The Braille Institute, founded 1919, provides an environment of hope and encouragement for people who are blind and visually impaired through integrated educational, social and recreational programs and services. Generous donors and dedicated efforts by more than 5,200 volunteers enable staff to provide training, programs and services without charge.

Children Development – We offer in-home programs for parents of blind infants and toddlers and help to main stream blind children (up to age 5) in community preschools.
Youth and Career Services – We help foster self-confidence
and independence …

Guide Dogs for the blind was incorporated in May of 1942 and began instruction of students in a rented home in Los Gatos, California, south of San Jose. A German Shepard named Blondie was one of the first dogs trained and was a rescue from a Pasadena dog pound. She was later paired with Sgt. Leonard Foulk, the first serviceman to graduate from the new school.

In 1947, the school moved to our present 11-acre location in San Rafael California. In October 1995 they held the …