The Iris Network, formerly the Maine Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, is a private, nonprofit, statewide agency, with headquarters in Portland, committed to providing services to Maine’s adults who are blind and visually impaired.

We have offices in Augusta, Bangor, Brewer, Ellsworth, Houlton, Lewiston, Portland, Rockland and Saco.

Founded in 1905, we have as our mission “to empower persons who are blind or visually impaired to attain their self-determined level of independence and integration into the community; to provide rehabilitation, training, education and related services for individuals, their families, and other support systems; and to be a resource regarding issues related to blindness and visual impairment within the State of Maine.”

Famous people on our first board of directors included Joshua Chamberlain and Helen Keller, who were instrumental in our fund-raising efforts. We are still governed by a board of directors comprising volunteers from a variety of professions and backgrounds who are dedicated to our mission and work.

Throughout our almost 100 years, we have tried to provide the best services possible to meet the needs of the changing population and philosophy of how people with disabilities are treated. For example, in 1905, society thought we had to take care of people with disabilities. We did that by providing sheltered work and sheltered housing for all employees.

Now we know that with proper training and support, people who are blind or visually impaired can live on their own, continue to care for their own needs, work outside the home, and be productive and contributing members of their communities.

Our dedicated and highly qualified staff of professionals approaches each individual with whom we work to strive for independence.

If you notice that we are talking about people who are blind or visually impaired, there is a good reason. Most people who are labeled “blind” can really see something, and often quite a bit. In fact, only about 10 percent of those who are considered legally blind are totally blind.

In future articles, you will learn about legal blindness and various eye conditions, and their ramifications.

Other topics we will address include each profession in our agency, to give a better understanding of the work we do. We hope to debunk some myths about blindness. We welcome your questions and feedback and hope that each month we can address your interests.

In the meantime, if you or someone you know is having trouble functioning because of vision loss, contact our headquarters at 189 Park Ave., Portland 04102, or call us at (800) 715-0097.

Ruth Mlotek is director of Rehabilitation Services, South, for The Iris Network. Programs of the network include Maine Audio Information and Reading Service – Maine AIRS, which broadcasts local stories from the Bangor Daily News and other Maine daily and weekly newspapers from studios in Brewer. If you know of an individual who is blind or visually impaired who would benefit from these broadcasts, call 989-0058. Les Myers is director of Maine AIRS.