Quarterly Newsletter Summer 2026
Rediscovering the Joys of Connection with iCC 🌐 Pearl’s world started to feel smaller as
Pearl’s world started to feel smaller as vision and hearing loss made it harder to stay connected. Through iCanConnect, also known as the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, she received accessible technology and one-on-one training from ABVI. Now she’s back to making calls, video chatting, and staying close to the people she loves.
Read more about Pearls’ story here: SC Senior Rediscovers the Joy of Connection
Contact us today if you or someone you know could benefit from iCanConnect equipment and training: 843-723-6915 or info@abvisc.org. We can help you get connected!
ABVI had the honor of celebrating Raegan, one of our school-aged students, and her Team IMPACT mentor, Emmy, a member of Winthrop University’s softball team. Through ambition and perseverance, Raegan and Emmy were recently named Team IMPACT’s 2026 Teammate of the Year! To learn more about Raegan’s inspiring journey and Team Impact achievement, watch Raegan’s video here.
Although our school-based services are paused for the summer, we look forward to celebrating many more student wins in the 2026-27 school year!
ABVI has now been awarded our full ask amount of $100,000 over two years, a generous increase to the original grant award of $25,000. The grant from Greenville Women Giving will support roughly 1,000 hours of vision rehabilitation skills training for up to 200 adults experiencing blindness or low vision in Greenville County over two years.
Thanks to the generosity of Greenville Women Giving, ABVI can expand resources and provide access to vital skills training for adults with vision loss, empowering them to develop independence, improve their health, and thrive in their community.
Learn more by watching the video on our News page: Greenville Women Giving Grant.
When the early onset of macular degeneration threatened Ms. Gerken’s vision, it also threatened her independence and sense of purpose. Once actively employed in work she loved, she found herself homebound and relying on others to get around her community. Through Orientation & Mobility (O&M) training at ABVI, Ms. Gerken gained more than safe and independent travel skills. She gained confidence.
With the support of her O&M specialist, she persevered. Soon, fear was replaced with skill, and uncertainty with self-confidence. Today, Ms. Gerken is safely and independently traveling within her community and considering applying for a guide dog! Her journey is a powerful example of how the right tools with the right training can make independence possible!
To learn more or become a client, contact us at info@abvisc.org
Did you know we release new program event calendars every fall? A few of the events from this past spring included:
*MetaGlasses for Teens
*CVI Basics for Caregivers of Little Ones
*Cooking Webinar for Adults
*and many more!
Get the latest news about all of our upcoming 2026 fall events! Be sure to follow us on Facebook (ABVISC) or Instagram (abvisouthcarolina) and bookmark our events page.
Join the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired SC and ABVI Foundation in Greenville on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as we host Nera, a blind dining experience. Celebrate our mission to empower individuals who are blind or low vision to live fulfilling, purpose-driven lives. Click here for details.
Sponsorships and tables are now available for purchase. Stay tuned for ticket sales in the coming weeks! Contact ABVI Foundation to learn more: 843-203-6037.
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For questions about any of our services or to inquire about becoming a client, contact us at: info@abvisc.org or 843-723-6915
Locations
Lowcountry: 1 Carriage Lane, Building A, Charleston, SC 29407
Midlands: 1180 Columbia Avenue, Suite 102, Irmo, SC 29063
Upstate: 701 Easley Bridge Road, Building 6000, Suite 6070, Greenville, SC 29611
Rediscovering the Joys of Connection with iCC 🌐 Pearl’s world started to feel smaller as
Article first published by iCanConnect June 1, 2026 For 82-year-old Pearl Riley of Columbia, South
ABVI Receives $25,000 Grant from Greenville Women Giving Providing vision rehabilitation skills training to adults