Vision Support America Opens First Center In Rancho Mirage

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA — Braille Institute of America and Vision Support America will host an opening ceremony next week for a facility in Rancho Mirage.

The celebration will take place from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, with a ribbon-cutting at 4:40 p.m. at 42525 Rancho Mirage Lane. KESQ Chief Meteorologist and "Eye on the Desert" host Patrick Evans will emcee the event.

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"Being able to prepare a meal, read a message or get safely to an appointment can mean keeping control of everyday life," Dimitri Kales, CEO of Braille Institute of America, said in a statement. "This new center gives our neighbors a place to learn those skills and find people who understand what they are going through. Our commitment is to keep that help available at no cost."

While Braille Institute has served the Coachella Valley more than 50 years, the new facility will serve as Vision Support America's first physical location.

On May 6, officials broke ground on a 5,200-square-foot center designed for hands-on learning and connection for visually impaired people.

The new center features a technology discovery lab, a dedicated low vision wing for personalized assessments, occupational therapy support, an adaptive teaching kitchen for practicing daily skills, classrooms and an outdoor orientation and mobility practice path.

"Our clients understand how much courage it can take to ask for help," Melanie Hoyt-Ferrone, director of the Coachella Valley center, said. "Our volunteers help make this a place where people feel comfortable bringing their questions and sharing their experiences. That personal connection matters when someone is learning a different way to do something they have done all their life."

Officials said in-person low-vision learning sessions will begin next month. The workshops will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon, featuring topics in lighting tips for everyday life, low-vision kitchen skills and using a cell phone.

To learn more about the institute, visit brailleinstitute.org.