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Rehabilitation and Education
New Skills for Daily Living
If you need to retrain yourself to find a job or if you have problems of mobility, personal hygiene, dressing yourself, eating and cooking, or communication, there are agencies that can help. This section begins with State services and then lists other providers of rehabilitation and education. Please also check the following link for State Financial resources.
See also Opportunities for the Blind and Computer Tutorial Programs for other training programs.
Access Compliance, Division of the State Architect
Office of Universal Design
1102 Q Street, Suite 5170, Sacramento CA 95814,
Telephone: (916) 322-4700 Fax: (916) 327-3371
TTY/TDD: (916) 650-0470
Website: http://www.dsa.dgs.ca.gov
Email: michael.mankin@dgs.ca.gov
Free / Low Income
Accessibility Regulations, California Certification of Access Specialists, Enforcement of CA Building code for state-funded construction.
Achromatopsia Network, The
P.O. Box 214, Berkeley CA 94701-0214,
Telephone: (510) 540-4700
Website: http://www.achromat.org
Email: oscar@sinewave.com
Resources for Managing with Limited Vision. Information, support network, and monthly newsletter concerning achromatopsia and related eye disorders which result in extreme light sensitivity, colorblindness, and reduced vision.
Adjustment to Blindness and Visual Impairment
Thought Provoker
CA
Website: http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
Email: Newmanrl@cox.net
Free / Low Income
Thought, discussion, education on issues of blindness.
Ageing and Disability Resource Center
CA
Telephone: (707) 464-7876
American Diabetes Association
1701 N Morgan St, Alexandria VA 22312,
Telephone: (800) 342-2383 Fax: (703) 549-6995
Website: http://www.diabetes.org
Email: AskADA@diabetes.org.
The American Diabetes Association funds research, publishes scientific findings, provides information and other services to people with diabetes, their families, health professionals and the public. The Association is also actively involved in advocating for scientific research and for the rights of people with diabetes.
Blind Babies Foundations
1841 Franklin Street, 11th Floor, Oakland CA 94612,
Telephone: (510) 446-2229 Fax: (510) 446-2262
Website: http://www.blindbabies.org
Email: bbfinfo@blindbabies.org
Free / Low Income
Families of infants and preschoolers (ages birth to sixth birthday) who are visually impaired/blind receive early intervention services in their homes. Consultation with ophthalmologists and schools. Family support and referrals. Serves the following counties: Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, San Mateo, Kings, Tulare, Solano. Please call main Oakland office for services in all locations.
Braille Through Remote Learning
online
Website: http://www.brl.org
Email: rpanoff@shodor.org, brlteach@brl.org
Online instructional program providing a series of three courses in braille and braille transcribing.
California Department of Education
Clearinghouse for Specialized Media and Technology, 1430 N Street, Suite 3207, Sacramento CA 95816,
Telephone: (916) 445-5103 Fax: (916) 323-9732
Website: http://csmt.cde.ca.gov
Free / Low Income
Provides specialized instructional material, aids and equipment to students with disabilities. Records textbooks for visually handicapped students, provides consultant services to school personnel serving visually handicapped students and conducts annual American Printing House for the Blind registration of California public and private schools. Publishes a list of California transcribers.
California Department of Social Services
Office of Services to the Blind (OSB), 744, Sacramento CA 95814,
Telephone: (916) 657-3327 Fax: (916) 653-4001
Website: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/PG83.htm
Email: tom.lee@dss.ca.gov
Provides information and training to promote knowledge about blindness. Administers the Assistance Dog Special Allowance program, which provides a monthly allowance for the care, maintenance and feeding of professionally trained, guide, signal, and service dogs to eligible recipients of Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP), or In Home Supportive Services.
California School for the Blind
500 Walnut Avenue, Fremont CA 94536,
Telephone: (510) 794-3800 Fax: (510) 794-3813
Website: http://www.csb-cde.ca.gov
Email: swiltenstein@csb-cde.ca.gov
A residential or day school for blind, partially blind, deaf and multi-disabled blind children from age 3 years through age 22. No fees.
California State Department of Education
Special Education Division
1430 N Street, Suite 2401, Sacramento CA 95814,
Telephone: (916) 327-0842 Fax: (916) 3273706
Website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/sr
Email: dkellehe@cde.ca.gov
Most visually impaired students attend local public schools with sighted peers. The Special Education Division provides technical assistance to parents, staff, and administrators regarding the education of visually impaired students, including an on-line directory of low incidence programs, services and resources (see web site Below) Financial support is provided to local education agencies for specially trained teachers of the visually impaired, orientation and mobility specialists, specialized books, equipment and materials, transcribing and other specialized services. Publishes Program Guidelines for Visually Impaired Individuals and other materials.
California State Department of Rehabilitation
Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2000 Evergreen Street, Sacramento CA 95815,
Telephone: (916) 263-8953 Fax: (916) 263-7478
Website: http://www.rehab.ca.gov
Email: blindinfo@dor.ca.gov
This Department is a key entry agency into the community service system for people with vision loss. Even if you are already employed or have no plans to go back to work, adults with vision loss (you do not need to be legally blind) may wish to phone and request that a counselor from the Department of Rehabilitation come to your home and provide services in teaching activities of daily living and independent travel modified for persons with vision problems. Other services offered by the counselor-teacher services of the Department of Rehabilitation include instruction in braille and typing. If you are out of work and want a job, this Department will help you with counseling, medical treatment (such as low vision assessments and, in some cases, low vision aids), job training and placement.
Eureka Assistive Technologies
Telephone: (707) 826-1312
Website: http://www.eurekaat.com
Individual computer and assistive technology training.
Eyecare America
Eyecare America, Glaucoma Project
P.O. Box 429098, San Francisco CA 94142-9098,
Telephone: (415) 447-0381
Website: http://www.eyecareamerica.org
Email: pubserv@aao.org
Free / Low Income
Free brochures, Interactive videos, Help finding fssistance with medications. Glaucoma Project: Individuals calling the line who are at risk for glaucoma, and who have not had an eye exam within the previous two years, will receive a referral to a volunteer ophthalmologist in their area; uninsured individuals at risk for glaucoma are provided a free examination and treatment, when necessary, for glaucoma.
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
14311 Astrodome Drive, Silver Spring MD 20906,
Telephone: (888) 858-1008
Website: http://www.gdui.org
Email: info@gdui.org
Free / Low Income
Membership, $15.00 a year, includes quarterly NLS 4-track cassette newsletter, Pawtracks. Free informational brochures on guide dog use.
Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
P.O. Box 151200, San Rafael CA 94915,
Telephone: (415) 499-4000 Fax: (415) 499-4035
Website: http://www.guidedogs.com
Email: information@guidedogs.com
Qualified blind men and women, over age 16, can receive guide dogs and in-residence training in the use of those dogs at no cost.
Hadley School for the Blind
700 Elm Street, Winnetka IL 60093,
Telephone: (800) 323-4238 Fax: (847) 446-0855
Website: http://www.hadley.edu
Email: info@hadley.edu
Hadley offers over 100 courses in four programs: Adult Continuing Education, High School Program, Family Education Program and Professional Education Program. It should be noted that select courses are available online in addition to braille, cassette and large print.
Hearing and Deafness Resource Center
Telephone: (415) 923-4485
Provides counseling, guidance, referals, education, materials, and technology.
Hearing and Speech Center of Northern California
1234 Divisadero Street, San Francisco CA 941115,
Telephone: (415)921-7658 Fax: (415) 921-2243
TTY/TDD: (415) 921-8990
Website: http://www.hearingspeech.org
Email: info@hearingsociety.org
The Hearing Society for the Bay Area merged with the San Francisco Hearing & Speech Center as of 7/1/2005. Audiology, hearing aid dispensing, speech/language pathology, mental health counseling, elementary & secondary school programs, guidance, referral information, outreach, and education people affected by hearing loss or deafness, or people who need help with speech and language. Services adapted for people with losses of both hearing and vision, and are offered to people of all ages. Some/or all Free Services, through City contracts other services covered with a sliding scale fee.
Howe Press of Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins Products
175 North Beacon Street,, Watertown MA 02472,
Telephone: (617) 924-3434 Fax: (617) 926-2027
Website: http://www.perkinsstore.org
Email: info@perkins.org
Sells the Perkins Brailler (manual or electric), braille paper, brailling slates, math aids, drawing kits, games, Early Literacy Program, tape players, Perkins Braille Writer, etc. on-line Catalog. have publications for teachers, programs for blind children, as well as programs for deaf-blind.
Lions Silicon Valley Center for the Blind and Sight-Impaired
101 North Bascom Avenue, San Jose CA 95128,
Telephone: 408) 295-4016 Fax: 408-295-1398
Website: http://www.visionbeyondsight.org
Email: info@visionbeyondsight.org
Free / Low Income
Demonstration and sale of low vision devices, daily living skills, computer training, braille materials, social and recreational programs.
Living Skills Center for the Visually Impaired
2430 Road 20, #B112, San Pablo CA 94806,
Telephone: (510) 234-4984 Fax: (510) 234-4986
Website: http://www.livingskillscenter.org/
Email: Patty@livingskillscenter.org
Services include training in daily living skills, mobility, technology, vocational skills, college success skills, and financial management in an independent apartment setting.
Macular Degeneration Support, Inc
MD Support
3600 Blue Ridge, Grandview MO 64030,
Telephone: (816) 761-7080 Fax: (816) 761-7080
Website: http://www.mdsupport.org
Email: director@mdsupport.org
Free / Low Income
Information and support for people affected by macular degeneration and related diseases or the retina.
Orientation Center for the Blind
400 Adams Street, Albany CA 94706-1197,
Telephone: (510) 559-1208 Fax: (510) 525-4922
Website: http://www.rehab.cahwnet.gov/ssd/drocb.htm
Email: mcole@rehab.cahwnet.gov
Free / Low Income
A residential rehabilitation facility with instruction in prevocational skills: Braille, independent travel, computer access, independent living, personal business, cooking, industrial arts, and sewing. Non-visual techniques are emphasized. To attend OCB, an individual must be a client of the California Department of Rehabilitation (call to find out how to get a referal). Length of stay averages seven months. No fees.
Outa Sight Group of Woodland, Inc.
OutA Sight Group, Inc.
131 Hays St. 95695, 2001 East St. 95776, Woodland CA ,
Telephone: 530 662 0535
Website: http://www.yololink.org
Email: lucbobtalk@sbcglobal.net
Free / Low Income
Serves the visually impaired and blind adult in Woodland and surrounding communities. Provides 2 self help groups and 1 Speaker Series group per month. Provides accessible computer training 6 x per month. Distributes free optical aids, has social events, involved with the community and much more. Volunteer-based organization for over 25 years.
Prevent Blindness America
211 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1700, Chicago IL 60606,
Telephone: (800) 331-2020 Fax: (847) 843-8458
Website: http://www.preventblindness.org
Email: info@preventblindness.org
Free / Low Income
Provide free vision screening tests you can print at home. Lobbying, Research, Education.
Prevent Blindness Northern California, Redding Branch
1430 Butte Street, Redding CA 96001,
Telephone: (530) 243-0410 Fax: (530) 243-0430
Website: http://www.eyeinfo.org
Email: msantos@eyeinfo.org
Opened in April 2000, Prevent Blindness in Redding offers all prevent blindness services to Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, and Trinity counties.
Project Inform
1375 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94103,
Telephone: (415) 558-8669 Fax: (415) 558-0684
Website: http://www.projectinform.org
Email: info@projectinform.org
Free / Low Income
Treatment information on all aspects of HIV/AIDS, including eye problems.
Veterans Affairs Central California Health Care System
2615 E. Clinton Avenue, Fresno CA 93703,
Telephone: (559) 225-6100 Ext 5052 Fax: (559) 228-5398
Website: http://www1.va.gov/directory/
Email: michelle.uren@med.va.gov
Services to all legally blind veterans, including rehabilitation training, adaptive sevices, support groups, information and a benefits review.
Western Blind Rehabilitation Center
3801 Miranda Avenue, Building 48, Palo Alto CA 94304,
Telephone: (650) 493-5000 Fax: (650) 852-3472
Provides rehabilitative services for legally blind veterans and members of the United States Armed Forces. Services include: ophthalmology; optometric low vision prescription and training; training in orientation and mobility; training in daily living skills; independent living program; family training; manual skills; computer access training; and provision of low vision aids and prosthetic devices.