Almost 20 million Americans, or 8 percent of the U.S. population, have visual impairments. Ranging from low vision to blindness, visual impairments are among the leading causes of loss of independence for people aged 65 and older.
We are traveling to senior centers, libraries, nonprofits, low vision support groups, etc., to demo devices and educate people about what is available to help people remain independent at home. We offer a variety of supports to connect people with valuable resources, host community events, and provide technology training to enhance their independence and quality of life.
UR Community Cares offers Free Beginner Braille Classes at 153 Spruce Street, Manchester.
Instructor: Kristen Dockendorff
Dates: 8/21, 9/7, 9/21 from 12-2 pm
All are welcome; please register by calling/texting 860-430-4557
Park in the parking lot behind the building or on Florence Street.
2026 Directory of Low Vision and Blind Services and Resources
We have a new 2026 Directory of Low Vision and Blind Services and Resources. We have compiled popular Apps, local CT resources, education on the Courtesy Rules of Blindness, National Federation of the Blind CT Chapters, Low Vision Support Groups in CT, Area Agency on Aging in CT, etc.
We are traveling around New Haven County, visiting senior centers to talk about products, resources, and Apps that can improve people’s lives. We are distributing the 2026 Directory to participants free of charge. It is available in several formats: large print, a link, or on a flash drive. Check out our events page to see all of our dates/times, and we hope you can join us.
UR Vision Station in Manchester
Click here to schedule an appointment at 153 Spruce Street, Manchester, CT, to demo our vision products: https://calendly.com/urcommunitycares/
UR Community Cares travels around Connecticut to showcase products and educate people about the devices to help keep them more independent when grocery shopping, reading their mail, watching TV or cooking.
Assistive Device Products Available for Demonstration:
Eschenbach Products: Optaro phone case, magnifiers-video, handheld, pocket, monocular, glasses, etc.
Ray-Ban Meta glasses feature two cameras, open-ear speakers, a microphone, and a touchpad integrated into the frame.
We have over 30 devices to demo, including an iPad and a Lyriq (screen reader), invite us to your office.
In Manchester, we also have a Juliette 120 Embosser, CCTVs, NVHD access on a laptop, etc.
We are grateful for the grant funding we received from the John E. Blair Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Please read more about it here: https://www.hfpg.org/what-we-do/new-and-noteworthy/hartford-foundation-awards-nearly-240000-in-grants-to-assist-individuals-with-visual-impairments
Make an appointment to explore our devices and work with a volunteer. Call 860-430-4557 to discuss your goals.