Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2905 W Garden Street, Peoria, IL.

Established in 1955, the CICBVI is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit providing programs and services meeting the emotional, social, cultural, educational and training needs of people who are blind or visually impaired living in Central Illinois.

11/03/2024

Mark your calendars! Set your DVR! CICBVI will be featured on Christine Zak Edmonds' tv show "Consider This" on Friday, November 8th, at 7:30 pm (and repeated over the weekend) on WTVP channel 47.

10/29/2024

The CICBVI was represented at the Morton "trunk or treat" event thanks to patron Carol Klokkenga and 2024 Volunteer of the Year Chandra Jo Klokkenga. They handed out candy and kaleidoscopes to a good crowd!

Photos from Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired's post

10/29/2024

Twenty (yes, TWENTY) of us enjoyed lunch at the 50s diner today. Paula B was the only one to dress in 50's garb (possibly she is the only one to remember that decade) but we all had a good time!

10/19/2024

A very special thank you to our White Cane Day sponsors. We couldn't do this without you! , , , Heights Suburban Lions Club , , , , , , , , , ,

10/19/2024

We were happy to celebrate National White Cane Safety Day October 15th. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported us not only that night but throughout the year. A special thanks to our sponsors - Illinois Eye Center, Uftring Auto Group, Tippy Creek, Mr and Mrs Steve Knecht, RLI, White Income Tqx, Peoria Production, Stratus Networks, Kepple Healthcare Consulting, Shared Blessings, Peoria HEights Peoria Heights Suburban Lions Club, Past Lions District Governors, Alter MEtal Recycling, Mr & Mrs Kurt Norris, Mr and Mrs Mark Lowe, and Mr and Mrs Gabe DuBois.
The Peoria Riverfront Museum was the perfect venue, Barracks Hospitality Group provided awesome food and Wolfgang Vergara was a delightful pianist.
Our featured speaker, Pierre Paul, gave an inspiring message and was very much appreciated.
Words can't express enough how thankful we are for your support. Please check out the pictures (photo credit Chad Mammen) for more and see you next year - October 15, 2025.

10/18/2024

10/15/2024

Did you know the traditional walking cane used by the blind and visually impaired was created right here in Peoria, and it's housed at the Peoria Riverfront Museum?

Because of this significance, Murray is lit red (and white) yearly on October 15th to recognize and partner with Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired for awareness during their annual fundraiser for

10/04/2024

Today we visited Christ Orchard and saw some baby lambs, turkeys, lots of pumpkins, gourds and APPLES! (Expect some in your food baskets next week!) Check out your newsletter for upcoming adventures. Don't get the newsletter? It is available in large print, email, Braille or on a flash drive. Sign up at www.cicbvi.org or email [email protected]

10/01/2024

Another sneak peek at what is waiting for the lucky bidder at our White Cane Day event! Reserve your seat now and it could be YOU!! Details in the picture.....just use the QR code or visit www.cicbvi.org

09/24/2024

These handcrafted "barn quilts" will be among our raffle items. Aren't they cute? Display ideas in comments. We will also have local honey products from Tippy Creek , restaurant gift cards and more! Keep checking in to see the sneak peeks. And, if you haven't yet registered, why not do it right now while you're thinking about it??? The form is pictured or visit www.cicbvi.org. See you there!!

09/19/2024

Our White Cane Day event has lots of surprises in store. Pictured are some handcrafted "barn quilts" that will be part of our raffle offerings. These can be hung indoors or out (they look great over your garage door, on your storage shed or along a fence) and are approximately 2' x 2' in size. Feeling lucky? We will have gift baskets and 50/50, too! If you don't have your reservation in yet, hurry and do it now. The registration form has a QR code (also pictured) or visit www.cicbvi.org.

Our featured speaker is a graduate of Bradley where he was awarded 1st place in the 2020 Bradley Big Idea competition. His story reads like an adventure - his family battled poverty and overcame obstacles that fueled his drive to become a college graduate, innovative entrepreneur and mentor. He is a dynamic and inspiring speaker whose experiences, while unique, resonate with anyone who has ever faced a challenge. Visit his website at www.wehearyouasl.com or, better yet, come meet him in person October 15th! ,

Home - Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

09/19/2024

Tonight a group of us met and enjoyed chili and home made southwestern soup (thank you Jamie!) in spite of the hot day. Thank you to Chandra Jo for supplying delicious pumpkin cake! We heard how Braille was invented (did you know Louis Braille was just 15 years old when he created ir?) then moved on to "silly stuff" - a story about a rabbit who wore scary green glow in the dark underwear and created some stories of our own using Mad Libs. We always have fun when we get together and hope you will join us next time. For info, sign up for our newsletter at www.cicbvi.org. P.S. special thanks to our "smalls" - Eliza and Fiona - who helped with the clean up! , ,

Home - Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired CICBVI Home Page. Includes CICBVI announcements, upcoming events and fundraisers, and links to the Calendar of Events page.

09/04/2024

Thank you to everyone who donated treasures for resale at Peoria Heights Helping Hands Resale Shoppe . Today we were awarded proceeds! We love what they do and appreciate them helping us at the same time!! We will be looking forward to participating again but in the meanwhile, keep them in mind when clearing out your closets!

09/03/2024

Today was the monthly "Ladies' Lunch" and it was a marvelous event. About a dozen ladies attended (our bus and van were FULL!) and enjoyed great conversation and good food at Ernies' in Pekin. Thank you to our drivers for the transportation and Kathy for the picture. Next month lunch is at Jack's in Tremont. Call the Center and sign up to join them! Shown in the picture are some of the group....they needed this table AND another one!

10/27/2023

Did you know the CICBVI offers free white canes and the associated training to blind and visually impaired individuals? Well, we do! Pictured is the class from today. Call the Center if you'd like to sign up for the next one!

10/26/2023

No pictures but a great Halloween party at the center. The Barke family showed up with a cute little Cruella and three Dalmatians (think Lance with a tail!) We played spooky music, remembered our best costumes from days past, ate sloppy Joes and ice cream and played Trick or Treat bingo. We had two new people join us and hope will soon be regulars. Of course, couldn't do it without our drivers Artie Fowler and Kathy Smith (who I think may have a sore tummy from her laughing), and volunteer Jamie Lang. Want to join in on the fun? Sign up for our newsletter or call the center! You will be glad you did!

10/20/2023

The 2023 National White Cane Safety Day was a huge success but it couldn't have happened without our sponsors, donors, volunteers and staff. Sponsors this year were Illinois Eye Center, Tippy Creek , Gary F. Stella, RLI Corp., Uftring Auto Group, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Knecht and Mr. and Mrs. Gabe Dubois. Our amazing volunteers included Toni Moretti, Jamie Lang, Marilyn Dye, Ashley Schreck for her great photos, Deanna and Brett Bruce, Darrel and Lysette Hughes, Dave Murphy, Deb Conklin, Jamie and Chad Mammen, Steve Knecht, Kurt Norris and Mark Bean. Staff included Jill Owen, Paula Balistreri and Kathy Smith. And of course special thanks to Dexter O'Neal & the Funkyard for great entertainment, the Peoria Riverfront Museum for the beautiful venue, Two Blind Brothers for their special message and Barrack's Cater Inn for the delicious food. But most of all, thank you to everyone who attended and gave so generously. With your help, the CICBVI is making a difference and serving our blind and visually impaired community. If I've left someone off this list, my deepest apologies and let me know so I can correct the omission. You are ALL appreciated! Check out the pictures and captions!

10/19/2023

Today was an extraordinary day. We had a visit from Wild Times Exotic Animals and just check out these pictures and description! But first, a big thank you to Chandra Jo for lunch and Violet Cu***ng for delicious cake. Then, once the food got cleared away..........

10/16/2023

Such a successful evening! Stay tuned for more pictures coming soon!

10/16/2023

Today is national White Cane Safety Day!

Did you know that one of the most widely-recognizable accessibility aids in the nation, the white cane, was invented in Peoria, IL?

People with blindness or severe visual impairments have been using this tool to navigate the world safely since the 1930's, and the white cane continues to be a symbol of advances in medical technology, which continue to be pioneered in Peoria today.

See the first white cane, on exhibition at the Peoria Riverfront Museum today: RiverfrontMuseum.org

On loan from the Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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Who We Are

Mission and Vision

The Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a 501 (c) (3) organization (EIN: 37-0771361) providing programs and services meeting the emotional, educational, social and cultural needs of those we serve. We imagine a future where people who are blind or visually impaired have equal opportunities to engage independently in our great Central Illinois community.

Overview

The Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, known until October, 2013 as the Peoriarea Blind People’s Center, was founded on May 9, 1955, by the members of the Illinois Social Club of the Blind and the Peoria District Association of the Blind. The Center was developed to provide vital services and support to individuals facing the uncertainties and challenges related to uncorrectable vision loss. The Center’s goal is to educate its members and provide them with independent living skills, helping to maximize individuals’ opportunities to lead an independent life.

Home of the White Cane

On a busy Peoria, Illinois street corner in 1930, George Bonham, President of the Peoria Lions Club, noticed Elmer Thomason, who was blind with a black cane struggling to cross the busy intersection. Befriending Thomason, Bonham experimented with painting his canes in an attempt to create a visible symbol to drivers. One of these canes was painted white with a red tip and ultimately became the first white cane for people who are blind in America.

George Bonham and Elmer Thomason began a movement that spread across America and still thrives today in Central Illinois. In 1932, Peoria became the first American city to establish an ordinance giving pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired special right-of-way with possession of a white cane. Elmer Thomason, then President of the Association of the Blind in Peoria, predecessor of the Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, started the tradition the CICBVI carries on today of providing similar canes to our patrons. By 1932, the Peoria Lion’s Club was furnishing canes to individuals who were blind. Much later In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed October 15 of each year White Cane Safety Day.

On Tuesday, January 21, 2020 the Peoria Riverfront Museum dedicated a display case focused on new museum acquisitions. The most important of their new acquisitions from our persecutive is the historic white cane, which has been in the care of the Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired for the past 65 years. The white cane will be on permanent loan to the museum so that more people living in and visiting our community will have the opportunity to understand its important history and enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed caring for it. The display will also help raise awareness about the Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. When entering and exiting the museum, the cane’s story is prominent and directly engages with museum patrons.

2020 Best of Peoria Award for Social Workers and Services

On March 20, 2020, we were humbled and honored to learn the Center had been selected for the 2020 Best of Peoria Award in the Social Workers & Services category by the Peoria Award Program.

Each year, the Peoria Award Program identifies companies judged to have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Peoria area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2020 Peoria Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Peoria Award Program and data provided by third parties.

Our Values

Values are important and lasting beliefs or ideals shared by the patrons, employees, volunteers and board members of the Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Values have a major influence on our behavior and attitudes and serve as broad guidelines in all situations. When specific procedures or rules for a new situation do not exist, we respond in a manner consistent with our values. These are the values and behaviors to which we aspire.

COMMUNITY is a self-organized network of people with a common agenda, cause or interest, who collaborate by freely sharing ideas, information, and other resources. While our organization may not be able to solve problems alone, we are confident that our community will lend their abilities to help. We also hold in high esteem the community we serve and in which we live and work. Through our words and actions, we strive to set an example worthy of our community’s support.

INTEGRITY means our patrons, employees, volunteers and board members can rely upon one another. Our community can rely upon us as well. We align our actions and words and deliver what we promise. We build and strengthen our reputation through trust. We do not improperly influence others or let them improperly influence us. We are respectful to others and behave in an open and honest manner.

COLLABORATION is the process of working together, cooperatively as a team, to achieve a goal. It is a crucial part of our work, as it is often necessary for our patrons, employees, volunteers and board members to work well together with our community to achieve our mission. We do our best in all circumstances, cooperating with one another, despite any personal conflict that may arise among us. We respect and value people with different opinions, experiences and backgrounds. We know that together, our team can produce better experiences for our patrons than any of us can alone.

BOUNDLESS means our patrons have the power to act, speak, think and engage independently without restraints. We value relationships, experiences, education, communication skills, and tools that lead to their greater freedom, self-esteem, self-direction, self-reliance and self-determination.

VITAL INNOVATION involves providing new emotional, educational, cultural and social experiences for people who are blind or visually impaired, helping them toward sustainable independence. Innovation may be focused on developing new or expanding existing programs and services. We will innovate with our community of partners, as appropriate.

INCLUSION & DIVERSITY are features of a high-performing team that provide a wide range of abilities, experience, knowledge and strengths due to variety in age, background, ethnicity, physical abilities, political and religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation and other attributes. While our focus is on our patrons, we strive to include and uplift everyone.

Communication

Communication is key to our success, and its importance is amplified every day for people who are blind or visually impaired. While not a core value, communication is essential to living up to our core values. So, it is important to define what we mean by good communication and what we aspire to be as excellent communicators. We encourage and value:

communication etiquette, emphasizing respect for all parties involved. For example including announcing one’s arrival to and departure from a conversation, avoiding pointing and visual language like “over there,” etc

active listening, which is the ability to listen, repeat, ask clarifying questions and incorporate others’ views into our own

written skills that use specific data and examples to make a solid case and communicate proposed actions in a brief but informative manner

follow-up to reinforce understanding and demonstrate progress and actively seek and provide constructive feedback

concise verbal skills that help our patrons, volunteers and employees reach consensus efficiently. We value passion for our mission but caution against emotional reactions

interpersonal communication skills that build trust and connect people on a personal level by being open and honest, seeking common ground, displaying empathy and working to build lasting bonds with one another

presentation skills to share information and ideas in effective, engaging, motivating, even inspiring ways

selling skills to persuade others to pursue an idea, action, service or program

negotiation skills that help reach a mutually beneficial or win-win solution that both sides find favorable while maintaining a positive relationship for future interactions

networking skills that present our organization’s mission, vision and capabilities as valuable and worthy of our community’s support

Videos (show all)

This is the week! Shop Helping Hands (on War Memorial in the Heights) where this week a portion of the proceeds benefit...

"Our" week starts Tuesday so now is the time to donate!! Helping Hands is on War Memorial in the Heights. Open Tuesday...

This is one of our CICBVI patrons demonstrating his Rubik's cubes designed for the visually impaired. Check out the lin...

Contact the organization

Click here to send a message to the organization

Telephone

(309) 637-3693

Website

http://www.cicbvi.org/

Address

2905 W Garden Street
Peoria, IL
61605

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