Time To Be Bold: Search For Services By State Below
Service by State or Territory
ALABAMA
OASIS Fact SheetOASIS Program Coordinator
Matthew Haynes
P.O. Box 19888
236 Goodwin Crest Drive,
Homewood, AL 35209
Tel. 205-290-4400
1-800-671-6837
FAX 205-290-1029
Matthew.haynes@rehab.alabama.gov
ALASKA
Department of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentDivision of Vocational Rehabilitation
OIB Grantees:
AMERICAN SAMOA
OIB Program Manager:Pete Poumele
Blind Services Coordinator
American Samoa Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
P.O. Box 4561
Pago Pago, AS 96799
011.684.699.1371
mataiau26@gmail.com
ARIZONA
Dr. Brian DuludeArizona @ Work
(480).549.8199
bdulude@azdes.gov
ARKANSAS
https://dws.arkansas.gov/services-for-the-blind/Referrals are welcome to use 501-682-5463 or 1-800-960-9270 to reach our receptionist as that number is manned 8-4:30 every day.
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
DELAWARE
Main phone: 302-255-9800DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Please note our agency has a centralized intake/outreach department. Since multiple programs receive a referral through the below contact phone numbers and website, individuals should request to be directed to our IL Specialist within the Sensory Unit for the older blind program.RSA Online Intake Application:
RSA Intake Form
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
Website: www.gvs.ga.govIDAHO
ILLINOIS
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
For general information contact Kevin Monk at 225-295-8952 or at kmonk@lwc.la.govMAINE
MARYLAND
"Changing Maryland for the Better"MASSACHUSETTS
www.mass.gov/mcbMINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
Statewide toll free number: 800-592-6004If you call this number, you are given further instructions to find the office you need.
https://dss.mo.gov/fsd/rsb/
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
Angie Hoff CVRCBOIB Program Director
Panhandle Office
308-641-5306
angie.hoff@nebraska.gov
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Commission for the Blindwww.cfb.state.nm.us
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind1-866-222-1546
NORTH DAKOTA
Aimee Volk1-800-755-2745
OKLAHOMA
SBVI Older Blind Independent Livinghttps://oklahoma.gov/okdrs/independence/sbvi/obil.html
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
651 Boas Street, 7th Floor Harrisburg, Pa 17121.Karen Walsh-Emma
570-704-9835
717-787-4885 TTY
866-830-7327 TTY*
Altoona covers the following counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Somerset, Union
Erie covers the following counties: Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, Warren
Harrisburg covers the following counties: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York.
Philadelphia covers the following counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia
Pittsburgh covers the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington, Westmoreland.
Wilkes-Barre covers the following counties: Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming.
PUERTO RICO
RHODE ISLAND
RI Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired40 Fountain Street, Providence, RI 02903
Providing Independent Living and Vocational Rehabilitation services statewide
Website: http://www.ors.ri.gov/SBVI.html
Referrals /inquiries accepted at Intake 401-462-7908
SOUTH CAROLINA
Nikki Green, Independent Services Program Lead(803) 898-8871
https://www.sccb.sc.gov/services/
SOUTH DAKOTA
Contact the Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI) in any of the following ways:- By phone: 605-773-4644 (Toll free: 800-265-9684)
- By email: InfoSBVI@state.sd.us
- By mail:
Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired
Hillsview Plaza, 3800 E. Highway 34
c/o 500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
TEXAS
Informational FlyerUTAH
VERMONT
Vermont Division for the Blind and Visually ImpairedHC 2 South, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2040
Phone Number: 888-405-5005 ext. 214
You can also make a referral from our main page at : https://www.vabvi.org/ - Referral sends your info to the Intake Specialist’s email address. Checked by office manager when specialist is off.
VIRGINIA
Dave FullerDirector of Rehabilitation Teaching and Independent Living Services
Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired
(804) 371-3140 or 800-622-2155
397 Azalea Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23227
dave.fuller@dbvi.virginia.gov
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VIRGIN ISLANDS
St. Croix Phone: 340-643-8145St. Thomas/St. John Office Phone: 340-774-0930
Ask for Office of Disabilities and Rehabilitation Services
WASHINGTON
Washington Department of Services for the BlindGeneral Phone Number: 800-552-7103
General Email Address: info@dsb.wa.gov
Independent Living Program (Washington Department of Services for the Blind older blind services, which is managed by the University of Washington)
Independent Living Program Coordinator: Sophie Watson
Email Address: wastsos@uw.edu
Phone Number: 206-543-3616
WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation ServicesTammy Murdock, Program Specialist,
Phone: 304-760-7180 or 1-800-642-3021
Website: wvdrs.org
Serve all counties in West Virginia.
WISCONSIN
Name of Agency: State of Wisconsin Office for the Blind and Visually ImpairedContact Information: Ann Sievert, Director
Phone Number: 888-879-0017
Website: dhsobvi@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Counties/Areas served: All counties in Wisconsin
WYOMING
Wyoming OIB Regional ContactsGUAM
Phone671-475-4200
FAX
671-475-4661
TTY
671-477-8642
HAWAII
State of Hawaii: Hoopono Services for the Blind / OIB ProgramPhone number to make referrals: (808) 586-5269
Hoopono Website: http://humanservices.hawaii.gov/vr/hoopono/about/
Services provided statewide
NEVADA
April Johnson, Rehabilitation Technician IIDETR
Bureau of Services to the Blind & Visually Impaired
3016 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 200
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: 702-486-0365
Fax: (702) 486-8823
arjohnson@detr.nv.gov
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Older Individuals who are Blind/Vision Impaired Program (OIB)Amy M. Clark
Program Coordinator, M.S., C.R.C
Amy.M.Clark@doe.nh.gov
Rick Wisler
Program Assistant
Ricky.A.Wisler@doe.nh.gov
New Hampshire Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Division of Workforce Innovation
New Hampshire Education Department
21 S. Fruit Street, Suite 20
Concord, NH 03301
Our general phone is: 603-271-3537 or 1-800-581-6881 (toll free)
Fax number: 603-271-3816.
Services for The Blind and Vision Impaired (SBVI) Program
New Hampshire Older Individuals who are Blind and Vision Impaired (OIB) Program
New Hampshire Older Individuals who are Blind and Vision Impaired (OIB) Program Fact Sheet
New Hampshire Services for Blind and Vision Impaired Fact Sheet
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impairedhttps://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cbvi/
The New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired was established in 1910 by order of the NJ State Legislature. This agency’s mission is to promote and provide services in the areas of education, employment, independence and eye health through informed choice and partnership with persons who are blind or visually impaired, their families and the community.
www.state.nj.us
General Number: 973-648-3333
Toll Free: 877-685-8878
Email: AskCBVI@dhs.nj.gov
MICHIGAN
Services often include training to help individuals with limited vision to do the following:
- Maximize the use of limited vision
- Learn to use devices such as magnifiers or other technology that help with reading printed materials
- Use computers and smartphones using accessibility features or assistive software
- Learn techniques to stay safe and organized in the home
- Travel safely and confidently in the community
- Connect with others experiencing vision loss
- Learn about other programs specific to vision loss
Find information on resources and national services that are available. If you have any difficulty using this site or would prefer to talk to someone in person, call the American Printing House Connect Center toll-free helpline at 1-800-232-5463.
Who is eligible for services?
Services are available to individuals who are 55 and older. Requirements vary by state and might include a medical eye report verifying conditions and the status of employment. We encourage all to seek out services.
Because we are the Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC), the links on this page are specific to individuals who are age 55 or older. In addition to the links found on this page, we encourage individuals with vision loss to inquire about potential services when they visit the eye doctor, including the Department Veterans Affairs (VA).
Resources
Each state and territory receives funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to provide independent living services to individuals age 55 and older with vision loss. These programs provide services for individuals who are younger and/or would like to maintain or return to work. When contacting your state services be sure to indicate if you would like to work as this will determine which program you are referred to.
Our Lessons for Living series gives helpful tips on navigating our world with blindness and low vision.
What are the costs of services?
While most services are provided free of charges, some do require a small cost. For example, when eye doctors provide services, charges will be submitted to medical insurance.
Who pays for adaptive devices? (adaptive services: services that provide reasonable accomodations)
While some states may assist or pay for adaptive devices, this is not guaranteed. If a device is not covered, you can search for other options to cover the cost of adaptive devices.
If the cost of devices are not covered, individuals might inquire as to other options for covering the cost of adaptive devices.
Other national services
Available to help you connect with local resources, learn adaptive skills, connect with others facing vision loss, and help you remain independent, despite your vision loss.
- Hadley offers practical help, connection, and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. Providing online, large print, braille, and audio media, Hadley serves nearly 150,000 individuals each year, reaching all 50 states and 100 countries.
- Well Connected, Covia is a community made up of participants, staff, facilitators, presenters, and other volunteers who care about each other and who value being connected. All groups are accessible by phone from wherever you are at no cost to you.
- Veterans Affairs (VA) services can connect veterans with vision rehabilitation services through a Vision Impairment Services Team (VIST) coordinator. Services can be provided in your home, at a 10-day in patient program, or through the 6-week inpatient program. For participants of services, all assistive devices are provided free of charge. (va.gov)
National Consumer Groups
- National Federation of the Blind (nfb.org) coordinates many programs, services, and resources to defend the rights of blind Americans, provides information and support to blind children and adults, and builds a community that creates a future full of opportunities.
- American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people.
- National Organization on Albinism and Hypopigmentation acts as a conduit for accurate and authoritative information about all aspects of living with albinism and to provide a place where people with albinism and their families in the U.S. and Canada can find acceptance, support, and fellowship.
- Blinded Veterans Association: aims to preserve and strengthen a spirit of fellowship among blinded veterans so that they may give mutual aid and assistance to one another.
Information and Referral
- Vision Serve Alliance: nonprofits throughout the United States that provide unique and specialized services to people who are blind or with severe vision loss.
- American Printing House (APH) Connect Center: Reliable, free information for all ages on virtually every aspect of vision loss. Free APH Connect Center helpline:
- 1-800-232-5463 or email connectcenter@aph.org.