MAB Community Services is dedicated to helping reduce fears and isolation caused by sight loss, empowering individuals to live with dignity and to provide access to a full range of sight loss services. With offices in Watertown, Holyoke and Worcester, our programs serve more than 7,000 blind and partially sighted individuals, every year.

Description:
MAB Community Services is committed to serving people with vision loss. We offer the following services:

PEER EMPOWERMENT PROJECT: Throughout Massachusetts, self-help support groups provide the opportunity for participants to share coping mechanisms, fears, frustrations and resources as their vision changes. Groups are led by visually impaired peer coordinators.

ELDER REHABILITATION PROJECT: Case Managers teach specialized in-home skills and provide adaptive equipment to elders first experiencing sight loss who are not legally blind.

INFORMATION CENTER: The Center provides information and resources locally, nationally and internationally to consumers, their families and health care professionals.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: We match volunteers statewide with blind and visually impaired consumers to assist with shopping, reading mail, writing checks for bills and friendly visiting.

ADAPTIVE PRODUCTS INFORMATION CENTER: Information about specialized products for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

MAB CONNECTIONS: Recorded information about the services and programs of MAB Community Services. Consumers can obtain weekly updates on grocery specials and television listings for the Greater Boston area by dialing 617-923-2790.

History:
MAB Community Services, headquartered in Brookline, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003. We are the oldest agency in the country to provide services to blind and visually impaired people. Since 1903, MAB has evolved and grown to offer a full range of services for disabled adults and children. MAB Community Services, with its vision-related programs, grew out of the merger of MAB and VISION Foundation in 1998.

Contact person: Karen Matthews, Coordinator Of Volunteer Services, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: 617-926-1412

Address:

Opportunities Throughout Greater Boston Watertown, MA 02472 (See a map)

Directions:

The opportunities are not at our office - they are available throughout Greater Boston and beyond. Our office (for trainings and interviews) is at 313 Pleasant St. in Watertown, close to the Waltham town line. This is a four-story building at the corner of Pleasant Street and Waltham Street.   Nearest Bus Stop: Checking on this info For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com

Overall Experience   
I love volunteering one-to-one!

Even though MAB's recording studio is closing, I am still doing volunteer work for the agency. I work one-to-one with a visually impaired man in my community, helping him get through his mail and other reading. Sometimes we also run errands together. I like helping him and we enjoy our time together. It's a great experience. posted by mabvol on July 29, 2008

Overall Experience   
"I enjoy recording......the variety is fun."

It is a pleasure to be able to do this as several members of my family have gone blind and I appreciate the benefits of recording. posted on February 1, 2001

Overall Experience   
"There is always satisfaction in a job well done."

"...Robert (Studio Supervisor) does a wonderful job of encouraging and praising......" --Peter W. posted on August 17, 2000