BLIND/VISUAL IMPAIRMENT ORGANIZATIONS--USA
See also "Eye Diseases"
New York State Commission For The Blind
866-871-3000
A State agency providing information, services, and funding for the visually impaired. They will pay for specialists, mobility equipment, communication devices, camp, etc.
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314
1800 Johnson St
Baltimore, MD 21230
Assistance for the visually impaired
For sales of low vision assistance aids, push option #4
Jewish Heritage for the Blind
347-673-1123, 718-338-4999
Publishes large print publications such as Jewish calendars, Siddurim, Machzorim, Megillas Esther, books, and other items. Braille childrens storybooks in various languages are available. They also offer a weekly email subscription to downloadable extra large print Shabbos Stories. Other services include a directory of resources, Bar Mitzvah training assistance for the blind, free Jewish burial plots for the disabled, and more.
Computer Sciences for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CSB-CARE)
Computer Assisted Reading For Education
718-837-4549
i
2132 84th St
Brooklyn, NY 11214
CSB CARE has pioneered dozens of new technologies to enable challenged Jews across the globe to learn Torah, Daven, and be independent, productive members of society. CSB CARE currently has over 1,500 clients benefiting from these innovations.
Their mission is to use modern technology to make Torah and Yahadus accessible to Jews suffering from blindness, ALS, Paralysis, Parkinson's, and other physical challenges.
Some of their products and services include:
1. multi-sensory Chumash/Rashi
2. Torah-view text enlarger system
3. Torah-Touch Braille display system
4. Large print Chumash/Rashi/Targum
5. Braille/print Chumash/Rashi
6. Scan-view learning system
7. Eye tracking communication
8. Touch panel communication
9. Zemanim hotline
Too Young For Glasses
Information and resources for parents struggling to teach their children how to wear eyeglasses or eye patching
Blindline
888-625-1616
A comprehensive information and referral service for people who are blind or visually impaired, their family members, caregivers and professional service providers.
Toll free number and website are linked to a NYS database of accessible products and serviced such as museums with audio and tactile exhibits, restaurants with Braille menus, local govt and social service offices, accessible libraries, recreational facilities and rehabilitation agencies.
American Council of the Blind
800-424-8666, 202-467-5081
1155 15th St NW
Suite 1001
Washington DC 20005
American Foundation for the Blind
800-232-5463, 212-502-7662 (TTY)
11 Penn Plaza
Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
800-548-4337
Lighthouse Center for Vision and Aging
800-334-5497
National Association for Parents of the Visually Impaired
800-562-6265
National Eye Research Foundation
800-621-2258
Prevent Blindness America
800-331-2020
Prevent Blindness America has launched a new online resource for people who have or want to learn more about age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The website, www.preventblindness.org/amd , offers a variety of tools and information including risk factors, treatment options and early warning signs. AMD is a serious eye disease that affects more than15 million Americans and is the leading cause of visual impairments among people ages 50 and older.
Braille Institute
800-272-4553
American Printing House for the Blind
800-223-1839
Library Reproduction Service
800-255-5002
Blind Children’s Center
800-222-3566, 323-664-2153
4120 Marathon St
Los Angeles, CA 90029-0159
Lighthouse International
800-829-0500 (V),
212-821-9713 (TTY)
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
800-562-6265
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
800-424-8567, 202-707-5100 (V), 202-707-0744 (TTY)
The Library of Congress
1291 Taylor St NW
Washington DC 20011
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
800-221-4792, 866-732-3585
The Anne T. Macdonald Center
20 Roszel Rd
Princeton, NJ 08540
The Foundation for Fighting Blindness
800-394-3937 (V),
800-683-5555 (TTY)
National Information Clearinghouse on Children who are Deaf/Blind (DB-LINK)
800-438-9376 (V),
800-854-7013 (TTY)
Eye Care America
800-222-3937
Association for the Visually Impaired
Services for the blind and visually impaired include:
- Social workers assist consumers through counseling and connecting them to community resources
- Rehabilitation teaching
- Orientation and mobility instruction
- Functional vision training for visually impaired children from birth to 5 years of age
- Employment placement services
- Technology resource center
- Support groups
- Volunteers to assist with ADL activities
Rockland County Office of AVI
Tel: 845-574-4950
Fax: 845-574-4944
260 Old Nyack Turnpike
Orange County Office of AVI
845-355-6119
130 Doson Ave
Suite 3-A
Middletown, NY 10940
Jewish Braille Institute International (formerly Jewish Braille Institute of America)
Tel: 212-889-2525, 800-433-1531
Fax: 212-689-3692
110 East 30th St
New York, NY 10016
An affiliate of the Library of Congress, this organization provides reading materials in Braille, large print and audio to disabled people around the world. Service is free of charge to those eligible. Books are recorded in English, Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, Romanian and Hungarian.
Their extensive collection contains both secular and Jewish interest books.
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic is the nation’s educational library for students with difficulty reading standard print due to a learning disability such as visual impairment, dyslexia, or other physical disability. RFB&D recently introduced Audio Access, a downloadable audio textbook that plays on Microsoft Windows Media Player and can be synchronized with most Windows-compatible portable media players.
Audio Access expands the choices RFB&D offers students with print disabilities.
Enrolled members can order the books they need, and can download them directly to their Microsoft Windows compatible computer.
For information on technical details and compatibility visit www.rfbd.org.
Guiding Eyes For The Blind
800-942-0149
Guiding Eyes For The Blind provides guide dogs, professional training, and follow up support services to blind and visually impaired individuals at no cost to them.
The Eye Cancer Foundation (formerly the Eye Care Foundation)
212-832-8170
115 East 61st Street
Suite 5 B
New York, New York
An organization providing information and support to people dealing with issues such as eye cancer, macular degeneration, and other related diseases. Their website contains valuable information such as a glossary, information on various conditions and treatments, and an international specialist list.