To help visually impaired adults and children, as well as those with other physical challenges, live optimally without barriers.
Our Mission
To help individuals with visual impairments and those with other physical challenges achieve their highest level of independence

Description:
Services
Olmsted Center offers a broad range of services for people of all ages and
degrees of visual impairment.
Orientation & Mobility: Expert instruction in getting around safely, indoors or out.
Housing: Apartments custom-designed for physically disabled and visually impaired tenants.
Visually Impaired Preschool: A unique program for children with vision impairments and other disabilities.
Rehabiliation: Daily living skills, communication techniques and leisure activities.
Bulger Vision Clinic: Exams by certified low-vision optometrists, special visual aids and equipment.
Employment: Aptitude testing, job training and placement assistance.
Senior Vision Services: Helping seniors remain as functional as possible in their own homes.
Resource Center: A unique store and lending library especially for those with visual impairments.
GuildCare™: A day healthcare program for visually impaired adults.
Manufacturing: Production, packaging and other sub-contracting manufacturing services.
Education Center & Auditorium: Seminars, conferences and events. Attend one of ours or hold your own.
Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service: Specialized career training for visually impaired or physically disabled adults.

History:
Since 1907, the Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, M.D. Center for the Visually Impaired (formerly the Blind Association of Western New York) has been a leader in quality services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Located at 1170 Main Street in downtown Buffalo, New York, we offer many services to the blind and visually impaired population throughout Western New York. Some of our services in a client's home, school or place of business.

Statler Center is located at 1160 Main Street in downtown Buffalo, New York, and is a program devoted to hospitality employment training. One of the first projects of its kind, Statler Center provides physically disabled, blind or visually impaired individuals with the right tools for successful careers in this rapidly growing industry.

The Paul T. Bulger Vision Clinic is the newest subsidiary of Olmsted Center, opening in March 2007. Bulger Vision Clinic provides the services of a physiatrist, nurse practitioner and occupational therapist in addition to the optometric, rehabilitation teaching, social work and orientation and mobility instruction previously offered at this site. Treatment will address not only vision loss, but other physical, cognitive and emotional issues which may relate to visual impairment.

Contact people:

Francine Rizzo, Program Director, (phone), (email) Jeff Hirschfelt, Program Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

1170 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14209 (See a map)

Directions:

From I-90 East: I-90 W/NEW YORK STATE TRWY W. Merge onto NY-33 W/KENSINGTON EXWY via exit number 51W toward BUFFALO. 5.5 miles Take the BEST ST exit toward SCIENCE MUSEUM. 0.1 miles Turn RIGHT onto BEST ST. 1.1 miles Turn RIGHT onto NY-5/MAIN ST.. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Summer/Best,   Walk distance (in minutes): 1 minute   Nearest Bus Stop: Summer/Best, 1 minute minute walk