Since 1911, Alphapointe has been providing a means to independence and dignity to anyone with vision loss in the Kansas City region. The organization has grown to become the largest employer of people who are blind in the state of Missouri, and the only provider of comprehensive vision rehabilitation services in the state. Last year, we employed over 100 people who are blind or visually impaired, placed another 38 into jobs in our community AND provided vision rehabilitation and educational programming to over 4,000 people across our region.

Our founder, Catherine Hale, was a visionary leader for her time. But I doubt even she could have envisioned what the organization she started could become. At the time, she knew that people who are blind needed the opportunity to work and provide for themselves and their families. Today, Alphapointe operates a state of the art manufacturing plant, employing people who are blind in injection molding, tape slitting, silk screening and other automated assembly to produce millions of pharmaceutical and office products each year. The achievements of our employees confirm what Mrs. Hale knew intuitively – that people who are blind are productive, when simply given a chance.

While Mrs. Hale probably could not have envisioned the technology that our blind employees utilize every day, she did recognize the potential of every person, regardless of their ability to see. It is that vision of empowerment and independence that guides our Comprehensive Vision Rehabilitation programs. Imagine a place that can teach you how to use a computer that talks. A place where experts can teach you to use public transportation safely, how to make a gourmet meal for your family and friends, or offer technology to allow you to read a textbook and homework assignments. A place where goals, once thought unreachable, are exceeded. Alphapointe is that place.

Reinhard Mabry
President and CEO