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The selected resources
included in this list may help individuals
with visual impairments make the most of
remaining sight. This list provides examples
of available resources and we welcome
suggestions for additions. These resources
may also be able to refer you to services in
your area.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
P.O. Box 7424
San Francisco, CA 94120-7424
(415) 561-8500
http://www.aao.org
Provides brochures on low vision and
other eye problems.
American Council of the Blind
1155 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
(800) 424-8666
(202) 467-5081
ncrabb@access.digex.net
http://www.acb.org
Offers a wide variety of services to
visually impaired persons with emphasis
on employment opportunities. Publishes
the Braille Forum.
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 30
New York, NY 10001
1-800-232-5463
(212) 502-7600
afbinfo@afb.org
http://www.afb.org
Serves as a one-stop information and
referral resource for people who are
blind or visually impaired, the people
who work with them, and the general
public. Conducts a wide variety of
programs to support independent living,
literacy, employment, and access to
technology. Publishes professional
materials for blindness and low vision
and Talking Books. Offers consultation
services to eye care, rehabilitation,
and education professionals. Provides
referrals to low vision centers.
Advocates for legislative change.
American Optometric Association
243 Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 991-4100
AmOptNEWS@aol.com
http://www.aoanet.org
Provides brochures on low vision and
other eye problems.
Associated Services for the Blind
919 Walnut Street, 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 627-0600
http://www.asb.org
Offers personal adjustment to
blindness training and orientation and
mobility training. Provides materials in
Braille. Offers computer training using
adaptive devices. Provides subscriptions
(for a nominal fee) to magazines such
as: Family Circle, Fortune, Smithsonian,
Science News, and others.
Association for Education &
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired
4600 Duke Street, Suite 430
P.O. Box 22397
Alexandria, VA 22304
(703) 823-9690
1-877-492-2708
http://www.aerbvi.org
Includes educators, rehabilitators,
administrators, parents, and
houseparents of blind children;
agencies, schools, and other interested
in the education, guidance, vocational
rehabilitation, or occupational
placement of the blind and
partially-sighted. Cooperates with
colleges and universities in conferences
and workshops. Presents awards, conducts
certification programs, and maintains
job exchange services. Works with state,
provencial, and national governments on
legislation affecting services to blind
and visually impaired individuals.
Council of Citizens with Low
Vision International
1-800-733-2258
Serves as an advocacy group for the
visually impaired. Provides information
on low vision technology. Offers
scholarship. Publishes the CCLV News.
EyeCare America
655 Breach Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
1-877-887-6327
Fax: 415-561-8567
http://www.eyecareamerica.org/public
A public service foundation of the
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO),
provides free and low-cost eye exams for
qualified U.S. citizens 65 and over who
do have access to an ophthalmologist in
the past three years. Telephone:
1-800-222-EYES (3937).
The Hadley School for the Blind
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093-0299
1-800-323-4238
(847) 446 - 8111
http://www.hadley-school.org
Promotes independence in blind and
visually impaired people through
education. Serves students in all 50
states and 90 countries. Program areas
include Adult Continuing Education, High
School, Family Education and
Professional Education. Course materials
are delivered in braille, large-print,
audiocassette and online formats. Offers
all courses free of charge.
Independent Living Services for
Older Individuals Who Are Blind
Edna Johnson, Ph.D., Program Officer
U.S. Department of Education
Rehabilitation Services Administration
330 C Street, S.W., Room 3229
Washington, DC 20202-2741
(202) 205-9320
Provides training in skills of routine
daily living, travel, communication,
provision of adaptive devices, low
vision services, family and peer
counseling, and community integration
such as outreach and information and
referral. Funded through Title VII,
Chapter 2 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Programs are available in every state
and accessible through each state agency
for the blind.
The Jewish Guild for the Blind
15 West 65th Street
New York, NY 10023-6601
(212) 769-6200
http://www.jgb.org
Offers services to blind and visually
impaired children, adults, and the
elderly, some of whom are
multi-handicapped. Programs include:
medical, vision, psychiatric,
rehabilitative services, managed long
term care, residential services, day
health programs, schools, educational
training programs, free audio library
services, and a national radio reading
service. Provides education and training
locally and nationally to consumers,
families and health care professionals.
Literature includes posters, brochures,
vision cards, and training videos.
Lighthouse International
111 E. 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
1-800-829-0500
(212) 821-9200
(212) 821-9713 (TDD)
info@lighthouse.org
http://www.lighthouse.org
Serves as a national clearinghouse for
information on vision impairment across
the life span including specific
services for children and seniors.
Offers a comprehensive selection of
educational products, large print
materials, talking products, and related
specialty items for people with visual
impairments. Adaptive devices are
available through catalog sales. Offers
reading and library services, employment
and recreation resources, and technology
centers.
Low Vision Council
5921 South Middlefield Road, Suite 102
Littleton, CO 80123
(303) 797-6554
http://www.lowvisioncouncil.org
Works to raise awareness of low vision
rehabilitation among eye care providers,
as well as visually impaired consumers
and their caregivers.
National Association for Visually
Handicapped
22 W. 21st Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010
(212) 889-3141
http://www.navh.org
Serves as a clearinghouse for
information about all services available
to the partially-sighted from public and
private sources. Conducts self-help
groups. Provides information on large
print books, textbooks, and educational
tools. Publishes a quarterly newsletter
and has a large print loan library with
over 7,000 titles. Sells a variety of
optical aids for the visually impaired.
National Association for Parents
of Children with Visual Impairments,
Inc.
P.O. Box 317
Watertown, MA 02471-0317
1-800-562-6265
(617) 972-7441
http://www.spedex.com/NAPVI/index.htm
Offers emotional support for parents
of blind or visually impaired children.
Provides information, training and
assistance, and help in understanding
and using available resources. Publishes
Awareness, a quarterly newsletter.
National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314
http://www.nfb.org
Provides a wide variety of services to
visually impaired people. Publishes the
Braille Monitor and Future Reflections.
Distributes a catalog of publications
available in large print, Braille, or
audiocassette, and a catalog of aids and
appliances.
Resources for Rehabilitation
33 Bedford Street, Suite 19A
Lexington, MA 02420
(781) 862-6455
info@rfr.org
http://www.rfr.org
Offers training programs for public
and professionals on coping with low
vision. Publishes books and materials
related to low vision including Living
with Low Vision: A Resource Guide for
People with Sight Loss.
Vision Community Services, A
Division of the Massachusetts
Association for the Blind
23A Elm Street
Watertown, MA 02472
http://www.mablind.org
(617) 926-4232
1-800-852-3029 (Massachusetts only)
Provides resources locally, nationally
and internationally to consumers, their
families, and health care professionals.
Offers a wide variety of cooking
equipment, recreational, and household
items, all of which are specially
designed or adapted for use by people
with vision loss. Catalog of these
assistive devices is available in large
print, audiocassette, and on computer
disk.
VISIONS/Services for the Blind and
Visually Impaired
500 Greenwich Street, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10013-1354
1-888-245-8333
(212) 625-1616
Info@visionsvcb.org
http://www.visionsvcb.org
Offers free services to adults over
age 55 and teens with severe vision
problems. Services include self-help
study kits, counseling, vision
rehabilitations training, consumer
workshops, and an information center.
Provides volunteer and overnight camp
services for blind and visually impaired
adults and elders and parents of blind
children.
Print and Audio
Materials
American Printing House for the
Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206-0085
1-800-223-1839
(502) 895-2405
http://www.aph.org
Provides free subscriptions to
Reader's Digest, Newsweek and other
magazines on disposable audiocassettes.
Provides Reader's Digest in Braille.
Braille Circulating Library, Inc.
2700 Stuart Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 359-3771
(804) 359-3743
Loans Braille materials, talking
books, audiocassettes, and large print
Christian materials.
Choice Magazine Listening
85 Channel Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
(516) 883-8280
http://www.choicemagazinelistening.org
Offers selected articles from popular
print magazines on special-speed,
4-track audiocassette, available through
the Library of Congress. Provides free
service nationwide to eligible persons.
Christian Record Services, Inc.
4444 South 52nd Street
P.O. Box 6097
Lincoln, NE 68516
(402) 488-0981
http://www.christianrecord.org
Provides a lending library of books in
Braille, large print materials, and
cassette tapes. Provides referrals to
local low vision specialists and support
groups.
Jewish Braille Institute of
America
110 E. 30th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 889-2525
1-800-433-1531
http://www.jewishBraille.org
Provides talking books, Braille and
large-print books, a circulating library
and a public education program. Offers
counseling and referrals to low vision
care in the U.S.
The Jewish Guild for the Blind
15 West 65th Street
New York, NY 10023
1-800-284-4422
(212) 769-6200
http://www.jgb.org
Provides free audio library services
to individuals with visual impairments
by mail (1600 titles, primarily best
sellers) and a national radio reading
service broadcasting 7 days 24 hours.
National Library Service for Blind
and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
1291 Taylor Street, NW
Washington, DC 20542
1-800-424-8567
(202) 707-5100
(202) 707-0744 (TDD)
nls@loc.gov
http://www.loc.gov/nls
Provides free library service to
individuals with visual impairments.
Offers Braille and large print materials
and recorded books and periodicals.
New York Times/Large Type Weekly
229 W. 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 556-1234
1-800-631-2580
http://www.nytimes.com/nytstore/publications/index.html
Offers subscriptions to the New York
Times in a 16 point font.
Reader's Digest Large Type
Publications
P.O. Box 241
Mount Morris, IL 61054
1-800 431-1246
Offers subscriptions to Reader's
Digest in large type.
Recording for the Blind and
Dyslexic - Headquarters
The Anne T. MacDonald Center
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
1-800-221-4792
(609) 452-0606
http://www.rfbd.org
Provides free cassette tapes,
textbooks for students, and materials
needed for occupational pursuits.
Recording for the Blind Regional
Offices
(415) 493-3717 - California
(212) 557-5720 - New York
Talking Tapes for the Blind
16 Sunnen Drive, Suite 162
St. Louis, MO 63143-3800
(314) 646-0500
1-877-926-0500
http://www.talkingtapes.org/
Provides textbooks on audiocassettes
for students with visual, physical,
cognitive and learning disabilities.
Xavier Society for the Blind
154 E. 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010-4595
(212) 473-7800
Serves as the National Catholic Press
and Lending Library for the visually
impaired.
Employment
Job Opportunities for the Blind
National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314
http://www.nfb.org/jobpaths.htm
Works with agencies and blind people
they serve to provide a cost-effective
pathway to jobs with good earnings and
benefits.
Blinded Veterans Association
477 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
1-800-669-7079
(202) 371-8880
http://www.bva.org
Link veterans with services,
rehabilitation training and other
benefits and helps them find jobs.
Offers spouses and dependent children of
blinded veterans a chance to continue
their education through the Kathern F.
Gruber Scholarship Program.
Directories
Directory of Services for Blind
and Visually Impaired Persons in the
United States and Canada, 26th edition
(2001)
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
1-800-232-3044
afbinfo@afb.org
http://www.afb.org
Living with Low Vision: A Resource
Guide for People with Sight Loss, 5th
edition (1998)
Resources for Rehabilitation
33 Bedford Street, Suite 19A
Lexington, MA 02420
info@rfr.org
http://www.rfr.org
(781) 862-6455
Rehabilitation Resource Manual:
VISION, 4th edition (1993)
Resources for Rehabilitation
33 Bedford Street, Suite 19A
Lexington, MA 02173
(781) 862-6455
info@rfr.org
http://www.rfr.org
Aging and Vision--Directory of
Programs and Services for Older Adults
With Impaired Vision (1996)
Lighthouse International
111 E. 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
1-800-334-5497
(212) 821-9200
Inclusion in this
list does not imply endorsement by the
National Eye Institute or the National
Institutes of Health or The Macula
Center
Courtesy of the National Eye Institute
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