Friends of the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Friends) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Friends has been in existence since 2005. Our mission is to supplement and complement the efforts of the state agency Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCBVI) in carrying out its mission of empowering blind individuals, promoting opportunities and building belief in the blind. Our funding efforts are intended to cover a financial need when it is found that federal and/or state funding either falls short, or cannot be used by NCBVI to carry out specified services, programs and/or unique consumer needs which if not covered may have a serious negative impact upon the Commission’s efforts to assist their clients from reaching a successful vocational outcome.

Some examples of those Areas of need where NCBVI may be at times underfunded, or not legally able to fulfill; the legally blind individual who may need assistance in one of the following areas, must have an open case with NCBVI:

• Accessible technology for school-aged children when schools, and/or families are not able to provide it.
• Accessible technology for adults twenty-one and up to fifty-four years old, when their rehabilitation plan does not have a goal of employment.
• Accessible technology for seniors fifty-five years old and up, when their rehabilitation plan does not have a goal of employment.
• Personal assistance which may include emergency food and clothing vouchers, and short-term housing and/or deposits for permanent housing.
• Personal assistance when corrective lenses are needed and are not covered by insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare.
• Support Service Providers (SSPs) a service for Nebraskans who are DeafBlind. Note: The SSP is not an aide or a caretaker and does NOT do for the individual but rather provides access so the individual can do for themself.

Learn more about what an SSP (Support Service Provider) is, how many Nebraskans are DeafBlind, and more! See our DeafBlind Initiative page.