If you would like to include other resources not listed here please contact the web master at the bottom of the page.
American Foundation For The Blind
The AFB promotes wide-ranging, systemic change by addressing the most critical issues facing the growing blind and visually impaired population—employment, independent living, literacy, and technology.
The Guild for the Blind serves individuals who are blind or visually impaired, including those with new vision loss. The Guild strives to promote positive attitudes about visual impairment and to assist its members in achieving dignity and independence at home, in the workplace and in the community.
Illinois
School For The Visually Impaired at Jacksonville
The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired is a statewide resource offering students with visual impairments quality services which will enable them to become personally productive and self-sufficient citizens. The role of ISVI is to provide students who are blind and visually impaired a free, comprehensive educational program commensurate with individual needs and abilities. The school provides students with instruction in the same course work required of all school-aged children in Illinois.
ISVI has a summer camp program. A press release regarding the 2007 program can be downloaded here in Microsoft Word format.
Louisiana Center For The Blind
The Louisiana Center for the Blind is committed to a strong, positive, constructive philosophy concerning blindness. Based upon the personal experience of thousands of blind persons, the Center believes that given proper training and opportunity, blind people can compete effectively and on terms of equality with their sighted counterparts in employment, in their communities, in their families, and in society in general. The Louisiana Center for the Blind provides residential orientation and adjustment training to legally blind adults. Students remain in training generally from six to nine months depending upon individual needs. The full training curriculum includes Braille, cane travel, keyboarding/computer literacy, home economics, industrial arts, independent living skills, seminar, job development and college placement, and GED/remedial education (if needed). All classes emphasize the development of self-confidence and a positive attitude toward blindness. On average, the Center services approximately thirty students in the general program.
The Louisiana Center offers 3 summer programs for Youth. Information on STEP program for teenagers can be found here. Information on the Buddy Program, grades four through eight, can be found here. Information regarding services available for infants and toddlers can be found here.
The Colorado Center For The Blind
The Colorado Center for the Blind, also known as the CCB, is a training center of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). It is located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Littleton, Colorado about 13 miles south of Denver. Training techniques and teaching methods are based on the positive philosophy of the NFB which states that, "with proper training and opportunity, blind people can compete on terms of equality with their sighted peers". Since its establishment in 1988, the CCB has provided innovative teaching techniques and philosophy that continues to have far-reaching effects on the lives of blind people taking them to new heights of independence. By providing comprehensive training, support and opportunities to blind persons and others in developing positive attitudes about blindness, the Colorado Center for the Blind empowers blind persons to live independent lives as fully integrated, productive and contributing members of society.
The Colorado Center has 3 summer youth programs. Initiation to Independence is for children ages 12 to 14. Information regarding this program can found here. Earn and Learn is a program for high school age teenagers, 15 and up. Information regarding this program can be found here. Summer For Success is a program for high school graduates and beyond. Information regarding this program can be found here.
BLIND, Incorporated was founded in 1986 by blind Minnesotans who believed that, given the proper training and opportunity, blind people can lead normal, independent, and fulfilled lives We believe that "blindness is respectable" and that with proper training, the average blind person can succeed in his or her chosen field and personal endeavors. We are affiliated with the National Federation of the Blind, which believes blind people are seeking the same goals as all Americans: independence, self-sufficiency and satisfying and gainful employment. BLIND, Inc. offers orientation-to-blindness training programs with a positive consumer-oriented approach We have based our programs on a wellness model. We assume that a person, blind or sighted, has dignity and is capable of making competent decisions. We encourage our students to believe in themselves and in their ability to live meaningful and productive lives.
BLIND, Inc. offers two summer youth programs. Information on the Buddy Program for children ages 9-13 is available here. Life 101 is a program for high school and college youth. Information regarding the program can be found here.
Chicago
Lighthouse For People Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired
Established in 1906, the Chicago Lighthouse is a not-for-profit agency committed to providing educational, clinical, vocational and rehabilitation services for children, youth and adults who are blind or visually impaired, including deaf-blind and multi-disabled.
The Hadley School For The Blind
The Hadley School for the Blind offers more than 90 distance education courses to eligible students completely free of charge. From “Braille Reading for Family Members” to “Birdsong Tutor,” you can select from a wide variety of Hadley courses. You can study in the comfort of your own home at a time convenient for you. Course materials arrive in the mail (a few are downloadable), and for students in the U.S. and Canada, instructors are just a toll-free call away.
Recordings For The Blind and Dyslexic
The nation's educational library for those with print disabilities.
National Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
(Library of Congress)
Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.
Illinois
State Library Talking Book and Braille Service
The TBS plays a supporting role for the Illinois Network of Libraries Serving the Blind andPhysically handicapped. The network consists of six library sites throughout the state known as Talking Book Centers.
Chicago Public Library
Talking Book Center
The Talking Book Center of Chicago under the auspices of the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service provides Chicago residents with visual or physical impairments a free library program from the Library of Congress.
Mid-Illinois Talking Book
Center
MITBC is a sub-regional library serving the blind and physically handicapped in all or part of 55 counties in central Illinois.
Southern Illinois Talking Book
Center
The Shawnee Library System is a multi-type system including school districts, public libraries, special libraries, and academic libraries. This diversity of members brings a rich and full body of experience from which all members benefit. Shawnee is a regional library system covering 32 counties in southern Illinois.
Voices of Vision Talking
Book Center
With access to over 50,000 books and 70 popular magazines, Voices of Vision provides service to the following counties of: DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Lake, Kankakee, Will, Kendall, McHenry, and portions of Cook County.
Click
Here To Order Your Talking Books Online If You Are An Illinois Patron
You must have a user ID and password. Contact your regional library to sign up to this service.
The Illinois State Library was created more than 150 years ago to serve the needs of state government. As the official library for state government, it has come a long way since 1839. Today, the State Library has become a computer-age doorway to worldwide information, providing patrons with an electronic bridge to the collections of universities, public and corporate libraries, and new information systems that will continue to develop into the 21st century and beyond.
Library Services In
The United States
This link provides phone numbers and information for Talking Book Centers for all fifty states and U.S. citizens living abroad
Library Services
International
This link provides information for Talking Book Centers around the world.
Check all of the happenings in Illinois and check your lottery tickets.
Rehabilitation
Services Administration (RSA)
The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) oversees formula and discretionary grant programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more independently through the provision of such supports as counseling, medical and psychological services, job training and other individualized services. RSA's major Title I formula grant program provides funds to state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to provide employment-related services for individuals with disabilities, giving priority to individuals who are significantly disabled.
Social Security Administration
Learn about SSA changes, order your statement of earnings online, change your address, change your financial institution for your SSA benefits and much much more.
Learn about Social Security's work incentives program for people with disabilities.
Health Benefits for Workers with
Disabilities
HBWD not only encourages enrollees to work, but to increase the number of hours they are currently working. Just as the name says, the program provides health benefits for workers with disabilities.
The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal
Learn about other government benefits - Now Includes Information on 48 State and 419 Federal Programs
Office of Rehabilitation Services
(ORS)
DHS, Office of Rehabilitation Services is the state’s lead agency serving individuals with disabilities. ORS works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to assist them in making informed choices to achieve full community participation through employment, education, and independent living opportunities.
Departments include: Audible Accessories, Bath Accessories, Canes and Accessories and much much more.
American Printing House For The Blind
"The world's largest source for adapted educational and daily living products - since 1858."
Welcome to Beyond Sight, the super store for the blind and visually impaired. This is a unique online store which includes computer software and hardware, software for talking cell phones, audio books, internet service, voice chat, free downloads, training classes and much more.
Braille Printing, Large Print, Audio Tape, and Braille Transcription Services. Braille Plus has been in continuous operation for the sole purpose of providing alternate format documents to print-disabled individuals since August 1992.
Low Vision Aids, Macular Degeneration Help, Video Magnifiers & Reading Aids for the Legally Blind and those with Low Vision Conditions
Ideal Jacobs-Screen Printing and Other
Manufacturing
Makes Braille and embossed labels and signs for the visually impaired.
We carry everything for the blind and visually impaired including canes, magnifiers, talking watches, talking clocks, large print books, Braille products, talking cooking gadgets and much, much more. Order easily through our online store and our low vision products will be conveniently delivered right to your door.
This is the source for Aids and Appliances from the National Center for the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland. Our online store is now available for taking orders to be shipped within the United States.
DVS provides A variety of services that help to make television, movies and more accessible for all.
Distributors of JAWS screen reader and Magic Screen Magnification programs as well as OpenBook Scanner Software, The PAC Mate and other software and hardware products.
The producers of Window-Eyes.
Welcome! National Braille Press promotes literacy as a bookseller and printer of fine Braille products.
This wonderful online store has Braille books for children, older readers, youth and adults. They also carry gift items and due Braille transcribing. The Braille Book Store understands The Importance of Braille Literacy.
American Action Fund for Blind Children and
Adults
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is a service agency which specializes in providing to blind people help which is not readily available to them from government programs or other existing service systems. The services of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults are planned especially to meet the needs of blind children, the elderly blind, and the deaf-blind.
Links to all departments and goings on in Chicago.
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
Get bus and train schedules, fares, rerouting schedules, station construction and other updates for the greater Chicago area.
When do we change our clocks? This is a great web site where you can research time changes around the world clear up to 2009.
This is a wonderful web site which includes Recipes, Household Helper, Points to Ponder, E-Pals, medical stuff and more.
Guide Dog Schools
Around The World
This is quite an extensive list.
This service uses data from the US Census and a supplementary list of cities around the world to find the latitude and longitude of two places, and then calculates the distance between them (as the crow flies in miles, kilometers and nautical miles).
This is a great resource for shareware programs and tutorials.
Narrative television Network
(NTN)
Opening the world of entertainment to blind and visually impaired people The Narrative Television Network makes movies and television programming accessible to blind and visually impaired people through narration, an "extra" voice added to the show to describe the visual elements of the story. You can also enjoy free narrated programming on the web RIGHT NOW.
A list and contact information for all NFB Training Centers.
A unique non-profit agency that brings together community resources, technology training and business leadership to assist people with disabilities to realize their career potential.
Yellow Pages, White Pages, Reverse Phone Book, People Finder, Phone Numbers Search.
This is a great web site to learn more about the world. It contains information like population, government structure, currency, Geography, Climate, and language of any particular country.
This site has been set up to assist the Visually Impaired computer user locate information and services relating to blindness. Included in this site are games, shareware programs, magazines and international newspapers.
The World Blind Union (WBU) is the only organization entitled to speak on behalf of blind and partially sighted persons of the world, representing 180 million blind and visually impaired persons from about 600 different organizations in 158 countries.
International Blind Sports Federation
National Beep Baseball Association
The International Paralympic Committee
United States Association of Blind Athletes
United States Blind Golf Association
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