• Serving Visually Impaired of All AgesTM
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The Foundation for Blind Children
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FBC Provides Hope
We’re creating a world where vision loss is a diagnosis, not a disability.
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FBC Provides Independence
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FBC Provides Confidence
We’re creating a world where vision loss is a diagnosis, not a disability.
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Serving Visually Impaired of All AgesTM

Founded in 1952 by parents of blind children who wanted services for their blind children in Phoenix, instead of having to send them to the State Institution for the Blind in Tucson. The Foundation for Blind Children serves the blind and visually impaired of all ages, from birth to currently 102 years old. As the only agency of its kind in Arizona, FBC is an essential resource to families and children with blindness or low vision.

About FBC

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We're creating a world where vision loss is a diagnosis, not a disability.

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Upcoming FBC Wide Events

Spring Festival

Gather around for an exciting spring morning filled with a beeping egg hunt, bounce house, carnival games and staff pie baking contest.

View Event »
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Quick Links

FBC History

  • 1952

    Foundation for Blind Children (FBC) was founded in Phoenix, Arizona.

  • 1954

    The first preschool class began with four students. Shelley Ingalls was the first home counselor/teacher and was hired with help from the Delta Gammas.

  • 1955

    The Arizona Foundation for Blind Children was formed as a 501(c)3. Arizona was later dropped from the name and it became Foundation for Blind Children, a name we have kept ever since.

  • 1960

    FBC hired a librarian to oversee the production and distribution of textbooks and other materials across Arizona.

  • 1972

    FBC was well established with a librarian, an orientation and mobility specialist, a social worker, a preschool teacher, and an assistant. A second social worker was added in 1973.

  • 1974

    FBC established classes specifically for children with multiple disabilities including hearing loss.

  • 1975

    FBC held its first Parent-Infant/Toddler class that was held on Friday, and still is to this day.

  • 1983

    The staff had grown to 25, and programs were expanding.

  • 1987

    FBC hired Chris Tompkins as the new CEO.

  • 1993

    FBC moved to our permanent home at 12th Street and Northern in the Mofford Building.

  • 2004

    In 2004, the Floye Steele Center Classrooms in the East Valley of Maricopa County were opened.

  • 2007

    FBC hired Marc Ashton as the new CEO.

  • 2008

    The Swift Campus Classrooms in the West Valley of Maricopa County were opened.

  • 2009

    FBC students hiked to the top of Kilimanjaro setting four world records.

  • 2011

    FBC receives a donation of $1,000,000 from MLB to make technology available for all Arizona students.

  • 2013

    FBC students swam Alcatraz.

  • 2015

    The Mofford Building was expanded to include the Moyes Building to meet the demand of Services.

  • 2015

    FBC students rafted the first half of the Grand Canyon.

  • 2018

    FBC students circumnavigated the Spanish Virgin Islands.

  • 2018

    FBC was certified as the largest pre-school in the nation for students with a visual impairment.

  • 2018

    FBC receives the donation of the archives of books transcribed by the Jane Bente Braille Center at the New Jersey Red Cross.

  • 2021

    FBC students rafted the second half of the Grand Canyon.

  • 2022

    FBC in partnership with ASU creates a Teacher of the Visually Impaired Program and graduates 12 new teachers.
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See It Our Way

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Our Mission.
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Read more about our programs.

Locations

MAIN CAMPUS
Pre-School, Grade K-4,
Adult Comprehensive Program

Moyes Building
1234 E Northern Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85020
(Main Entrance 13th St. & Northern Ave.)

(602) 331-1470

Directions
EAST CAMPUS
Pre-School
 

Floye Steele Center
2005 N 91st Place
Chandler, AZ 85224

(602) 331-1470
 

Directions
WEST VALLEY
Pre-School
 

Swift Campus
2430 S 75th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85043

(602) 331-1470
 

Directions
Thank you to our amazing sponsor:
Valley of the Sun United Way
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