NDAB’s 2023 in review

Happy holidays from the North Dakota Association of the Blind! We are truly thankful to all who have supported our efforts in the past year. We ask that you keep us in your thoughts as we continue to serve the blind and visually impaired community. Because of our generous supporters, we were able to help many “See Blind Possible” through our 2023 programs. A few of our highlights were:

  • Our annual convention was held the weekend of June 9 to 11 in Grand Forks in collaboration with North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind. We awarded 4 scholarships to worthy college and trade school students.
14 people sit on a city bus with yellow poles and blue details, many of them smiling for the photo.
Attendees of the annual convention of the North Dakota Association of the Blind in June 2023 ride a bus between the hotel and the North Dakota School for the Blind.
  • We held our 52nd session of our Adult Summer Camp in August with 35 participants in attendance. Campers enjoyed daily classes on a wide variety of topics and took part in social and team-building activities in the evenings. Camp gives us the opportunity to learn, grow, and relax among our peers where blindness is the norm, not the exception.
A woman with short, white hair uses a bow to shoot arrows at a target in a sunny, grassy area.
A camper takes part in archery at NDAB’s annual Adult Summer Camp.
  • On October 15, we held a White Cane Safety Day event at NDSU to spread awareness about the importance of the white cane and dog guide for the independent mobility of people who are blind and visually impaired. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney issued proclamations to commemorate the day and remind drivers to watch for pedestrians with visual impairments.
9 people walk and one person uses a wheelchair on a sidewalk along a street in autumn. Several people are using white canes to navigate.
A group participates in a walk on White Cane Safety Day in 2023 at North Dakota State University.
  • Our 8th session of the “Dining in The Dark” event was held with the Minot Lions Club on October 19 to help educate sighted diners about what it’s like to eat without eyesight. This event gives us an opportunity to dispel the common belief that life ends after sight loss.
Three women wearing black blindfolds sit at a table covered with a black table cloth. They take bites of a small appetizer.
Participants at Dining in the Dark in Minot sample an appetizer, marking their first bite without sight.

NDAB is unique in that our constitution requires a majority of our members be blind or have a visual impairment, and that our president, vice president, and a majority of our board members be legally blind. Our organization is run by members on a volunteer basis, keeping overhead costs to a minimum. As a result, donations are invested in programs that serve the community of people who have sight loss.

Please note, NDAB is among the 600+ organizations that are participating in the 2024 session of Giving Hearts Day. Your support is vital, as the funds raised on Giving Hearts Day help keep us on target each year.

A red heart next to the words "Giving Hearts Day."

The window for donation is opening earlier than ever this year on January 2, 2024. From that day through February 7, go to https://app.givingheartsday.org/#/charity/613.

You can also donate the same way on Giving Hearts Day, which falls on Thursday, February 8.

For those who prefer to send a check, you can mail it to NDAB, P.O. Box 824, West Fargo, ND 58078.

Thank you so much for your support. You enable us to stay on target so tat, through us, all North Dakotans will “See Blind Possible.”

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