Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults
National Office Headquarters:
141 Middle Neck Road
Sands Point, NY 11050-1218
Switchboard hours: 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
516-944-8900 (Voice)
516-944-8908 (VP)
516-944-8637 (TTY)
516-944-7302 (Fax)
E-mail: hkncinfo@hknc.org

Regional Representative contact information: www.hknc.org/FieldServicesREGREPADD.htm

The Center provides services to youth and adults who are deaf-blind according to the definition of deaf-blindness in the Helen Keller Act. The national center in New York and regional offices that serve each state provide advocacy, support groups, information, and services to people who have both a vision and a hearing loss.

The mission of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC) is to enable each person who is deaf-blind to live and work in his or her community of choice. Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1967, the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults is a national rehabilitation program serving youth and adults who are deaf-blind.

90 Bridge Street, Suite 100
Westbrook, ME 04092
207-857-9001
207-857-9199 (Fax)
www.itnamerica.org
Send E-mail to ITNAmerica

ITNAmerica is a national non-profit organization that provides transportation to seniors and adults with visual impairments. ITNAmerica provides rides with door-through-door, arm-through-arm service and allows older people to trade their own cars to pay for rides and enables volunteer drivers to store transportation credits for their own future transportation needs.

ITNAmerica's affiliate communities include Charleston, SC; Chicago, IL; Portland, ME; Orlando, Sarasota, FL; Los Angeles, San Diego, Monterey CA; Lexington, KY; Enfield, Middlesex, Middletown, and Fairfield County, CT; the Quad Cities of IA; Cincinnati, OH; Las Vegas, NV; Racine, WI; St. Charles, Kansas City MO; Westchester County, NY; Boston, Framingham MA

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
150 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0150
800-698-4440 (Toll free)
888-755-0023 (Toll Free TTY)
207-287-5292 (Fax)
www.maine.gov/rehab/index.shtml

Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired
www.maine.gov/rehab/dbvi
Office locations and contacts: www.maine.gov/rehab/offices.shtml

Comprehensive services for visually impaired and blind persons of all ages include: 

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Business Enterprise Program
• Independent Living Services
• Education Services for Children
• Financial Services
• Real Estate Tax Exemption
• I.D. Cards for Individuals who are Visually Impaired and Blind
• Library Services
• State Rehabilitation Council

8 Sundance Lane
Newry, ME 04261
800-639-7770 (Toll free/TTY)
207-824-2440 (TTY/Voice)
207-824-0453 (Fax)
www.skimhs.org
E-mail: info@skimhs.org

Maine Handicapped Skiing (MHS) is the largest year-round adaptive recreation program in the state of Maine for adults and children with physical disabilities. Over 390 volunteers assist athletes in appreciating the joys and challenges of sports participation.

MHS provides over 3700 lessons during winter and summer, free of charge, thanks to the generous support of individuals, businesses, corporations and foundations that sustain MHS every year. Lessons include Alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, showshoeing, cycling, golf, and paddling.

From February 12-17, 2012, MHS will host the New England Blind and Visually Impaired Ski Festival at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort. Information and details are available at the New England Blind and Visually Impaired Ski Festival web site.

4 Bonnie Brae
Camden, ME 04856
207-542-4438
www.mindseyetravel.com
E-mail: info@mindseyetravel.com

Mind's Eye Travel creates tours and travel experiences for people who are blind or visually impaired. The price of a hosted trip includes sighted guide service. A minimum of six people is needed to provide a sighted guide.

189 Park Avenue
Portland, ME 04102
207-774-6273
207-774-0679 (Fax)
www.theiris.org  
E-mail: info@theiris.org  

The Iris Network is a statewide resource and catalyst for people who are visually impaired or blind so they can attain their determined level of independence and integration into the community.

Services include low vision, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, social work, radio reading service, and Iris Park Apartments.

Satellite offices are located in Bangor, Brewer, Ellsworth, Houlton, Lewiston, and Saco.

www.va.gov 
Contact the VA

The mission of the Veterans' Healthcare System (VHA) is to serve the needs of America's veterans by providing primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services. Approximately a quarter of the nation's population -- approximately 70 million people -- are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans.

Facilities Locator Home Page: 
Use this search feature to locate VA facility-related information quickly and accurately.

Fact Sheets about VA Services:
Use this search feature to locate VA News Releases and Fact Sheets on topics that include health care and benefits.

Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Veterans:
The mission of the VA Blind Rehabilitation Service is to coordinate a healthcare service delivery system that provides a continuum of care for blinded veterans extending from their home environment to the local VA facility and to the appropriate rehabilitation setting.

Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST):
The Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator serves as the initial contact person for getting help with vision loss. VIST Coordinators are located at local VA Medical Centers across the country. They work to ensure that veterans with visual impairments receive appropriate benefits and services.

The VIST Coordinator is a case manager who has major responsibility for the coordination of all services for legally blind veterans and their families. Duties include providing and/or arranging for the provision of appropriate treatment plans and programs in order to enhance a blinded veteran's functioning level.

Other duties include identifying new cases of blindness, providing professional counseling, resolving problems, arranging annual healthcare reviews, and conducting education programs relating to blindness.

Services for blind and visually impaired veterans include:

• Orientation and Mobility
• Independent Living Skills
• Manual Skills
• Visual Skills and Low Vision Services
• Computer Access Training
• Physical Conditioning
• Recreation
• Adjustment to Blindness
• Family Program