Helen Keller Services Joins the Foundation Fighting Blindness New York VisionWalk 2025: Supporting Vision Loss Community

Helen Keller Services is excited to announce our participation in the Foundation Fighting Blindness New York VisionWalk on Saturday, April 12th, 2025, in Central Park. This annual event brings together individuals, families, and organizations dedicated to advancing research and supporting those affected by vision loss.

Complementary Missions in the Vision Loss Community

The Foundation Fighting Blindness and Helen Keller Services each serve critical roles in supporting the blind and low vision community, albeit through different approaches. While FFB drives groundbreaking research funding for treatments and cures of blinding retinal diseases, Helen Keller Services provides the comprehensive rehabilitation services that help individuals adapt, gain independence, and thrive despite vision challenges.

This complementary relationship represents the complete spectrum of support needed by those experiencing vision loss—from medical advances offering hope for the future to practical solutions for living well today.

Bridging the Gap

Despite these complementary missions, there exists a significant gap in the vision loss support ecosystem. Many individuals who receive a diagnosis often lack immediate connections to the rehabilitation and support services they need to maintain their quality of life.

Helen Keller Services is participating in the VisionWalk specifically to help bridge this gap. By having a presence at this event, we can connect directly with individuals newly diagnosed or living with vision loss who may not yet be aware of available rehabilitation services. Our participation provides a crucial link in the continuum of care between medical treatment and daily living support. It also increases awareness of comprehensive services that complement medical interventions, creating a more complete support system for individuals and families navigating vision loss.

This outreach opportunity allows us to ensure that advances in medical treatment are matched with immediate practical support for education, employment, independence, and community engagement.

Event Details: Join Us at Central Park

The New York VisionWalk will take place at the Central Park Bandshell at Rumsey Playfield in Manhattan. Here’s everything you need to know:

• Date: Saturday, April 12th, 2025
• Location: Central Park Bandshell at Rumsey Playfield, NYC (Enter at E. 72nd St. & 5th Ave)
• Schedule: Registration opens at 9:00 AM; Walk begins at 10:30 AM
• Registration: https://give.fightingblindness.org/event/new-york-visionwalk-2025/e608864

We invite our community to register for the walk and stop by our information table to speak with our team, learn about our programs and services, and pick up some Helen Keller Services merchandise.

A Milestone Year for VisionWalk

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the VisionWalk program, which has raised over $71 million for sight-saving research since its inception in 2006. Helen Keller Services is proud to support this milestone event that has made significant contributions to advancing treatments for blinding diseases.

These funds have helped accelerate research in gene therapy, stem cell treatments, and pharmaceutical interventions for conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, and Usher syndrome.

About Helen Keller Services for the Blind

Helen Keller Services offers a continuum of programs designed to support individuals who are blind or have low vision at every stage of life. Our services include early intervention and specialized preschool education for children with visual impairments, providing critical developmental support during formative years. We offer orientation and mobility training to help individuals navigate safely and independently in their communities, along with assistive technology instruction that ensures access to digital environments and information in our increasingly connected world.

Our independent living skills development focuses on everyday tasks and home management, while our employment services encompass job readiness, placement, and on-the-job support to help individuals achieve vocational success. Additionally, our low vision clinical services help maximize remaining vision, and our Adaptive Living Program is specially tailored to address the unique needs of seniors experiencing vision loss.

Connect With Us at VisionWalk

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or a long-time member of our community, VisionWalk offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with resources and like-minded individuals. The event combines awareness-building, community support, and fundraising in an accessible, family-friendly environment.

Our team looks forward to meeting you at our information table, sharing resources about our programs, and discussing how our services might benefit you or your loved ones.

Can’t make it to the event? Learn more about our services at www.helenkeller.org or call us at (718) 522-2122.