JBI, a nonprofit enabling access to Jewish life for individuals who are blind, have visual impairments or print disabilities, is welcoming New York City-based nonprofits to request free braille, audio and large-print materials. Thanks to a two-year grant from the New York Community Trust, JBI is able to provide this service, in most cases, at no cost.
Preparing to enter the second year of the special initiative to make nonprofit services and cultural organizations more accessible to New Yorkers, JBI has provided complimentary services to more than 27 organizations to date, including several synagogues, NYU Langone Hospital, Family Legal Services, the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, Asian Arts Alliance, Museum at Eldridge Street, NYPD Shomrim, NYC Arts in Education Roundtable, Henry Street Settlement, Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) and Columbia University.
“True inclusion is not just providing accessible materials when they are requested, but proactively making them available in advance to ensure a truly welcoming and warm community,” said JBI executive director Livia Thompson. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer our services to our fellow New Yorkers.”
Family Legal Care said, “The materials provided by JBI will make legal information more accessible not only for parents and caregivers with visual impairments, but for those with dyslexia, language and literacy barriers, or other learning differences that make consuming written material more difficult.”
Perelman Performing Arts Center said, “We were very excited to learn about JBI’s program to provide free, accessible materials to PAC NYC patrons. The staff has been a joy to work with, and the process has been smooth. We look forward to working with JBI for years to come.”
The Jewish Museum said, “Partnering with JBI was really wonderful for us and for our program participants. They produced a guide for a DeafBlind group in braille on a really quick timeline. Each member of the group got to take the information home with them, and it was amazing that we were able to do it for free. ”
Henry Street Settlement said, “JBI has been invaluable in supporting our Meals on Wheels program by supplying high-quality outreach materials. They helped us create enlarged information sheets, making accessing essential details about our services easier for individuals with visual impairments. This enhancement ensures that everyone in our community can learn about the nutritious meals and support we provide, helping to foster inclusivity and awareness among all potential recipients.”
To find out more about JBI’s offerings, contact Roslyn Biskin at 646-616-3928 or rbiskin@jbilibrary.org.
For media inquiries, contact Jessica Barist Cohen at Chatham Strategies: Jessicac@chatham-strategies.com.