Claudette Tallon runs Voluntary Services for the Blind from her Stamford office.
Photo credit: Joseph Cole

Claude Acierno suffered severe vision impairment and died before his daughter, Claudette Tallon, founded Stamford based Voluntary Services for the Blind of Fairfield County (VSB) in his honor. Her organization has since earned many honors for its work helping the visually impaired residents of Fairfield County navigate through their daily lives. 

Acierno lost one eye to a detached retina and suffered with cataracts and glaucoma in the other eye.  His determination to succeed in everything he did inspired his daughter. “He always looked at the glass as half full, not as half empty.  His vision impairment never really hindered him.  He never let it hinder him,” Tallon said in her office at 945 Summer Street.

From this humble office, she helps more than 100 vision-impaired individuals each year, providing volunteers who serve, entirely free of charge, as drivers, shoppers, readers, clerical assistants and friendly visitors. She said volunteers have provided clients with more than 110,000 hours of direct service since the program’s inception in 1993.

A horizontal line of accolades is the stand out feature in an otherwise simple office décor.  In one picture, Mayor Dannel Malloy hands Tallon a proclamation declaring November 15, 1996, as “Blind Services Day” in Stamford.  Down the wall another announcement by the National Points of Light Foundation names Voluntary Services for the Blind the nation’s Daily Point for March 9, 2001.  Congratulatory letters from two U.S. Presidents and one U.S. Senator are also on display.  

Tallon is humble about her role in helping others.  For 18 years she has never accepted a salary for what is essentially a full time effort.  That said, she would have liked her father’s help and advice in setting up VSB and understanding the needs of her clients.  “My mother always said he would be proud.  I’ll have to take her at her word.  She knew him better than me,” Tallon laughed.                                                                                                    

Do you know someone with vision impairment? Have you reached out to help them with their daily tasks? Share your stories, we want to hear them.