About Us

• The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has been in existence since 1918 and was formed in the Watertown and Jefferson County area. The founders of the organization were James Avery, a local businessman, Frances Lynch and Evelyn Bourcy a nurse for the Watertown Public Schools. The three of them formalized the first volunteer program for the blind. They also formed the first sheltered workshop for the blind upstairs in the old Mohican Building. This would provide the blind community to sustain independence and become a part of the workforce in the Watertown area.