Our History

In 1917, Syracuse Association of Workers for the Blind was established to provide opportunities for people who were blind to be self-supporting. Federal legislation (the National Defense Act and Smith-Hughes Act) made funding available to provide vocational education through designated community agencies.

The creation of the organization was spearheaded by John C. Fowler. Blind from birth, he attended the New York State School for the Blind, graduated from Syracuse University in 1908 with honors in just three years. Mr. Fowler was described as a highly educated man who worked for Syracuse University as a piano tuner. He sought “to give employ to every blind man and woman in Syracuse who needs to work for a living, in order that none will be forced to beg.”

Throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, under the direction of Executive Secretary Bertha McDowell Armstrong, the Syracuse Association of Workers for the Blind, also known as “The Lighthouse”, expanded their mission to serve anyone in the community who was blind or visually impaired . The Lighthouse was to become a community center for the blind, in which they may gather for social affairs with entertainment “which they can enjoy in spite of the fact they cannot see.”

As a result of the expanded mission, The Lighthouse purchased office space at 425 James Street in Syracuse, NY. At their new location, workers were able to host demonstrations and social events for the blind community. In response to a study commissioned by the Board of Directors, the Lighthouse’s sheltered workshop was merged with two other workshops to form Consolidated Industries of Greater Syracuse. Its social programs were merged into the Salvation Army’s Golden Age Center, as well.

The 1970’s were monumental for the agency. The Central New York Association for the Hearing Impaired (CNYAHI) was established as a sister agency to The Lighthouse. There were two separate Boards of Directors and two separate program staffs, with a single shared administrative staff.

Both the Lighthouse and CNYAHI continued to expand programming throughout the 1980s in response to changes in the laws and the emerging needs of people in our community. The emphasis was then and is now to provide services that are personalized and enable individuals to remain in their homes, jobs, and school environments, living as independently as possible.

1991- Aurora of Central New York is born! During the 1990s, AURORA thrived in the challenging and changing human service environment expanding services in the counties of Cayuga, Onondaga, Oswego, and Northern Cortland to include: social work, employment services, orientation and mobility instruction, rehabilitation teaching, adaptive technology evaluation and training, low vision services, children’s instructional services, outreach and education, sign language instruction, and professional Sign Language Interpreting through the Marjorie Clere Interpreter Referral Services with a 14 county reach.

These expansions were made possible through funding partnerships with the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (now New York State Commission for the Blind), the United Ways of Central New York, Greater Oswego and Cayuga counties, Onondaga County Office for Aging, the Flora Bernice Smith and Berthe Harder Foundations, the New York State Community Foundation and the Gifford Foundation along with hundreds of corporate donors and individual members.

Aurora of CNY brought in a new Executive Director in 1994 by the name of Debra Chaiken who holds that title presently. The agency grew rapidly to meet the needs of a wider audience of consumers and achieved financial stability in spite of turbulent and rapidly changing times.

The start of the new millennium brought with it a shift in community demographics and an increased demand for AURORA’s services, especially by those who are hard of hearing and visually impaired but not yet legally blind.

Technology was beginning to become a vital skill to learn, especially for those with visual impairments and hearing loss as it provides vital safety and security for those we serve. As a result, AURORA establishes a “Lending Closet” for adaptive equipment to provide flashing smoke alarms and other needed items.

AURORA significantly expanded programming to meet the needs of children and youth through several initiatives including the development of The Children’s Hearing Aid Program (CHAP). A pre-college skills program for students with vision loss and a youth and technology program for children with vision loss have been sustained through foundation support and donations from generous friends and benefactors.

AURORA celebrated 100 years of service in 2017! The agency is poised to embark on exciting new ventures as an affiliated partner with Liberty Resources, Inc. to significantly expand our service lines and integrate a total health and well-being approach to services for people of all ages with vision and hearing loss.

Today, AURORA’s services include: social work, employment services, orientation & mobility instruction, rehabilitation teaching, adaptive technology evaluation and training, low vision services, children’s instructional services, sign language instruction, as well as professional Sign Language Interpreting through the Marjorie Clere Interpreter Referral Services.

The demand for AURORA’s services continues to grow. As a result, we are committed to delivering the highest quality programs and services to meet the emerging needs of Central New Yorkers with vision and hearing loss.