On November 8, 1918, a small group of concerned citizens met in downtown Wilkes-Barre at the request of a young, totally blind woman named Arline Phillips. Her mission was to help other “Blind persons help themselves.” And so, the Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind was born.
Arline pioneered the concept of free services to the blind in our region. Traveling the area, she visited blind and visually impaired persons in their homes, teaching them Braille and skills they need to live independently. This is a mission we are proud to continue to this very day.
“The blind need opportunity, not sympathy” – Arline Phillips
This started with a workshop to make rugs, providing employment for people who were blind. In 1921, the organization secured a mortgage for a property on East Union Street in Wilkes-Barre, where the new salesroom and workshop was housed. Employees made rugs and expanded their services to include chair caning and the sales of brooms and mattresses over the years.
In the late 20s, providing people with the proper prescriptive eyewear was addressed – beginning the organization’s work in the Prevention of Blindness.
By 1937, the services provided included rehabilitation of the blind, the distribution of talking books, several stands that had been established, cooperation with Overbrook School for the Blind, eyeglasses for children, and sight saving class in public schools.
After a few decades of growth and change, in 1963 the workshop opened its doors to others with various disabilities also in need of employment opportunities.
Very soon after this, it was evident more staff was needed to meet the growing needs of our community – now providing case management, social services, low vision eye work and public education, as well as pre-vocational services.
In 1971, Eilene Kaska realized the need for vision screenings in children entering kindergarten, beginning our Children’s Vision Screening program.
This organization has transformed itself year after year to meet the most pressing needs of those with vision impairments.
Once again, in the 1980s, we expanded services once again to conduct life skills education sessions and started a sight loss support group called “Seeing Without Sight”, established through our partnerships with the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services and the Hazleton and Scranton Associations.
Throughout the years, the agency made many valuable and lasting relationships with local civic groups, specifically local Lions Clubs (established in 1970), which is a partnership that has lasted to today. The same can be said of the Pioneer Club of the Bell Telephone Company in 1963 and with the Radio Home Visitor in 1974, when it first began airing.
In 2007, the agency was able to make a move to its current location in Exeter because of the generosity of so many, enabling current programming to grow and be expanded within walls of their new home.
In 2015, following an amazingly successful fundraising effort, the organization was able to expand on the Camp Sight program, which was in existence for nearly a decade at that time – and launched the InSight Kids Club of NEPA. From this expansion, this program now houses the Camp Sight program, Transition Assistance program, monthly social programs, and holds Family Support Groups.
Continuing to meet the ever pressing needs of its clients, the agency in 2017 took on the task of renovating its Vision Resource Center – and expanded in both space and service delivery, offering more amazing tools and technology that only enhance work, home life, and leisure for people with vision loss.
In 2018, the Association entered into its next Century of Service and transformed its identity in the community by becoming Northeast Sight Services. Through an extensive and thoughtful process, it was determined that this name better indicated the work our organization does for community residents with visual impairments.
We are proud to continue Arline’s mission to this very day as Northeast Sight Services. We are constantly growing and expanding our services and offerings to meet the ever changing needs of the blind and visually impaired in our local community.