AVRE is a private, non-profit organization that creates opportunities for success and independence with people who are blind or visually impaired. Unique for a non-profit, we follow a hybrid business model. On one hand, AVRE clinical staff provide a range of vision rehabilitation services to people of all ages across our nine-county service territory - Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins.
On the other, we run a business. Our Business Division includes the manufacture of a variety of paper-based office products, customized contract packaging, and several switchboard operations. AVRE has been serving the Southern Tier of New York for over 90 years. Our Downtown Binghamton facility houses our administrative and clinical staff offices, as well as the majority of our Business Division.
On the other, we run a business. Our Business Division includes the manufacture of a variety of paper-based office products, customized contract packaging, and several switchboard operations. AVRE has been serving the Southern Tier of New York for over 90 years. Our Downtown Binghamton facility houses our administrative and clinical staff offices, as well as the majority of our Business Division.
Services
AVRE is a private, non-profit organization that serves people who are blind or visually impaired. People of all ages, from school-age children to seniors, can and do benefit from our services. We offer a range of learning, living, and working options for people experiencing vision loss. AVRE works with individuals who live in the New York counties of Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins.
AVRE provides Vision Rehabilitation Services to individuals who are blind, and those that have low vision, at low or no cost. For those who are blind, these services include Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), Low Vision Exams, and Orientation & Mobility Services (O&M), and Social Casework. If you have low vision, we offer Functional Vision Assessments, and our Vision Impairment Connect program.
Creating opportunities for success and independence with people who are blind or visually impaired. That's our mission! We rely on our people to make that happen. Therefore, we recruit people who are committed to making a difference in their own lives and the lives of others.
Whether it's providing comprehensive vision rehabilitation services to consumers, producing high quality paper products, operating a hospital switchboard, or performing administrative services, our employees are members of a team committed to excellence!We know our employees are our most important asset.
Whether it's providing comprehensive vision rehabilitation services to consumers, producing high quality paper products, operating a hospital switchboard, or performing administrative services, our employees are members of a team committed to excellence!We know our employees are our most important asset.
Ken Fernald has been with AVRE since 1990. He began his tenure with the agency on the manufacturing floor, later overseeing Quality Assurance and then Manufacturing Operations. Prior to his current position, Ken was the Vice President of Operations.
Ken represents AVRE within the industry at the state and national levels, serving on the Boards of the New York Vision Rehabilitation Association (NYVRA), the Empire State Employment Resources for the Blind (ESERB), and the National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind (NAEPB).Within the local community, he serves on the UHS Foundation Board.
Ken represents AVRE within the industry at the state and national levels, serving on the Boards of the New York Vision Rehabilitation Association (NYVRA), the Empire State Employment Resources for the Blind (ESERB), and the National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind (NAEPB).Within the local community, he serves on the UHS Foundation Board.
Ronda Girardi first joined the AVRE team as a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist in 2017. She graduated from Western Michigan University with her Master's degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. Ronda received the Charles V. Costello Memorial Scholarship through AVRE in both 2007 and 2008. In Ronda's free time, she enjoys talking books, singing for fun and performance, and spending time with her granddaughter.
