Empowering Independence: Hartford Foundation Awards Nearly $240,000 to Support People with Visual Impairments Visual impairment affects nearly 20 mil

Empowering Independence: Hartford Foundation Awards Nearly $240,000 to Support People with Visual Impairments

Visual impairment affects nearly 20 million Americans—about 8% of the population—according to Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute. For older adults, especially those over 65, vision loss can significantly impact independence and quality of life.

In response to this growing need, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has awarded nearly $240,000 in grants to 18 nonprofit organizations through its John E. Blair Fund. These grants aim to enhance the lives of individuals who are blind or have low vision by supporting programs that foster accessibility, independence, and inclusion.

UR Community Cares is grateful to be one of the grant recipients. We are making a meaningful difference through our UR Vision Resources program, based in Manchester, Connecticut. This initiative offers free vision support services, connects individuals to vital resources, and provides technology training to help participants live more independently. A key feature of the program is the UR Vision Station, which maintains a robust inventory of assistive vision devices, ensuring that individuals have access to the tools they need to thrive.

Thanks to a $15,000 grant from the John E. Blair Fund, UR Community Cares is expanding our services. The funding will be used to purchase adaptive equipment, such as the LyriQ Assistive Text-to-Speech Reader with Keypad, to install anti-theft devices at the UR Vision Center, and to host community events featuring presentations from the Helen Keller Center.

“Individuals who are blind or have low vision are eager to access information and acquire new skills,” said Michelle Puzzo, Co-Founder of UR Community Cares. “This grant allows us to expand social, educational, and technology-based opportunities, and we are deeply grateful to the Foundation for their commitment to accessibility and inclusion.”

Through this support, UR Community Cares continues to build a more inclusive community—one where individuals with visual impairments can learn, connect, and live with greater independence.