Foundation Fighting Blindness and Alma Join Forces to Bridge the Mental Health Gap for Blind and Low Vision Individuals and Their Families

COLUMBIA, Maryland, May 1, 2025 – The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the driving force in the global development of treatments and cures for blinding diseases, today announced a national partnership with Alma, a network of 25,000 mental health professionals dedicated to simplifying access to high-quality, affordable mental healthcare.

Alma was selected as a strategic partner based on its mission alignment and commitment to provider education and training focused on the needs of patients. As part of this collaboration, the Foundation and Alma trained mental health professionals focused on the unique experiences and needs of individuals who are blind or have low vision. The initial training sessions took place in March and are now available on-demand through Alma’s platform, with providers eligible for continuing education (CE) credits.

“This partnership brings together our expertise and Alma’s expansive provider network to ensure that more individuals and families receive the tailored mental health support they deserve,” said the Foundation’s CEO, Jason Menzo. “Alma understands that our community faces unique challenges due to blindness or low vision that cannot be overlooked.”

In conjunction with the launch of the partnership and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, the Foundation has unveiled its new Mental Health Resource Center, now available on the Foundation’s website. This resource center offers tools, resources, and connections to help individuals and families manage the unique emotional complexities associated with vision loss.

The site features include:

• A curated directory of Alma therapists who have completed the specialized blind and low vision training. Later this year, Alma’s online platform will include a specialty label enabling blind and low vision individuals and their families to more easily identify and connect with therapists who have completed the training courses.
• Personal stories from community members navigating their own mental health journeys.
• Information for caregivers, family members, and clinicians supporting someone with vision loss.
• Trusted organizations and programs aligned with the mission to provide comprehensive emotional and mental health support.
• Downloadable tools and resources for managing vision-related emotional health.

With resources for both individuals and families, the Resource Center provides support at every stage of the vision loss experience—from diagnosis and treatments to adjustment and long-term well-being.

“Our mission is to ensure access to high-quality, affordable mental health care, and a key part of this includes making sure our providers are equipped to support any patient that comes into their care,” said Dr. Elisabeth Morray, VP of Clinical Operations at Alma. “We want to bridge the gaps in our health system so that all people feel supported in their mental health care journey, and that is why this partnership with the Foundation Fighting Blindness is so important—so that therapists have the resources to create an inclusive and supportive therapeutic environment.”

“This collaboration and the new Mental Health Resource Center mark a pivotal step toward breaking down stigma and creating access to critical support,” added Menzo.

The Foundation and Alma will be collaborating on additional tools and resources for individuals with vision loss, their supporters, and the broader mental health community.

About the Foundation Fighting Blindness
Established in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world’s leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $954 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the spectrum of blinding retinal diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, and Usher syndrome. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

About Alma
Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. Alma's membership-based platform enables providers to manage insurance, billing, scheduling, client referrals, and continuing education, enabling them to focus on what matters most: delivering care to clients. Named one of Inc.'s Best Workplaces in 2022 and 2023, Alma's investors include Thoma Bravo, Insight Partners, Optum Ventures, Cigna Ventures, Tusk Venture Partners, First Round Capital, Primary Venture Partners, Sound Ventures, BoxGroup, and Rainfall Ventures. Learn more at www.helloalma.com.

Media Contact:
Chris Adams
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
CAdams@FightingBlindness.org
410-423-0585