Prince George's County opening sight and vision center in Largo this month

Prince George’s County residents who are blind or have low vision have long had to leave the county for basic support, making trips to Baltimore, Washington, D.C. or Montgomery County for services that can shape whether someone can work, travel independently or stay connected to daily life. That gap is about to narrow in Largo, where county officials said the Prince George’s County Sight and Vision Center will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting later this month.

Dozens of residents toured the new facility on Monday, May 4, 2026, as county leaders and advocates described the center as a long-needed local access point for a community that makes up a significant share of the county’s population. Officials said a little over 3% of Maryland residents are blind or have low vision, a figure that translates into tens of thousands of people in Prince George’s County alone.

The new center was pushed by County Council member Jolene Ivey, who said County Executive Aisha Braveboy helped secure space for it in a county-owned building. For residents who have been forced to seek help elsewhere, the move represents more than a new address. It creates a local place for training, meetings and support that previously required a trip out of county.

Community members who visited the Largo site said the center could serve as a place to learn technology, use a Braille writer and navigate day-to-day life with more confidence. Chiko Dinaka said the center would give people a place to meet and learn practical skills. Eric Phifer of Landover said he had previously had to go all the way to Montgomery County for resources.

Marcus Robinson, chief operating officer of Metropolitan Washington Ear, will help oversee the facility. The regional nonprofit works with the blind community on reading and audio services, and Robinson said the center should help blind and visually impaired people gain more independence.

Maryland’s Office for Blindness & Vision Services says its programs can include vocational rehabilitation, independent-living training, orientation and mobility instruction, assistive technology and job placement support. Prince George’s County says it is required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which bars discrimination in county employment, services, activities and programs. For a county with tens of thousands of blind or low-vision residents, the Largo center is meant to turn a long-standing service gap into something local and usable.