About Us

Throughout BSC’s 100-year history, its mission has been to inspire and empower people who are blind or with low vision. Our founder, Doris Bernstein, began by bringing the printed word to blind children. She steadfastly read to them in her Hyde Park neighborhood home for several years until Blind Service Association incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1930. With a new office in Chicago’s Loop, BSC extended services to older students and adults. Now serving clients in our newly renovated 8,000 square foot space, including the Bernstein Center addition, we are still centrally located in Chicago’s downtown.

The Bernstein Center is a brand new 2500 square foot extension of our original 17 North State office space. It is a multi-purpose expanse that houses our client technology lab, a modern kitchen and coffee bar, two offices, and ample customizable seating. Since it opened in January of 2024, it has been used for volunteer training, audio-described films, guest speakers, game day, and a multitude of events and workshops.

Mission, Vision, and Core Values

At BSC, we believe that if our mission is not advanced every day, it is in retreat. Serving and empowering the blind are why we are here. That is our focus. We take care to remain vigilant to ensure that we do not drift from that purpose.

BSC’s Mission and Core Values are the priorities and principles that guide our actions on a daily basis. These deeply held beliefs allow us to navigate complex situations and decisions with integrity. They are guideposts that promote clarity, consistency, unity, and a sense of purpose. They are sacrosanct and can never be compromised. 

View Our Mission, Vision and Core Values Statements

A Note About Our Art Installation

More than forty new works of art now grace the walls of BSC. Carefully curated, many of the pieces were done by blind or low vision artists. Several contemporary artists, including Cheryl Kinderknect, Charles Blackwell, Connie Avery, as well as Chicago painters Stella de Genova and Sally Cooper are represented. All are full of color and light! To make these pieces accessible, BSC will be providing a catalogue in braille. Each work will also be reachable through our WayAround smart app and tagging technology. Several prints were purchased through ArtLifting, a for-profit public benefit corporation committed to building financial resilience for artists with disabilities and experience with housing insecurity.       

  • Modern conference room with a dark wood table, five orange office chairs, abstract artworks on the walls, and a dark wood sideboard with decor items.
  • Framed abstract painting with colorful faces and figures on a light grey wall.
  • A framed painting of a person playing a saxophone, characterized by bold colors and dynamic brushstrokes.
  • A hallway in an office building with light gray floors, abstract paintings on the walls, and ceiling light panels.
  • A framed portrait painting of a woman with long brown hair, featuring an abstract background with grey and red hues.
  • Dark wooden cabinet with a lamp, yellow bowl, and vase. Framed abstract painting on wall above.
  • Two framed abstract artworks hanging on a light gray wall.
  • Framed painting of a field with red poppies, featuring three people, including a crouching child in the foreground.
  • Four abstract paintings framed in black on a light-colored wall, each featuring bold shapes and colors.
  • A framed abstract watercolor painting of a vibrant flower bouquet in a vase.
  • Framed abstract painting with colorful blobs and black lines.