Angie Rowe: Improving Lives of Children with Disabilities at Beyond Blindness

Mission of Beyond Blindness

• 💡 Angie Rowe, President and CEO of Beyond Blindness, is dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities.
• 🎯 The organization, based in Orange County, serves children aged 0-22 with visual impairments and other disabilities.
• 🤝 Beyond Blindness aims to create a world of acceptance and empathy, focusing on inclusivity for all children.

Services and Impact

• 🧠 The center sees about 500 kids annually, addressing developmental delays caused by vision loss, which impacts 80% of early learning.
• 🚀 Services include developmental evaluations, at-home therapist programs, and support for children like Roan, who has a rare neurological condition and was born without a left hand.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Beyond Blindness provides mental health counseling for parents and activities for typically developing siblings to foster understanding.
• 🏫 Programs range from at-home therapy to inclusive preschool and academic support, offered at little to no cost for families.

Fostering Potential and Understanding

• ✨ The organization works to break down barriers and realize the full potential of every child they serve.
• 🧩 They even bring in friends with similar limb differences to show children they are not alone and can excel.
• 💬 Occupational therapy sessions are designed to be inclusive, involving both the child receiving therapy and their siblings.