New Jersey Program Information
What are the eligibility requirements?
- A person is eligible for services if he or she is VISUALLY IMPAIRED or LEGALLY BLIND with best correction and is experiencing problems in his or her life as a result of the vision loss.
- VISUALLY IMPAIRED means that an individual's vision is 20/70 or less in the better eye. (The person sees at 20 feet what a normally sighted person sees at 70 feet.)
- LEGALLY BLIND means that an individual's vision is 20/200 or less in the better eye. (The person sees at 20 feet what a normally sighted person sees at 200 feet.) Also, an individual is considered legally blind if he or she has a restricted visual field limited to 20 degrees or less. (The person sees 20 degrees of all the objects in his or her field of vision when a normally sighted person would see 180 degrees.)
What is the process for applying for services?
- To apply or refer someone for services, call our main office line or your local CBVI office. Please be prepared to provide the following information:
- Applicant's name and telephone number
- Applicant's address, including county of residence and zip code.
- Description of applicant's vision problem (optional)
- Description of services needed (optional)
- Name and address of eye doctor currently treating the vision problem. (optional)
What documentation is required?
We require your most recent eye report, within one year, that includes visual acuity and diagnosis.
Available services:
The goal of the New Jersey Commission Independent Living Program is to enable a blind or visually impaired person to lead a safe, efficient and productive life. Instruction in areas of orientation and mobility, activities of daily living, and eye health is designed to provide an opportunity for an individual to continue to live in an environment most comfortable for them, even regaining skills needed to return to the workforce.
Program contact information:
- Phone: 973-648-3333 or 877-685-8878
- Email: AskCBVI@dhs.nj.gov
- New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired