321 University Drive
P.O. Box 1830
Starkville, MS 39759
800-336-2232 (Toll free)
662-323-4999
www.careministries.org
E-mail: careministries@bellsouth.net

CARE Ministries, Inc. provides information, spiritual support, and community resources to people who are blind or visually impaired.

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.

The University of Southern Mississippi
Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
118 College Drive #5115
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
800-264-5135 (Toll free)
601-266-5135
601-266-4978 (Fax)
www.usm.edu/msdb
E-mail: deaf-blind@usm.edu

The mission of the Mississippi Deaf-Blind Project is to collaborate and coordinate with state agencies and organizations in order to provide family support and cost-effective technical assistance to families and service providers of children and young adults with deaf-blindness.

P.O. Box 1698
Jackson, MS 39215-1698
800-443-1000 (Toll free)
601-853-5100
601-853-5310 (Fax)
www.mdrs.state.ms.us

Independent Living Services and Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
www.mdrs.state.ms.us/client/ind_blind.asp
Contact information: www.mdrs.state.ms.us/offices/vrb_office.asp

The Independent Living Services Program provides services to assist legally blind individuals adjust to their blindness by becoming more able to care for their specific needs.

The eligibility criterion for the Older Blind Program is age 55+ and legal blindness. The Part B eligibility requirements are legal blindness, significant secondary disability, and any age. For both programs, gainful employment may not be feasible but independent living goals are feasible.

Services include:

• Recommendation and/or provision of appropriate and necessary aids and appliances, such as, talking clocks, writing guides, and low vision aids
• Referral to other agencies and services, such as Library Services, Radio Reading Services, and Bible on Tape
• Functional low vision assessments
• Independent living skills training
• Peer support groups
• Center-based training (Addie McBryde or REACH)
• Other appropriate services designed to assist with daily living activities
• Orientation and mobility training

2501 North West Street
P.O. Box 4417
Jackson, MS 39216-4417
866-859-4461 (Toll free)
601-984-3200
601-987-3892 (Fax)
www.msblind.org
E-mail: bcoy@msblind.org

The mission of Mississippi Industries for the Blind (MIB) is to train and provide jobs for individuals who are blind or visually impaired and willing and able to work so that they can become self-supporting members of the community. MIB is an equal opportunity employer.

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (RRTC)
108 Herbert - South, Room 150
Industrial Education Department Building
P.O. Drawer 6189
Mississippi State, MS 39762
662-325-2001
662-325-8989 (Fax)
662-325-2964 (Voice/TDD)
www.blind.msstate.edu
E-mail: rrtc@colled.msstate.edu

Find Vision Rehabilitation and Low Vision Information

The mission of the RRTC is to enhance employment and independent living outcomes for individuals who are blind or visually impaired through research, training, education, and dissemination.

The Information and Referral Resource Project provides information and network links by state on the following topics: low vision services, organizations, products, publications, radio reading services, rehabilitation and blindness resources, sports and recreation.

The Business Enterprise Program is a training and entrepreneurial program that teaches individuals who are blind or have low vision to manage and run businesses, most often vending operations, including snack bars and cafeterias in schools, corporate offices, and Federal and state facilities.

Project H.I.R.E. (Hip, Independent and Ready for Employment) is conducting empirical research on transition services that lead to competitive employment outcomes for transition-age individuals with blindness or other visual impairments.

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