Welcome to heritage for the blind
Welcome to The Heritage for The Blind, a "Self-Help for Vision Loss" web site that provides free, practical, hands-on information to enhance quality of life and independence for adults with vision loss, their families and friends, caregivers, and vision professionals.
At The Heritage for The Blind, we understand that losing your vision can be a difficult, emotional, and life-changing experience that affects you and everyone around you - spouses, family members, children, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
Whether you're totally blind, have low vision, or simply have trouble seeing from time to time, it's important to realize you're not alone. At least 6.5 million American adults experience vision problems and many don't know where to turn for help or information.
On The Heritage for The Blind web site, you'll find free, practical, self-help solutions that can help adults with vision loss to learn about eye disorders that cause vision problems.
You can also find vision rehabilitation services, stay on top of the latest medical research, keep working after vision loss, adapt everyday tasks ontinue with hobbies, sports and recreation.
Where to Turn for Help and Information If You are Blind or Have Low Vision
Adults with Vision Problems: Learn about vision problems and eye disorders, locate vision rehabilitation services, retain employment, continue hobbies, maintain personal independence, and keep up-to-date on vision news and research.
Adults with Vision Problems
If you are blind or have low vision and your vision loss is affecting your daily activities, self-esteem, and independence, you may be asking, "Is there anything I can do?"At The Heritage for The Blind,our team of qualified and experienced vision professionals provides free, practical, self-help information to help you learn more about vision loss and eye disorders.
The team also help you to find vision rehabilitation services, retain employment, continue your hobbies, maintain your personal independence, and learn more about the latest medical research.
Programs that Help
Did you know there are many govenment and non-profit agencies that provide an array of free or low cost benefits and assistance to the blind and visually impaired?Call The Heritage for The Blind and a counselor will assist you in getting these free or low cost benefits that can help you today.
The programs line is available Monday through Friday from 9:00am EST until 5:00pm EST reachable by calling: 1-888-225-5542
Heritage for the Blind Education Program
Heritage for the Blind now offers free online education courses for the blind and visually impaired community. Our program is designed to assist in learning popular computer programs such as Microsoft applications and basic computer training. Enrollment for this program is free.
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Ways to Give
Your generous support gives us the ability to provide resources and programs for the blind and visually impaired. Your gifts of financial support are an investment in providing others with the help they need.
With four donation options to choose from including:
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Protect Your Vision
WebMD Feature from "Redbook" Magazine
By Jennifer Nelson
How to keep your peepers in sharp shape.
You may think that losing your eyesight is something only your grandmother has to worry about, but the lifestyle choices you make now can directly affect your vision in the near future, says Joanna Fisher, M.D., chairperson of ophthalmology at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Philadelphia.
"Practicing just a few healthy habits can dramatically lower your risk of common eye conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disorder that causes blindness and affects 1.8 million Americans over age 40." Here's how to safeguard your vision for a brighter future.
1. Shield Your EyesWearing sunglasses can reduce your exposure to eye-damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays up to 18fold.
These rays speed the development of cataracts, an age-related clouding of the lens that affects vision, as well as AMD, a disease in which the gradual deterioration of light sensitive cells in the macula (the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail) leads to vision loss.
What's more, blue light, a portion of the light spectrum that makes the sky and water appear blue, can also damage eye cells.
Choose sunglasses with 99 to 100 percent UV protection, and opt for yellow or amber lenses, which filter out blue light. The best styles fit close to your eyes and wrap around the sides so rays can't leak through.
2. Kick Those Butts
Smokers are up to four times more likely to develop AMD than nonsmokers, and up to twice as likely to get cataracts. The reason: Toxins in cigarette smoke can enter your bloodstream and damage blood vessels in the eye, says Sheri Rowen, M.D.
Sheri Rowen is director of ophthalmology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Over time, these blood vessels weaken and won't function correctly. For help in quitting smoking, visit americanlegacy.org.
3. Give Your Contacts a Break
If you sleep in contacts that are for daytime use only or keep two week disposables around for a month, you're asking for trouble: Dirt and bacteria can become trapped between the contact and your eye, and cause irritation and infection.
"It's like wearing a condom and never taking it off," says Rowen. Yuck! It's fine to sleep in contacts designed for continuous wear for the doctor recommended number of nights. But your eyes need oxygen and rest, so remove contacts when you're supposed to (check the package for lens-specific instructions) and clean them properly to dodge vision problems.4. Keep an Eye on the Scale
Excess weight is linked to hypertension, high cholesterol, and inflammation, all of which can slow blood flow to the eyes, says Fishe
In fact, women with a body mass index a measure of body fat based on height and weight of over 30 have a higher risk of developing cataracts, according to a recent study.
The good news: Walking just 30 minutes a day, four times a week can help guard against all of these health concerns by improving circulation and aiding in weight loss.
5. Pick Up Some Produce
Women who ate three or more servings of fruit daily reduced their risk of AMD by 36 percent, according to an Archives of Ophthalmology study. Experts say this benefit is due to lutein and zeaxanthin.
These antioxidants, found in many fruits and veggies, absorb harmful UV rays in the eye and play a key role in maintaining optimal eye function. To load up on lutein, eat leafy greens such as spinach and kale; yellow corn, persimmons, and orange bell peppers are all high in zeaxanthin.
Dry Eye Relief
If your eyes feel so dry and itchy that it's hard to focus, you may have dry eye syndrome.
Everyday hormonal fluctuations, or those due to perimenopause or a thyroid condition, can cause dry eye or aggravate symptoms. Other culprits include taking antihistamines and prolonged computer use.
To combat dry eye, keep eyes lubricated with over the counter artificial tears. If hard work is to blame, take a five minute break from staring at your computer once an hour. And if none of these tactics help, see your doctor to determine the underlying cause.
Information on Eye Diseases & Disorders
National Eye Institute (NEI), of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducts and supports research. The NEI provides information on eye diseases and disorders and vision eye care. Topics are extensive and include information on:
What is diabetic eye disease?
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of diabetes. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.
In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision.
If you have diabetic retinopathy, at first you may not notice changes to your vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. The lens works much like a camera lens, focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye.
A cataract starts out small and at first has little effect on your vision. You may notice that your vision is blurred a little, like looking through a cloudy piece of glass or viewing an impressionist painting.
The type of cataract you have will affect exactly which symptoms you experience and how soon they will occur. If you think you have a cataract, see an eye doctor for an exam to find out for sure.
If you think you have a cataract, see an eye doctor for an exam to find out for sure.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
This information was developed by the National Eye Institute to help patients and their families search for general information about age-related macular degeneration.
An eye care professional who has examined the patient's eyes and is familiar with his or her medical history is the best person to answer specific questions.
What is age-related macular degeneration?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain.
In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.
AMD occurs in two forms: wet and dry.
Where is the macula?
The macula is located in the center of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The retina instantly converts light, or an image, into electrical impulses. The retina then sends these impulses, or nerve signals, to the brain.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can steal sight without warning or symptoms. Over three million Americans have it. Only half know.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases of the optic nerve involving loss of retinal ganglion cells in a characteristic pattern of optic neuropathy. Raised intraocular pressure is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma (above 22mmHg).
One person may develop nerve damage at a relatively low pressure, while another person may have high eye pressure for years and yet never develop damage. Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness.
A downloadable School Program for Grades 4-8 entitled VISION is part of a nationwide public education program designed to mark the 25th anniversary of the National Eye Institute, part of the Federal government’s National Institute of Health.
The curriculum supplements can be used by a teacher and/or a guest speaker. This could serve as an invaluable resource for your grandchildren to introduce as a worthwhile classroom activity
Elder Services
How to Find Services Specific to Older Persons
As you begin searching for vision-related rehabilitation services, it’s helpful to review the overall network of services for older adults.
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) develop, coordinate and provide local services that enable older adults to remain at home and in their communities:
Telephone reassurance - A phone system that calls the elderly at home to ensure their well being. This technology allows many seniors who would normally require home care or other types of assisted living to stay in their homes longer with the security that someone will be checking in on them on a regular basis.
If the phone is unanswered, an emergency procedure is implemented to check on the client's safety and to send help if necessary.
Homemaker/chore service - Finding a trustworthy and reliable person to aid and assisant in everyday living. There are numerous agencies that offer qualified home attendants to offer care and support.
Transportation - Many companies and agencies offer Acess-a-Ride, a service which picks up and delievers people who are able to step outside the home and take them to various places they need to go, such as doctors appointments, stores, etc.
Information and referral - A program of Community Services Council, which offers free information and referral line for health, human and community services.
Meals on Wheels - Meals on Wheels are programs that deliver meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. The name is often used to refer to home-delivered meals programs, not all of which are actually named "Meals on Wheels."
Because they are housebound, many of the recipients are the elderly; and disabled , and are unable to prepare their own meals. Surprisingly, many of the volunteers are also elderly but able-bodied, and deliever and distribute meals to those who need assistance.
Friendly visiting - Friendly Visiting creates lasting, meaningful relationships between seniors and volunteers, with regular friendly visits in person and over the phone isolated seniors experience improved physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as gain a more positive outlook.
Legal assistance - Legal services offices, also called legal aid offices, employ staff lawyers to provide legal help to poor clients. The lawyers are usually experts in the types of problems that poor clients most often encounter.
In addition to community-based legal help from legal aid and pro bono programs, some cities and states have other programs that give free legal help to clients who are elderly, disabled, members of the military, or in other special circumstances.
Case Management - Cast managementis an area of practice within severalhealthcare professions. Most case managers are nurses or social workers.
Senior Centers - Since multipurpose Senior Centers are playing an increasing role in assisting older Americans to achieve greater independence, by providing a gateway to the Aging Network and other services, information gleaned from these centers on their effectiveness is extremely important.
Senior centers are excellent sites for community-based health promotion activities, as well as a relaxed place to make new friends, and strengthen social networks.
Adult Day Care and Respite Services - Adult daycare is a wonderful, but often overlooked form of respite, beneficial to the caregiver as well as the participant. Adult daycare is an alternative to residentail placement and assisted livivg, and can keep families together longer.
A program that enables the participant to be at home in the evening and on weekends, while allowing the caregiver time to persue there own intrests and even maintain employment outside the home. Adult daycare still allows the caregiver to manage the care of there relative and also manage there own lives also.
While adult daycare is taking care of your relative in the day the caregiver can take care of themselves , at the end of the day both caregiver and there relative have more quality time together due to adult day care doing some of the daily care.
The national Eldercare Locator [link opens in new window] is a searchable database to help you find local agencies and resources that enable older adults to live independently in their home communities.
Legal Rights
Find more information about legal rights for the blind and people with low vision. Link to sites to learn more about laws in your state and which organizations are actively advocating for legislation to protect and extend rights for the visually impaired.
ADA Law
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The Americans with Disabilities Act: Questions and Answers
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Facts About the Americans with Disabilities Act
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles I and V
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title 29--Labor, Chapter XIV-EEOC, Part 1630--Regulations to implement ADA employment provisions
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Handbook
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title II Regulations: Public Services
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title II Highlights
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Common Questions About Title II of the ADA
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title III Regulations: Public Accommodations and Services Operated by Private Entities
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title III Highlights
Supreme Court Rulings
Job Accommodation Network consultants often get inquiries asking for information on Supreme Court rulings that address the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The links below provide information on these rulings.
This page is merely assimilated as a convenience to our users and does not indicate endorsement or provide interpretation.
Building, Housing, and Recreation Accessibility Guidelines
Building
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Accessibility Guidelines and Proposed ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS)
Accessibility Checklists:
Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) Checklist for Buildings and Facilities.
The Americans with Disabilities Act Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal, and Title III Checklist - Also available as a one page document in Microsoft Word format: IIIChecklist.doc
Heritage for the Blind recomends: State Accessibility Codes
Housing
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Fair Housing Act (HUD)
Recreation
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Summaries of Accessibility Guidelines for Recreation Facilities
ADA Technical Assistance Manuals
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title II
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title II, 1994 Supplement
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title III
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title III, 1994 Supplement
Other ADA Materials
Heritage for the Blind recomends: JAN's Employer's Practical Guide to Reasonable Accommodation Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: JAN's ADA Glossary
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Portal
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Accessibility Guideline Checklist
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Business Brief: Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Business Brief: Communicating with Guests who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hotels, Motels, and Other Places of Transient Lodging
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Guide for Local Governments: Making Community Emergency
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Information for Law Enforcement
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA "Sample" Policies
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Accessibility Benefits Older Workers
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Assistance at Self-Serve Gas Stations
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Cities and Counties: First Steps Toward Solving Common ADA Problems
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Commonly Asked Questions about Service Animals in Places of Business
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Common ADA Errors and Omissions in New Construction and Alterations
Heritage for the Blind recomends: First Response to Victims of Crime who have a Disability
Frequently Accessed EEOC Guidances
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Contingent Workers
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Definition of the Term Disability
Heritage for the Blind recomends: FMLA, ADA, and Title VII
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Instructions for Field Offices: Analyzing ADA Charges . . .
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Medical Examinations of Employees
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Preemployment Medical Inquiries
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Psychiatric Disabilities
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Supervisor Harassment
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Threshold Issues
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Workers' Compensation
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Guide for Places of Lodging: Serving Guests who are Blind or who have Low Vision
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Guide for Restaurants and Other Food Service Employers
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Primer for Small Businesses (EEOC)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Guide for Small Businesses (DOJ)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Questions and Answers: The ADA and Persons with HIV/AIDS
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Reaching Out to Customers with Disabilities: As a business owner or operator, or someone thinking about opening a business, you may have wondered what you have to do to comply with the ADA. This online course explains how the ADA applies to businesses in ten short lessons.
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Readily Achievable Barrier Removal and Van Accessible Parking
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Restriping Parking Lots: DOJ Business Brief
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Service Animals: DOJ Business Brief
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Small Employers and Reasonable Accommodation
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Tax Incentives (JAN Publication)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Tax Incentives Packet (DOJ Publication)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The ADA: Your Responsibilities as an Employer
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title III Checklist Also available as a one page document in Microsoft Word format: IIIChecklist.doc
Heritage for the Blind recomends: New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations: Cornell University ADABrochures These brochures are in Acrobat (PDF) format and require the free Acrobat Reader, available for Macintosh, DOS, Windows, or UNIX.
ADA Enforcement
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Enforcement
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Mediation: EEOC
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Contacting EEOC: Find Your Field Office
Heritage for the Blind recomends: EEOC: Filing A Charge
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Title II Complaint Form
Heritage for the Blind recomends: How to File a Title III Complaint
Heritage for the Blind recomends: ADA Mediation: DOJ
Multi Services
Link to sites with a broad set of resources and services for the blind and visually impaired.
Braille Institute offers services to help people with limited or no vision lead independent and enriched lives. We've been helping people with vision loss since 1919, and all of our programs are free of charge.
American Foundation for the Blind.
Provides services to and acts as an information clearinghouse for people who are blind or visually impaired and their families, professionals, organizations, schools, and corporations. Stimulates research and mounts program initiatives to improve services to blind or visually impaired people. Publishes a wide variety of professional, reference, and consumer books and videos.
Directory of Services for Blind and Visually Impaired People in the US and Canada
This Directory from The American Foundation for the Blind is available as a book and as an searchable online database. It includes:
- Information on more than 1,500 organizations, agencies, and product manufacturers
- State-by-state and province by province listings of organizations Descriptions of services, legislation and key agencies in the blindness field
- Expanded information on assistive products and their distributors
- Updated web site and e-mail addresses
National Association for Visually Handicapped (NAVH)
NAVH's mission is to help the "hard of seeing" worldwide cope with the psychological effects of visual impairment and to provide low vision services, visual aids and training to anyone in need of these services.
Low Vision Aids Catalog offers magnifiers, light bulbs, lamps, clocks and watches, writing aids, electronic devices, and other products.
Free Large Print Loan Library with over 9000 titles
NAVH's large print FREE-by-mail library offers over 9000 titles and is accessible to anyone in the United States.
Last year close to 20,000 requests were filled giving children, young adults and seniors the opportunity to benefit from the pleasure of the written word--a treasure for those who find it hard or impossible to read regular print.
NAVH assists clients in locating services and resources in their area, which are appropriate for the visually impaired. These services and resources include low vision services, eye care specialists, state agencies and nonprofits committed to serving the visually impaired, and emotional support services.
Some information on international services is also available. To find services and resources in your area, call NAVH at 1-888-205-5951.
In addition to providing rehabilitation, low vision and many other direct services The Lighthouse also produces visionconnection.org[link opens in new window], a one-stop, accessible resource on vision impairment and vision rehabilitation.
This is provided to people who are partially sighted or blind, the professionals who work with them, the family and friends who support them and anyone looking for the latest information on prevention, research and treatment.
The mission of Blindskills, Inc. is to disseminate resources and information to blind and visually impaired people and their families.
This mission is accomplished through its toll-free help line, Web site and a bi-monthly publication, DIALOGUE: A World of ideas for Visually Impaired People of All Ages, available in five formats.
Blindskills, Inc. provides a toll-free number that can be reached by anyone in the U.S. or Canada. The organization assisted 2200 callers in the last year alone.
Its books, CONNIE'S KITCHEN and JOB HUNTING RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH VISION IMPAIRMENTS are popular with visually impaired people, rehabilitation professionals and teachers.
Blindskills, Inc. hosts a monthly support group that meets in Salem. Staff members at Blindskills, Inc. also make presentations to service organizations, schools, retirement and senior centers and conferences for professionals and physicians in the field of vision impairment.
Education & Self-Studies
The following organizations can provide you with information about self-help and support groups in your area:
Services: Countless numbers of blind and sighted people benefit from these and other ACB services:
- Toll-free information and referral on all aspects of blindness
- Scholarship assistance to blind/visually impaired post-secondary students
- Public education and awareness training
- Support to consumer advocates and legal assistance on matters relating to blindness
- Leadership and legislative training
- Consulting with industry regarding employment of blind and visually impaired individuals
- Governmental monitoring, consultation and advocacy including the "Washington Connection," a national legislative hotline
- Annual national convention
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.
Local CCLVI affiliates are based in California, Delaware, New York, and Washington DC. For more information contact the head office in Washington DC (see below). You might also be interested in learning more about the CCLVI Journal, VISION ACCESS by, for, and about people with low vision.
Provides free self-study audiotapes that teach adaptive daily living skills to blind and visually impaired older adults. Subject areas include kitchen techniques, eating skills, indoor mobility and personal grooming.
"The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of information that exist. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a physical nuisance."
The NFB has affiliates in all fifty states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, and over seven hundred local chapters. The web site is a rich source of services, information, and products for independent living.
Sports Groups
There are several associations that serve the needs of blind and visually impaired people. Some of them sponsor competitions, or form local clubs, or offer training in sports including skiing, swimming, football, sailing, hiking, golf, archery, and just about any sport of interest to you.
These associations also have information on how equipment can be adapted for low vision or blindness, and tips on safe practices.
See some of the links below:
National Organizations
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
Searchable Databases
Heritage for the Blind recomends: HSA International (Handicapped Scuba Diving Association)
Sports Groups
Heritage for the Blind recomends: International Blind Sports Association
Heritage for the Blind recomends: United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped, Inc. (SABAH)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Ski for Light, Inc.
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The American Blind Bowling Association (ABBA)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The Ramblers Association (UK)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: Blind Sailing International
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The American Blind Golf Association (ABGA)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: The National Beep Baseball Association (NBBA)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: United States Blind Golf Association (USBGA)
Heritage for the Blind recomends: American Blind Skiing Foundation
How to Find Vision Rehabilitation Services in Your Area
The following organizations provide information on how to find vision rehabilitation services.
We welcome additional recommendations on how to find services for persons with visual impairment at the local level.
If you know of any other sites similar to the sites BlindLine, which covers New York State, or Prevent Blindness Northern California, please let us know. We’ll be pleased to add them to this site.
- American Foundation for the Blind: [link opens in new window]
The Foundation provides a ‘Where Can I Find…’ database of services in the USA and Canada. The data base includes extensive resources, including computer training, rehabilitation services, volunteer services, employment and job training, support groups, and many other helpful areas.
- Blindline NEW YORK: [link opens in new window]
Searchable database of New York State services lindlineSM is a fully accessible web site created by VISIONS ink opens in new window]in collaboration with the American Foundation for the Blind. [link opens in new window]
Blindline aims to provide direct access to a New York statewide database of organizations and services for people who are blind or visually impaired, their family members, counselors, and other professionals. The site is comprehensive and is regularly updated.
- Prevent Blindness Northern California: [link opens in new window]
An Affiliate of Prevent Blindness America, this organization is committed to “preventing blindness and preserving sight for all people of Northern California.”
The site provides a data base of resources on services and organizations relevant to people with vision impairment living in Northern California.
- VisionConnection: [link opens in new window]
Searchable database of services. VisionConnection has a section titled ‘Help Near You Locator’ [link opens in new window] which provides information about agencies in this country and overseas.
By entering your home address the VisionConnection database will locate the agency that is closest to your home.
(NAVH) assists clients in locating services and resources in their area, which are appropriate for the visually impaired.
These services and resources include low vision services, eye care specialists, state agencies and nonprofits committed to serving the visually impaired, and emotional support services.
Some information on international services is also available. To find services and resources in your area, call NAVH at 1-888-205-5951.