Massachusetts Program Information
What are the eligibility requirements?
MCB's OIB Program provides services to residents of Massachusetts:
- Who are age 55 and older
- Who are legally blind
- Whose ability to function independently at home or in the community is substantially limited due to legal blindness
- For whom the delivery of independent living services will substantially improve their ability to function, continue functioning, or progress toward functioning independently in their home or community
What is the process for applying for services?
Your eye care provider must register you for services.
- All eye care providers must report within 30 days all cases of legal blindness to MCB.
- MCB will review each report and certify the determination of legal blindness.
- MCB's Blindness Registry will mail a letter of determination to the patient and the eye care provider.
- Once eligible, the patient will be assigned an MCB counselor.
- The MCB counselor will contact the newly registered consumer for a complete explanation of benefits, programs, and services.
What services are available?
Depending on the individual need, the following services may be provided by MCB's OIB Program to eligible consumers:
- Case management and advocacy
- Rehabilitation teaching, which includes independent living skills training, meal preparation, housekeeping, grooming, safety, and medication management
- Orientation and mobility training
- Low vision evaluations and devices
- Assistive technology and training
- Counseling on adjustment to blindness
- Information and referral to community resources
- Diabetes education
Program Contact Information:
- Program Manager: Karen Hatcher
- Phone: 617-626-7462
- Older Independent Blind Program
- Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
Peer Support Groups
MCB provides funding to the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) and Sight Loss Services to help host FREE peer support groups across the state.
- Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI)
- mabvi.org
- mabvi@mabcommunity.org
- Phone: 888-613-2777
- Sight Loss Services
- sightloss.org
- info@sightloss.org
- Phone: 508-394-3904
Massachusetts Program Brochure
Massachusetts Booklet of Services
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Community Update Video
This month we speak with the Director of the Older Independent Blind Program, Karen Hatcher. The OIB concentrates on the unmet needs of elders coping with limitations imposed upon them by legal blindness, advancing age, and social isolation, MCB’s OIB Program provides direct and purchased services to eligible consumers so they can live independently and confidently in their homes and communities.