Alphapointe - New York

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Alphapointe - New York

Alphapointe is a non-profit organization that has continued to serve people who are blind and visually impaired since 1911.

Alphapointe is the single largest employer of people who are blind in the greater New York area.

06/05/2026

“I know I have gained more than I could ever give back.”

Kim Schwede walked into Alphapointe one day with her husband, Kevin, to donate in her father’s name. He was a long-time supporter of Alphapointe.

Kim was immediately impacted by what she saw and decided then and there she wanted to be a part of the Alphapointe family.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be part of something that does so much good for so many people of all ages,” Kim says. “Whether it is the kids at Adventure Camp (personal favorite of Kim’s), Kid’s in the Kitchen, or the people attending the holiday luncheons, everyone is happy and has a purpose in life. They have all taught me that life is to be conquered and to not sit on the sidelines, and because of Alphapointe, no-one is left on the sidelines.”

To thank Kim for her tireless efforts towards our programs, we are choosing to honor her as the May volunteer of the Month.

“One of the most remarkable things about Kim is the connection she builds with the youth she serves,” explained Alphapointe Volunteer and Development Coordinator, Alisha Mulvaney. “It is clear that the kids absolutely adore her. They are drawn to her positive energy, caring spirit, and ability to make everyone feel included and valued. She has a unique gift for helping children feel confident, supported, and excited to try new things. The smiles, laughter, and friendships she helps create are a testament to the difference she makes in their lives.”

Thank you Kim for your selfless acts of service. We could not do what we do without you doing what you do.

If you'd like to learn more about volunteering and changing lives at Alphapointe, use this URL to get started: https://www.alphapointe.org/volunteer/

[Image description: Kim is holding a heart-shape box of candy that the Alphapointe team gave to her. She is in the Alphapointe lobby and is flashing that ever-present smile at the camera.]

06/04/2026

“I want to live my life as a blind person out loud,” said former Alphapointe client, Kaytlynn.

But it wasn’t always that way.

Diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia at just nine months old, and later with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Kaytlynn began using a cane as she learned to walk. She attended CCVI as a young child and later moved through public school, where she was encouraged to use print over braille to better blend in with sighted peers. Trying to navigate a sighted world while wrestling with the emotions around her vision loss, Kaytlynn often struggled with anger and depression.

“It was easier to be angry and hurt others than to face my own sadness,” she shares.

Over time, Kaytlynn reached a turning point. “It was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and live my life fully. This is my life, and I’m going to live it.”

She came to Alphapointe to build the skills and confidence and wants to eventually be a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation & Mobility specialist. She hopes to one day return to Alphapointe as an intern.

“I had no idea what I was capable of until I came to Alphapointe,” Kaytlynn says.

She may not have known it then but we did. And now, she does too.

[Image description: Kaytlynn is standing in the Alphapointe lobby and is smiling at the camera.]

06/02/2026

Five young adults with vision loss are taking the next step toward employment—and independence.

Through Alphapointe’s Summer Transitional Employment Program (STEP), participants spend eight weeks in paid roles with local employers, building real-world experience, confidence, and career skills.

From IT and retail to arts education and food service, each placement offers a hands-on opportunity to explore interests, develop independence, and prepare for long-term success.

“I’m excited to be able to say that I have a job—and the experience to show for it,” one participant shared.

This is workforce development in action—creating pathways to meaningful employment for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Image descriptions:

[Image descriptions: 1. Carson stands outdoors in a landscaped courtyard, smiling at the camera; 2. Natalee stands indoors in a lobby, smiling while facing the camera; 3. Terra stands in a lobby, smiling and facing the camera; 4.Arion stands in a lobby, leaning on his cane and smiling at the camera; 5. Brad stands near a reception area, smiling, with a large wall logo behind him.]

05/29/2026

Because it’s so important, we’re sharing this again: it’s not just about the work we do, it’s about the well-being of the people who make it possible.

Last week we hosted our annual health and wellness fair at our facility in Queens, New York, bringing together partners and resources that support the whole person ... physically, mentally and emotionally.

At Alphapointe, our commitment goes beyond producing high-quality goods and services. It means creating an environment where every team member feels supported not only in their role, but in their overall well-being.

[Image description: A group of Alphapointe team members - all wearing pink t-shirts - are standing in a line and looking at the camera, smiling.]

05/28/2026

Congrats to our Queens team for reaching an incredible safety milestone. They are currently sitting at nearly 1,200 days without an accident.

“It’s an incredible milestone,” says Rob Cowan, Alphapointe Vice President of Operations. “This is unheard of in any manufacturing facility let alone one that employs people who are blind or visually impaired. It shows the care, dedication, and capabilities of this team.”

Great job, everyone.

[Image description: An Alphapointe team member is working on cutting pilot relief bags.]

05/26/2026

Many people discover Alphapointe through a job, the services we provide, or our Low Vision Clinic.

But a few have grown up with us.

Since he was 11, Isaac McBurney has been shaped by Alphapointe Youth Services. And today, he’s paying it forward for the kids coming up behind him.

Catch the latest episode of Foresight to hear Isaac's story and how Alphapointe helped shape his path as he hopes to help shape others.

[Image description: this video features Isaac and Cameron on camera, plus multiple scenes of Isaac at Adventure Camp and elsewhere.]

05/25/2026

From the Alphapointe family to yours ... we honor the legacy of those who served and sacrificed.

[Image description: An American flag sits in the background of a blue graphic and over it the texts says: Memorial Day: Remember and Honor. It includes an Alphapointe logo.]

05/22/2026

Growing up is hard. Growing up while navigating vision loss can feel even harder. And often, lonelier.

Even with supportive family, friends, and teachers, many kids who are blind or visually impaired spend so much energy on safety, access, and getting from place to place that they don’t always get to simply enjoy being a kid.

In our latest “Through Our Eyes,” you’ll hear a first-person story about why youth programs like Alphapointe’s matter.

Read the latest "Through Our Eyes" using this URL: https://www.alphapointe.org/through-our-eyes-just-being-a-kid/

{Image description: Two brothers - both with vision loss - are at Adventure Camp near Kansas City. They are smiling at the camera.]

*Although Adventure Camp happens in Kansas City, the issues facing young people with vision loss knows no geography, which is why this story is worth a read.]

05/21/2026

It’s not just about the work we do. It’s about the well-being of the people who make it possible.

Yesterday, we hosted a health and wellness fair at our facility in Queens, New York, bringing together resources and partners focused on supporting the whole person physically, mentally, and emotionally.

At Alphapointe, we take pride in producing high-quality goods and services, but we believe that commitment must extend beyond our work. It means creating an environment where every team member feels supported not only in their role, but in their overall well-being.

Our annual wellness fair is one way we invest in our people, offering opportunities to learn, recharge, and take proactive steps toward better health.

We’re grateful to the organizations and partners who helped make this event possible. Their support allows us to continue prioritizing our team while fostering a culture rooted in care, compassion and respect.

[Image descriptions are on each individual photo.]

05/19/2026

At Alphapointe, we’re more than a nonprofit. And we’re more than a manufacturer.

We exist to walk alongside people with vision loss at every stage of life, offering real support, real opportunity, and real hope.

That means creating meaningful jobs for people who are too often left out of opportunities … but who have all the talents and skills to succeed in many different ways.

It means providing comprehensive rehabilitation for adults adapting to vision loss so they can build skills, confidence, and develop the tools needed not just to get by, but to live independently AND thrive.

It means standing with older adults who feel like their options are shrinking. We do that by offering care and follow-up therapy so they can remain safe, capable, and confident in their own homes.

And it means making sure kids and teens with vision loss don’t have to navigate childhood alone by creating year-round programs designed for them, where they can learn, grow, build friendships, and simply enjoy being kids.

Yes, we are a manufacturer. A provider of professional services for businesses of all types. And a nonprofit serving the BVI community with services to help them grow and achieve their dreams.

All with the idea of changing the way the world sees blindness.

[Devin is standing on a mobile ladder inside our ACS Warehouse (Administration of Children's Services) and looking at product inventory. He is surrounded by aisles of products on shelves.]

Address

87-46 123rd Street
Richmond Hill, NY
11418

Telephone

+17188547300

Website

http://www.alphapointe.org/

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