NISC Programs of Excellence 

• Year Awarded: 2025
• Programs of Excellence Name: Vision Beyond Sight—Braille Book Project
• Hosting Organization: Calabasas Senior Center, Calabasas, California
• Calabasas Population: 22,869
• 60+ Population: 5,860
• Senior Center Members: 324

About Vision Beyond Sight—Braille Book Project

Four hundred visually impaired children’s lives were dramatically changed for the better by 65 intergenerational volunteers. The Caring Calabasas Club, in partnership with a local business, worked collaboratively with The Braille Institute on what the seniors named the Braille Book Project.

Together, adults ages 65-94 and young professionals ranging from their 20s to 40s, assembled a record 400 Braille storybooks and 1,000 instructional toys on how to tie shoes. Older adults were energized by the interface with the young professionals; the young professionals basked in the wisdom of the older adults; and an additional generation of children were impacted by the free Braille storybooks and learning toys that will help develop their reading and motor skills.

Providing Braille Books and instructional toys to children with impaired vision, gave a strong sense of pride and identity to the community. The event also provided an opportunity for socialization and interactions among the generations while assembling the books and sharing lunch. A surprise outcome: the partnership with the Braille Institute lead to the establishment of a Braille book section in the local library! These library books will be used by vision impaired children and their families for years to come.

The Braille Institute provided training personnel and all the necessary supplies. Basically, the process is an assembly line with each person responsible for putting the Braille overlays on one page of the book. Then the book is passed to the next person who completes the next page and this continues until all the book’s pages have Braille overlays. The toys were completed in a similar assembly line. A unique aspect was that the project included a one-day pilot program for seniors that demonstrated the process and practiced assembling storybooks and toys.

This event could easily be replicated by a senior center with any local charity which has a project that could use willing and able volunteers," said Calabassas Senior Center Facility Supevisor Jennifer Hernandez. "It is a win-win situation for volunteers who are looking to "do good" and for the charity which relies on volunteers."

The inspiring Caring Calabasas Club, an integral part of the Calabasas Senior Center, is a group of active seniors that spearheaded this project and is dedicated to charitable work that provides contributions to the community year-round. Similarly, a local business, called Caruso, provides opportunities for their employees to participate in community efforts, including improving the lives of at-risk children and their families throughout Southern California. Both support organizations and the Braille Institute

Key takeaways from Vision Beyond Sight—Braille Book Project

• Doing good for others and the community provided a natural sense of accomplishment, and volunteering for the Braille Institute gave a sense of pride and identity as a caring community. The power of being able to read resonated with each of the participants as they realized they were helping to introduce visually impaired pre-school children to the world of books.
  
  One volunteer commented: “I used to be a special education coordinator and had a classroom of Braille students at my school over 25 years ago. So now, what goes around comes around, and here I am again working in a different capacity helping Braille students.”
• Participants discovered that the Braille Book Project was more than just volunteering—it was about making a meaningful impact on others and themselves, and the lives of many parents of the visually impaired. Young adults, working professionals, and older adults all benefited from this productive and meaningful day and opportunity to give back.
• As a result of the project, the Calabasas Library established a Braille Book Section. This may attract more families to the community.

About Berlin Senior Center 

The Calabasas Senior Center provides a gathering place for adults 50 years and older where they can enjoy activities that contribute to continued learning and enrichment, socialization with other older adutls, and participation in recreational programs that promote healthy lifestyles. In this comfortable and inviting environment, older adults can enjoy special interest clubs, seasonal events, and gain valuable information from the popular and diverse classes and lectures provided by the Savvy Saving Seniors program.