7501 Prospect Street
Kansas City, MO 64132
816-421-5848
816-237-2019 (Fax)
www.alphapointe.org  
E-mail: sliptak@alphapointe.org  

Alphapointe is the only Comprehensive Vision Rehabilitation Center in the state of Missouri and has provided professional vision services since 1974. All instructional staff are degreed and appropriately credentialed professionals.

Services include:

• Counseling 
• Independent Living
• Written Language Skills
• Orientation & Mobility 
• Diabetes Management
• College Preparatory and GED Preparation
• Low Vision Services
• Senior Adult Services
• Work Adjustment Center
• Technology Instruction
• Vocational Services

Individuals who receive services come from all over the Midwest. Regardless of where you live, if you think that Alphapointe's services may meet your needs or the needs of someone you know with vision loss, please contact us to discuss possible arrangements.

1445 North Booneville Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
417-862-2781 x1240
www.blind.ag.org
E-mail: blind@ag.org

The Center provides a variety of services for people who are blind. The Whitney Library provides denominational materials in braille, cassette, and large print and maintains a cassette and braille lending library for the blind and physically handicapped which is available to all denominations.

1120 West 11th Street
P.O. Box 847
Lawrence, KS 66044
800-772-8898 (Toll free)
785-864-4600
785-864-5278 (Fax)
http://reader.ku.edu
E-mail: reader@ku.edu

The Kansas Audio-Reader Network is a reading and information service for blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled individuals in Kansas and western Missouri. Audio-Reader reads daily newspapers, magazines, and best-selling books on the air and on the internet, 24 hours a day, and offers automated newspaper readings by telephone. Services are offered free of charge to anyone in the listening area who is unable to read regular printed material.

1661 W. Elfindale Street
Springfield, MO 65807
417-831-0555
www.beisnervisionrehab.org

The Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Ozarks (VRCO) was established in 2010 as an independent, non-profit organization. VRCO offers comprehensive clinical evaluation by an optometrist trained in low vision, training in independent living skills and mobility, and a wide range of social services help patients locate vital assistance programs.

P.O. Box 378
Liberty, MO 64069-0378
800-522-4253
877-882-4253 (Fax)
www.braillebibles.org
E-mail: info@braillebibles.org

Provides Bibles in braille, large print, and audio formats.

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

Regional Low Vision Center
311 S. Shifferdecker Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801
417-623-5721
417-623-1968 (Fax)
www.jaforblind.org

The primary service area for the Joplin Association for the Blind and Regional Low Vision Resource Center is a 100-mile radius of Joplin, Missouri, serving the four-state areas of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Services include:

• Regional low vision center
• Children’s braille and large type lending library
• Joplin Service Club of the Blind
• Joplin Association of the Blind Support Groups
• Transportation
• Information and referral

10440 Trenton Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-1223
800-542-3697 (Toll free)
314-423-4333
314-423-0139 (Fax)
www.lhbindustries.com

The mission of the Lighthouse for the Blind is to assist individuals who are legally blind to maintain dignity and independence by making available employment, education, and support services.

Since 1940, the Lighthouse has supplied a variety of goods and services to the Federal Government. They currently operate two manufacturing facilities and run the Scott Air Force Base switchboard operation and have extensive lab facilities and an experienced technical staff that develops, formulates, and produces new products.

7550 Watson Road
St. Louis, MO 63119
888-215-2455 (Toll free)
314-918-0415
www.blindmission.org
E-mail: blind.mission@blindmission.org

The Lutheran Blind Mission Society (LBMS) encourages, trains, and support blind people and trains blind leaders and missionaries.

The Lutheran Library for the Blind has 4,000 braille, large print, and audiocassette religious tracts, publications, and religious education materials, which it loans free of charge.

The Eyes of the Macular Degeneration Community
3600 Blue Ridge Blvd.
Grandview, MO 64030
816-761-7080
www.mdsupport.org
E-mail: director@mdsupport.org

Find Transportation

Provides a transportation database and search function, information and publications on macular degeneration and medical advances, an Internet support group, extensive online resources, and a public awareness program to reach individuals who are without Internet access.

9541 Church Circle Drive
Belleville, IL 62223-1000
314-241-3400 Ext. 6444
618-394-6438 (Fax)
www.mindseyeradio.org

Since 1973, the Minds Eye Information Service in the St. Louis Metro Area has provided free and verbatim readings of over 100 magazines, newspapers, books, and retail ads to people who are unable to read convential print, due to blindness, low vision, or a physical disability, sic as Parkinson's Disease or paralysis.

5453 Chippewa
St. Louis, MO 63109
800-342-5632 (Toll free)
314-832-7172
314-832-7796 (Fax)
www.moblind.org
E-mail: dhuff@moblind.org Denny Huff, President

The purpose of Missouri Council of the Blind is to promote the general well-being of our members and legally blind people in Missouri, and to support or participate in other programs promoting the best interests of legally blind people everywhere.

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
P.O. Box 2320
615 Howerton Court
Jefferson City, MO 65102-2320
800-592-6004 (Toll free)
573-751-4249
573-751-4984 (Fax)
www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/rsb
E-mail: askrsb@dss.mo.gov   

The mission of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) is to create opportunities for eligible blind and visually impaired persons in order that they may attain personal and vocational success.

RSB provides services to people with varying degrees of visual impairment, ranging from those who cannot read regular print to those who are totally blind. These services are provided on the premise that with adequate preparation and reasonable accommodation, each blind or visually impaired person will be able to achieve his or her maximum potential in the home and community, in educational settings, and in employment.

3024 Dupont Circle
Jefferson City, MO 65109
877-222-8963 (Toll free)
573-751-3251
573-751-0881 (TDD)
http://vr.dese.mo.gov

Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Department of Ophthalmology
1755 South Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63104
800-SLU-FOR-U (800-758-3678) (Toll free)
314-256-3220
www.sluei.slu.edu  
E-mail: rennerj@slu.edu  

8770 Manchester Road
St Louis, MO 63144
314-968-9000
314-968-9003 (Fax)
www.slsbvi.org
E-mail: www.slsbvi.org/mail/mailsoc.aspx  

Founded in 1911 and organized for the purpose of carrying on programs in support of the prevention of blindness and for educational, benevolent, and charitable activities for, and on behalf of blind individuals, the Society currently serves more than 1,500 individuals annually.

Over the years, the programs and services have evolved to primarily serve older adults who are newly blind or visually impaired through community, home based, and agency services. Most recently, the Society has expanded into providing services to school age students in local school districts in Illinois and Missouri.

The Society is the only agency of its kind serving the Saint Louis area, and the second oldest of its kind west of the Mississippi River.

Adult Services include:

• Counseling and Community Referral
• Vision Rehabilitation Therapy
• Orientation and Mobility
• Low Vision Clinic and Services
• Braille and Communication Skills
• Adaptive Computer Technology
• Support Groups
• Adaptive Cooking Classes
• Leisure Activity and Recreation Groups
• Social Work Services
• Arts & Crafts Classes
• Descriptive Video Service Movies (DVS)

221 West Washington Avenue
Kirkwood, MO 63122
314-966-6034
314-966-5462 (Fax)
www.maryculverhome.com

The Mary Culver Home is a charitable, not-for-profit, nondenominational organization for legally blind women, which is licensed as a nursing home by the state of Missouri. Applicants must be either legally or totally blind, a resident of the state of Missouri, and Medicare eligible.

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

Mason Eye Institute
One Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65212
573-882-1027
573-882-1506 (Appointments)
www.muhealth.org/eye

Low Vision Services
www.muhealth.org/eye/lowvision.shtml 

8760 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63144
314-961-8235
314-968-9003 (Fax)
www.visionservealliance.org
E-mail: rmayros@visionservealliance.org

VisionServe Alliance is a collaboration of 100 nonprofit organizations that provide vision rehabilitation services and resources to people who are blind or visually impaired, including adult rehabilitation, dog guide schools, employment services, low vision clinics, sports and recreation, braille production, pre-school and school aged services, and computer and assistive technology. VisionServe Alliance provides referrals to local services, information, and resources for people with vision loss.

Low Vision Services
11188 Tesson Ferry Road
St. Louis, MO 63123
314-842-5070
314-842-2316 (Fax)
Web site