Providing hope, empowerment, and support to those who are Deaf, Blind, Visually Impaired, or Hard of Hearing.
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
AURORA of CNY is dedicated to promoting independence, opportunity and full access for people of all ages in our community with vision or hearing loss.
Focusing on strengths and what is possible, our professional and compassionate staff provide information, education, training and emotional support so people with sensory loss can live, work and thrive in every area of their lives.
As a uniquely positioned community-based organization that offers specialized in-home and center based services, we work collaboratively with other networks and service providers to address the whole health of those we serve and strengthen our community to meet the needs of people with vision and hearing loss.
OUR MISSION
AURORA of Central New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization which seeks to improve the quality of life and promote independence and opportunity for Central New Yorkers by serving people who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf or hard of hearing, as well as people who are late-deafened and Deaf-blind. The agency is dedicated to being a leader in the field and is committed to:
Providing high quality services geared toward assisting individuals to achieve their fullest potential and participation in society;
Advocating for the elimination of barriers and attitudes that hinder this participation;
Empowering and promoting the rights of people with disabilities;
Educating all citizens on the causes and treatment of vision and hearing loss and
Organizing resources necessary to support these efforts.
Bedtime Book Series Resumes in 2026
AURORA, with support from the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County, is excited to resume our Bedtime Book Series in 2026, bringing the hearing and Deaf communities together to promote literacy and inclusion.
To increase literacy and language development for all children, AURORA will once again read children’s stories in spoken English and signed in ASL during story time at local libraries throughout Onondaga County.
Additionally, each participant will receive a copy of the book along with a QR coded bookmark that allows them to access an online version of the story hour so participants can re-read these stories.
This program creates a fully accessible and enriching experience for all!
SAVE THE DATE!
Our annual special evening to celebrate and support AURORA of CNY’s work, An Evening for the Eyes and Ears, is scheduled for Friday, October 16, 2026 at 6:00 pm at Rosamond Gifford Zoo!
Our work in numbers.
-
![]()
125 patients received comprehensive low vision examinations at our new Eye Center.
-
![]()
3,065 hours of professional interpreting services were provided to 10 Central New York counties in 2025.
-
![]()
54 youth and adults received vocational and employment placement and training.
-
![]()
389 individuals can now manage in their homes, jobs and communities safely and independently.
-
![]()
732 people received support to develop skills for coping and accessing community resources.
-
![]()
1,024 individuals received education about treatment, care and prevention of sensory loss.
