Services Near You
Services Near You
Understanding the types of services for people with vision loss will help you to get connected. The services are commonly known as “Vision Rehabilitation” or “Independent Living Services” .
Your State's Services
Your Goals Matter.
Although services are frequently free, your access to services may be determined by whether you state a desire to maintain or gain employment.
Time To Be Bold connects adults over 55 years of age to Independent Living Services for Older individuals who Are Blind (OIB) in each state. These services are intended for people who do not have employment goals. However, you may acquire the desire to work part-time or full-time with the confidence that comes from learning skills for independence.
Federal funds are allotted to every state to support these services which include people with low vision. OIB services
- are for adults 55 years and older who do not currently have a goal of employment.
- focus on the skills needed to live independently and can look different from state to state in terms of eligibility requirements (for vision) and scope of services offered.
- Can give a person the confidence to explore employment and transfer to Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
These services are provided by each state, see above, to help adults with vision loss maintain or gain employment. You must say you wish to work in order to receive these services. It can be difficult to imagine working if you have recently lost your sight. However, the services will help you adjust to vision loss and gain the skills you need for employment.
How Vision Rehabilitation Services for Adults are Organized
Access to help for coping with vision impairment is available in all 50 states. However, each state is unique in terms of which organization or state-run department is responsible] for providing those services.
When looking for services and professionals, be aware that the word “blind” is often used to identify people with all levels of vision loss and may appear in the agency’s name. Ex “Lighthouse for the Blind”.
Each state has a department that is specifically for providing services to people with disabilities. Some states provide the services directly, using their own staff. Other states will contract with local non-profit agencies and other community organizations. It is not uncommon for services to be provided by a combination of service providers.
Many states have non-profit agencies that serve people with low vision and blindness. They may be limited to a specific geographic area or range of services or have much to offer. For example, agencies that provide guide dogs are national in scope but focus on the specific service of training people with vision impairment to use a guide dog for independent travel.
Veterans should first explore what is available through the Veterans Administration.
The VA offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical and vision rehabilitation services.
There is a national network of Centers for Independent Living (CILs). CILs are community-based, cross-disability, non-profit organizations that are designed and operated by people with disabilities. Each center is unique in that they operate according to a strict philosophy of consumer control, wherein people with all types of disabilities directly govern and staff the organization.