Below is a partial list of organizations and agencies that might be of assistance to you and your family.
DARS: Division for Blind Services
The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services - Division for Blind Services (DBS) assists blind or visually impaired individuals and their families. Depending upon their goals and needs, DBS offers services to help regain independence or find a job.
DBS staff work in partnership with Texans who are blind or visually impaired to get high quality jobs, live independently, or help a child receive the training needed to be successful in school and beyond. DBS envisions a Texas where people who are blind or visually impaired enjoy the same opportunities as other Texans to pursue independence and employment, and our mission is to work in partnership with Texans who are blind or visually impaired to reach their goals.
DARS/Division for Blind Services
Transition Counselor
903-279-0970 Local
800-687-7042 Toll free
903-279-0992 Fax
www.dars.state.tx.us/index.shtml
Services include:
- Vocational Rehabilitation Program is designed for adults whose visual condition limits their ability to begin or continue work. As part of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, the Division for Blind Services has services for individuals who are deaf-blind.
- Business Enterprises of Texas program provides employment opportunities.
- Independent Living Rehabilitation Program assists adults who are blind or visually impaired to learn adaptive skills to continue to live independently with vision loss.
- Blind Children's Vocational Discovery and Development Program assists children who are blind or visually impaired to develop their individual potential. Emphasis is on restoring vision, reducing dependency, and preparing for vocational success.
- Transition Program, which is part of our Vocational Rehabilitation services, provides educational and career guidance for adolescents and young adults.
- Blindness Education, Screening and Treatment Program want to help Texans keep their vision healthy.
- Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center (CCRC), located in Austin, is a residential program that offers intensive vocational and independent living training to Texans who are blind.
National Institute on Aging
Building 31, Room 5C27
31 Center Drive, MSC 2292
Bethesda, MD 20892
NIA's mission is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans through research, and specifically, to:
- Support and conduct high-quality research on aging processes,
age-related diseases and special problems and needs of the aged. - Train and develop highly skilled research scientists from all population groups.
- Develop and maintain state-of-the-art resources to accelerate research progress.
- Disseminate information and communicate with the public and interested groups on health and research advances and on new directions for research.
Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.
1503 Allena Drive
San Antonio, TX 78213
210-366-4081 Local
Services include:
- To raise, train and give guide dogs to Texans who are visually impaired
- To enhance the visually impaired's mobility and independence
Prevent Blindness
211 West Wacker Dr., Ste. 1700
Chicago, IL 60606
800-331-2020
www.preventblindness.org
Services include:
- Vision screenings
- Education concerning better eye health and early detection of eye disease and prevention
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Tyler Rose Chapter
Geneva Whitemon, President
P O Box 8791
Tyler, TX 75711-8791
www.nfb-texas.org
Services include:
- NFB Newsline Texas
- Jobline
- NFB Bulletin Board
- Jernigan Institute
- Deaf-Blind Resources
National Industries for the Blind (NIB)
1310 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314-1691
703-310-0500 Local
www.nib.org
Services include:
- Enhancing the opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment.
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
11 Penn Plaza, Ste. 300
New York, NY 10001
800-AFB-LINE (232-5463)
Services include:
- Broadening access to technology
- Elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who service people with vision loss
- Promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The Vision Health Initiative (VHI)
4770 Buford Highway
Mail Stop K-10
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724
800-CDC-INFO Toll free
888-232-6348 Toll free
888-232-3422 TTY
770-488-1148 Fax
www.cdc.gov/diabetes
Services include:
- Promote vision health and quality of life for all populations, throughout all life stages, by preventing and controlling eye disease, eye injury, and vision loss resulting in disability.
Northeast Texas Public Health District
The Northeast Texas Public Health District has compiled 18 Emergency Preparedness Topics and formatted the information to be friendly to deaf, blind, and limited sight populations. The information is in video and downloadable document format for public use. There is No Charge for use of the materials posted on this website.Here is the link
