What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Charles W. McDowell Center for the Blind

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Louisville, KY
Charles W. McDowell Center for the Blind

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The McDowell Center provides high-quality services to blind or visually impaired people in Kentucky. The McDowell Center is named for Charles W.

The vision of the McDowell Center is to provide high-quality services and resources to Kentuckians who are blind or visually impaired to prepare them for employment, economic self-sufficiency and independence with complete integration into society. McDowell, a former leader of the Office for the Blind and champion for services to blind and visually impaired Kentuckians. The McDowell Center is a 44,000 square foot facility located in Northeast Jefferson County, and includes a dormitory wing, classrooms, computer lab, cafeteria, auditorium, and recreation and exercise areas. The McDowell Center for the Blind is committed to maintaining an environment that is safe and contributes to individuals’ ability to learn, develop positive attitudes about blindness, and grow personally. The training opportunities at the McDowell Center are designed to help individuals reach their own career and personal goals. Consumers may live in the dormitory, can attend as a “day student” and commute to the McDowell Center or attend as a virtual student from their home community. The dormitory is staffed with Residential Aides from 4 pm-8 am weekdays as well as 24 hours on the weekends. Residential Aides assist consumers with various tasks as needed, and ensure safety for consumers and facility. Transportation services may be available on an as-needed basis.

11/02/2026

The White Cane Day 2026 celebration held Oct. 15 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Louisville was a wonderful success! We had 19 community partners providing information on their services as attendees enjoyed free food, music, and great door prizes. Most importantly, our community came together to celebrate the white cane as a symbol of independence and freedom for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Thank you to everyone who made this special day possible.

10/21/2026

An exciting day for McDowell Center students and staff as we shared our experiences and expertise with students and instructors from the JCTC Occupational Therapy Assistant program during a recent visit. We welcome opportunities that allow us to share our knowledge with future professionals and showcase the incredible things happening at the McDowell Center. We look forward to seeing the next generation of occupational therapy professionals make a difference in their communities!

10/07/2026

Please make plans to join us at the White Cane Day Celebration on October 15, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 2822 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206. There will be free food, music, door prizes and community partner tables with lots of helpful information. Most importantly, we will celebrate the white cane as an important symbol of blindness and tool of independence. Come help us celebrate!

09/15/2026

We’re grateful for opportunities that help our students learn, explore, connect, and have fun in their community, which they experienced most recently during the Kentucky State Fair—a first-time visit for many of them!

• Hayden explored military vehicles and proudly displayed his spinning wind chime, “The Jingle Swing Spin Diamond.”
• Taylor impressed Team KY staff with her knowledge of Kentucky’s Rabies Program.
• Lindsay enjoyed shopping, trying deep-fried Oreos, practicing budgeting, and finding a special gift for her boyfriend.

Recreation Leader Patrice also entered student artwork, including six woven looms representing their “Dreamcatcher Wishes,” in the Textile and Hobby Section.

07/13/2026

McDowell students recently attended a special beep baseball game with six-time world champion Indy Thunder. We learned a lot about this exciting adaptive sport that makes baseball accessible for athletes who are blind or visually impaired.
The day began with a screening of "Thunder Rolls! The World of Blind Baseball", an inspiring documentary about the team, narrated by Jesse Eisenberg. The film highlights the dedication and teamwork of the manager, coaches and players while showcasing how they navigate their everyday lives as people who are blind or low vision.
After the movie, everyone enjoyed a live beep baseball demonstration, where we experienced how the game is played using a beeping ball and buzzing bases. It involves a lot of communication and athleticism but it also is a lot of fun.
A big thank you to event sponsor East Louisville Lions Club and the Indy Thunder for sharing their passion for this amazing sport!

06/25/2026

DeafBlind Awareness Week 2026 is an opportunity to recognize the strengths, experiences, and contributions of individuals who are DeafBlind.
This year's theme, "Connected by Touch: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges," highlights the importance of accessibility, communication access, and inclusion. DeafBlind individuals use a variety of communication methods and accommodations based on their unique needs and preferences. By respecting communication choices, providing accessible information, and removing barriers to participation, we can help create communities where everyone can learn, work, connect, and thrive.
The Charles McDowell Center for the Blind is proud to support accessibility, independence, and equal opportunity for all.

06/24/2026

The McDowell Center gardens continue to grow and reward us with fresh produce each week! Recent rain have caused our radishes to grow so large they look more like beets. While oversized radishes can develop a stronger flavor than most people prefer, our students and staff saw it as an opportunity to be creative in the kitchen. Together, we transformed the giant radishes into a delicious homemade radish soup by cooking sliced radishes, celery, and onions in butter and chicken broth until tender. The result was surprisingly tasty!

McDowell student Chasity also added some of the oversized radishes to a hearty beef vegetable soup to see if slow simmering with other ingredients would mellow the flavor. It worked beautifully, and both soups received high marks from our official taste tester, Resident Assistant Angelo Menza, who was impressed with the results.

Gardening encourages curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to try new things—and sometimes it leads to delicious discoveries. We look forward to welcoming new students to experience the joys of summer gardening and fresh-from-the-garden cooking here at McDowell!

06/23/2026

DeafBlind Awareness Week is June 25-July 1, 2026.
Join Us for a Special Prolamation Ceremony
The Louisville Mayor's Office and the Kentucky Governor's Office will kick off DeafBlind Awareness Week through the presentation of the official proclamation.

Families, DeafBlind individuals,, community members, service providers and supporters are warmly invited to attend.

Location: The Village 1219 W. Jefferson St. Louisville, KYK 40203
Date: Friday June 26th
Time: 12:00 PM
Refreshments: Light snacks will be provided

We hope you will join us as we celebrate Helen Keller's Birthday and honor the DeafBlind Community throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

All are Welcome

For any questions, please contact Brandi Hitzelberger at [email protected]

The Council on Developmental Disabilities

Hope. Vision. Voice

06/17/2026

Congratulations to two outstanding McDowell Center graduates!
After graduating from McDowell, Allonah and Hallie continued their education at our sister center, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Training Center (CDPVTC) in Thelma, Kentucky. Both students attended McDowell in 2025. Allonah graduated from the Food Service Program and Hallie graduated from the Office Technology Program.
McDowell staff are proud of their hard work, dedication, and accomplishments. Please join us in congratulating Allonah and Hallie on this exciting milestone and wishing them continued success!

06/08/2026

Adventure, discovery, and inspiration at Bernheim Forest!

McDowell Center students Ray Michael-Cook and Chasity Singleton recently enjoyed a visit to Bernheim Forest in Clermont, KY to explore the nature trails and search for the famed Forest Giants.

The students used an app to identify plants and found a Sassafras tree. They also discovered miniature fairy houses, pond turtles, outdoor art sculptures, and interactive stuffed birds in the gift shop. Chasity was excited to find the giant yellow footprints that help guide visitors to one of the Forest Giants. These unique sculptures were created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo using recycled wood from across Kentucky.

Although recent rains left some sections of the trail flooded, it was a successful visit. Ray's service dog, John Denver, had a special moment when a butterfly landed on him. Ray shared memories of visiting Bernheim Forest as a child, and Chasity plans to tell her family about this wonderful Kentucky destination. Everyone returned home tired, but inspired.

Address

8412 Westport Road
Louisville, KY
40242

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+15024294460

Website

https://kcc.ky.gov/Vocational-Rehabilitation/seeking-services/CharlesMcDowellCenter/Pages/default.aspx

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