Southern California from Santa Barbara to San Diego |
Key people | Michael Corley, Chair; Peter Mindnich, President |
| Website | http://brailleinstitute.org/ |
The Braille Institute of America (BIA) is a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Los Angeles providing programs, seminars and one-on-one instruction for the visually impaired community in Southern California. Funded almost entirely by private donations, all of the institute's services are provided completely free of charge. The organization has seven regional centers: Anaheim, Coachella Valley, Laguna Hills, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and Santa Barbara, as well as outreach programs at more than 200 locations throughout Southern California. It is a member of the Braille Authority of North America.
BIA serves children, youth and adults, with the goal of helping its clients adapt to life with low vision and achieving fulfilling, independent lives. The organization offers instruction in adaptive cooking, home skills, mobility training and staying connected through technology. BIA's publishing arm produces "The Braille Special Collection," several series of free children's books in Braille, designed to foster an early love of reading and promote Braille Literacy.