Minnesota Program Information
What are the eligibility requirements?
Individuals must have a visual acuity of 20/60 in the best eye, with best correction, or a 20% or more field reduction.
What is the process for applying for services?
Minnesota does not have an application. To begin services, simply call or email and the person who serves your geographic area will be in touch to start services.
What documentation is required?
Minnesota does not require documentation.
What services are available?
We offer a full range of rehabilitation services catered to each individual’s needs. Each consumer receives a home visit at which time the consumer’s needs are discussed and a plan for independent living rehabilitation is started. The plan can include the provision of a wide variety of low vision adaptive aids such as magnifiers and talking devices, training in activities of daily living, training in technology, training on how to use a white cane and the provision of low vision/blindness technology.
Program contact information:
- Program Manager: Ed Lecher
- Phone: 651-539-2324
- Statewide Contact
- Phone: 651-539-2300
- Email: ssb.infor@state.mn.us
- Minnesota State Services for the Blind
Additional service information:
All services are provided to consumers at no cost and no part of the service is compulsory. We will offer a menu of options and consumers can decide with our staff how much they want or need particular offerings. We do not collect income information and we do not require one provide their Social Security Number. Close to 90% of the services are provided in the consumer’s home environment. The exception would be white cane training in the community.
Minnesota Contact Information by Region
Contact: Jenny Evenson
Phone: 507-514-1492
Counties Served: Big Stone, Swift, Chippewa, Lac Parle, Yellow Medicine, Renville, Lincoln, Redwood, Lyon, Pipestone, Murray, Rock and Nobles
Contact: Meghan Wendt
Phone: 507-317-4166
Counties Served: Sibley, Nicollet, Rice, Brown, Le Sueur, Waseca, Blue Earth, Watonwan, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin and Faribault
Contact: Angela Christle
Phone: 507-261-9542
Counties Served: Wabasha, Steele, Dodge, Olmsted (includes Rochester where the Mayo Clinic is), Winona, Freeborn, Mower, Fillmore, Houston
Contact: Rose Eastman
Phone: 651-539-2331
Counties Served: Goodhue, Dakota, Scott, Carver, McCleod, Meeker, Wright, Anoka, Isanti, Kanabec, Chisago, Washington, Ramsey (St Paul) and Hennepin (Minneapolis)
Contact: Barb Klein
Phone: 320-260-9511
Counties Served: Wadena, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Todd, Stearns, Kandiyohi, Benton and Sherburne
Contact: Lauren Eliason
Phone: 218-395-0245
Counties Served: Clay, Becker, Otter Tail, Wilkin, Traverse, Grant, Stevens, Douglas and Pope
Contact: Gina Bergeron
Phone: 651-341-7941
Counties Served: Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Koochiching, Beltrami, Cass, Hubbard, Clear Water, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk, Red Lake, Pennington and Marshall
Contact: Amy McClellan
Phone: 651-341-8845
Counties Served: Cook, Lake, St Louis (Duluth), Itasca, Aitkin, Carlton and Pine