Our History

Our History

VisionServe Alliance was incorporated in 1987 as the National Council of Private Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCPABVI). Its purpose was to provide a forum for Executive Directors of nonprofit agencies and organizations specializing in blindness to meet and collaborate. 

A History of Growth and Innovation

The organization was volunteer-driven until 2005, when after an extensive strategic planning process, three decisions were made:

  • There was a need for the members’ collective voices to be heard nationally,
  • The organization hired its first Chief Executive Officer to organize and promote this national message, and
  • a national headquarters was created in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 2006, NCPABVI merged with the National Vision Rehabilitation Association and became the pre-eminent leader in promoting Medicare reimbursement for certified vision rehabilitation professionals, i.e., Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists.

In 2007, NCPABVI engaged in a re-branding process which resulted in a name change to VisionServe Alliance to better represent the commonality amongst its diverse membership – an alliance of organizations providing vision rehabilitation-related services.

In 2012, VisionServe Alliance celebrated its 25th Anniversary, received the “Chairman’s Award” from First Nonprofit Insurance Company for 25 years of accomplishments, and received its first matching grant for $100,000 from the Gibney Family Foundation and First Nonprofit Foundation of Chicago to expand the vision rehabilitation workforce.

Since that time, VisionServe Alliance has grown steadily, added full-time staff, and initiated several major industry initiatives.