Mission: The Iris Network helps people who are visually impaired or blind attain independence and community integration.

Target demographics: people who are blind or visually impaired attain independence and community integration.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 828 people

Geographic areas served: Maine

Programs: Vision rehabilitation services: evaluates consumer needs based upon vision loss and develops a program of services that allows the individual to carry on the functions necessary to maintain the level of independence desired. Services include vision rehabilitation therapy that addresses multiple areas of learning including communications, independent living skills, home/ personal management, recreation, and the use of adaptive devices for low vision. assisted living program: the iris network provides assisted living services to certain visually impaired or blind residents of iris park apartments. Iris park apartments features (30) one and two bedroom independent living apartments which are separately owned but managed by the iris network. Visually impaired or blind tenants are able to live as independently as they desire, schedule their own activities, and create a personal plan for assisted living services. The iris network offers vision rehabilitation therapy to provide tenants support in all areas of independent living.

low-vision clinic program: the low-vision clinic provides visually impaired persons with the skills and tools to better utilize their remaining vision. After a low-vision examination, an ophthalmologist or optometrist develops a specialized treatment program for each client administered by an occupational therapist with specialized training in low-vision services. The program helps individuals maximize the use of their remaining vision by training each client in the skills required to use optical aids and equipment such as magnifiers to read the newspaper, telescopes to focus on distant signs, and light-filtered lenses to reduce glare.