Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

09/03/2026

As our event, "Mask"-querade Seeing With Our Hearts 2026 approaches on October 8, at the Anchorage Museum. We would like to remind all attending that we will be giving a prize for the best mask worn that evening. So get those creative ideas flowing ... Masks can be purchased in town at Party World or anywhere selling Halloween costumes. On-line you can purchase masks on Amazon, Etsy or just Google "Halloween Masks", "Venetian Masks" or "Mardi Gras Masks" and find one that you would like to wear.

For additional information, please call Caren Ailleo at
907-771-4311 or email at cailleo@alaska bvi.org.

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

Like a scene from the 1950s or a lost episode of "Mad Men," it's not unusual to see people at the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired sporting a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. While they may look stylish, these smart glasses have become much more than a fashion accessory for peop...

09/01/2026

A sneak peak of one of our artisan made, one-of-a-kind silent auction items from our Seeing With Our Hearts 2026 - "Mask"-querade on October 8th at the Anchorage Museum. This wooden reindeer is painted with outdoor paint so it can be placed on your deck or front porch and decorated for Christmas, or next to your tree. This festive guy and other great items will be available on Auctria.com, during the week before our event for you to start bidding on. A great conversation piece and a wonderful holiday decoration.

08/28/2026

The last two days of July brought our 2026 Summer Youth Camp to a wonderful finish with community travel, a trip to Seward, marine science, and plenty of new experiences!
On Thursday morning, students practiced orientation and mobility skills with Victoria, planning a trip to Island Rustic Bakeshop and practicing how to navigate a public space and communicate with service staff while ordering a snack and a drink.
After lunch, we headed to Seward, where we visited the Independent Living Center and learned about the support available to young people with disabilities as they transition into adulthood. From there, we walked to the SeaLife Center for an overnight adventure. Students explored marine life through accessible, hands-on activities, including touching bones, jaws, fur, and other materials and trying an experiment that demonstrated how blubber keeps marine mammals warm. AlaskaSeaLife Center educators also shared their experiences building careers in biology, marine science, and conservation.
The highlight of the trip—and perhaps of the whole camp—was participating in the Alaska SeaLife Center’s nocturnal program. We settled into sleeping bags near the bird section, experienced the center after hours, and had a unique opportunity to observe marine life at night in a quiet and completely different atmosphere.
On Friday, after breakfast, we walked to Zudy’s Café for brunch. We really enjoyed the food and atmosphere and would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Seward. A group of students and staff led by Victoria then enjoyed a short hike to a waterfall and the seashore before we headed back to Anchorage.
A huge thank you to the Independent Living Center, and to the Alaska SeaLife Center—especially its Education Department—for making this trip possible and ensuring the experience was accessible, engaging, and meaningful for our students.
Thank you as well to everyone who helped make our Seward adventure such a special ending to Summer Youth Camp!

08/26/2026

Thank you to City Taphouse for donating to our silent auction again this year. This is the third year Tent City has stood with the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (the Center) and with the blind and low-vision Alaskans we serve.
The name carries Anchorage history. When Alaska Railroad crews arrived at Ship Creek in 1915 to build what would become the city, they lived in a canvas encampment the workers called Tent City. The camp came first, and everything in An
Local partners like Tent City Taphouse make Seeing With Our Hearts possible. Their gift cards will be in a silent-auction basket at the Anchorage Museum on Thursday, October 8, and the winning bidder will spend an evening at a taphouse whose name predates the city.
Come join us. Tickets and tables for Seeing With Our Hearts 2026 are open now at https://event.auctria.com/b9b6dc89-aab0-4436-9a4b-abee7a9c5e60.
Thank you again, Tent City, for standing with us three years running.

08/24/2026

🌟 Have You Visited Our New Website?

We've been working hard behind the scenes, and we're excited to share that the Alaska Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired has a new, fully accessible website — built with you in mind.
Here's a peek at what you'll find at https://alaskabvi.org:
📅 Events Calendar — Stay up to date on Book Club, Art Club, community presentations, and more. September is packed!
❤️ Ways to Give — Your generosity keeps our programs running. From one-time gifts to legacy giving options, every contribution makes a difference.
🤝 Community Weavers — Interested in volunteering? Join our growing network of supporters who give their time and talents to the center.
♿ Accessibility Services — We now offer professional WCAG accessibility audits and remediation support for organizations in Alaska.
📖 Our Story — Learn about the center, the people we serve, and the mission that drives everything we do.
Whether you're a longtime supporter or hearing about us for the first time, we'd love for you to take a look around.
👉 https://alaskabvi.org
Thank you for being part of our community. Your support — in every form it takes — helps blind and visually impaired Alaskans live with greater independence, confidence, and connection. We are grateful for every one of you. 💙

08/21/2026

Happy New School Year! 🎉📚

Many of us are connected to our schools in different ways — as students, parents, teachers, and Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs). As a new school year begins, we wish everyone a wonderful year filled with learning, growth, new opportunities, building friendships, and success.
From all of us at the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, have a great school year! 🍎✨
And, of course, no new school year would be complete without the classic checklist. Here is one from the Center:
☑ Keep a little piece of summer close — a souvenir, a favorite photo, or a summer-themed screen wallpaper for those “I miss vacation” moments.
☐ Find the school bag, lunchbox, keys, and at least one matching sock. Preferably, without a hole.

☐ Remember what day it is.

☐ Set an alarm... and actually get up when it rings.

☐ Pack lunch. Forget lunch. Go back for lunch.

☐ Learn the new schedule before the schedule changes.

☐ Keep track of pens, passwords, homework, and approximately 47 other things.

☐ Smile confidently while secretly checking the calendar.

☐ Make new friends and reconnect with old ones.

☐ Drink electrolytes, chai tea, water, or whatever keeps the school day moving.

☐ Celebrate making it through the first week!

08/20/2026

On Tuesday, July 28, our 2026 Summer Youth Camp continued with a full day of technology, cooking, and accessible sports.
We started the morning with assistive technology training and explored the Seeing AI app on a smartphone. Students practiced using it to detect and read printed text and learned how its built-in AI tools can also help translate text from another language.
Next, during the ADL class with Tom, students made mini pizzas. They practiced organizing ingredients, following steps, preparing food safely, and working independently while creating their own lunch.
After that, we traveled to the Nunaka Valley softball fields for beep baseball with Challenge Alaska. It was great to get our bodies moving, use sound to locate the ball and bases, practice teamwork, and enjoy being active outdoors. Just like on Monday, we were also very lucky to have beautiful weather for the activity.
A big thank you to Challenge Alaska for providing such a fun and accessible beep baseball experience for our students.
More Summer Youth Camp memories are coming soon!

08/20/2026

On Wednesday, July 29, our 2026 Summer Youth Camp focused on communication, professionalism, hands-on learning, and business.
We started the morning with Katie Lester, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, who spoke with students about the importance of communication. Together, they discussed how clear communication can help with asking for assistance, expressing needs, advocating for yourself, and building stronger personal and professional relationships.
Next, Kelsy Tallant talked with students about networking, professionalism, elevator speeches, and opportunities through the National Federation of the Blind. Students had a chance to think about how they introduce themselves, talk about their goals, and make connections with others.
Later in the morning, students joined our instructor Kevin for a hands-on manual skills workshop and made their own wooden Braille cells. They practiced measuring and marking the wood, using a click rule, speed square, and scratch awl, and following multi-step directions. Students also learned how to use a drill press safely, sanded their projects, and finished them with butcher-block oil. And, of cours, we did not forget the safety glasses and protective work smocks!
In the afternoon, we visited the Business Enterprise Program café at the federal building. There, we learned a lot about what it takes to run a business while living with vision challenges. We were especially touched by Moon’s story and her journey to running the café today.
A big thank you to all of our speakers and instructors who helped make Wednesday Such a meaningful and hands-on day.
More Summer Youth Camp memories are coming soon!