1629 K Street NW, Suite 950
Washington, DC 20006
800-840-8844 (Toll Free Voice/TTY)
202-457-0046 (Voice/TTY)
202-457-0473 (Fax)
www.aapd.com
E-mail contacts

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) organizes the disability community to be a powerful force for change – politically, socially, and economically – and recognizes the value of working in broad coalitions to foster unity, leadership, and impact. AAPD does not provide direct services to individual people with disabilities.

Blinded Veterans Association
477 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-2694
800-669-7079 (Toll free)
202-371-8880
202-371-8258 (Fax)
E-mail: bva@bva.org

The Blinded Veterans Association is an organization specifically established to promote the welfare of blinded veterans and offers many services to help veterans and their families meet the challenges of blindness.

BVA was and is the only veterans' service organization exclusively dedicated to serving America's blind and visually impaired veterans.

According to BVA, more than 100 service members have been blinded in Iraq and another 247 have lost vision in one eye.

Veterans don't have to lose their vision during military service to qualify for BVA assistance, and membership in BVA is not a prerequisite for any service.

Meet Tom Miller, Executive Director of the Blinded Veterans Association

www.clb.org 
E-mail: info@clb.org

Office locations:

1825 K Street, NW
Suite 1103
Washington, DC 20006
202-454-6400
202-454-6401 (Fax)

6200 Baltimore Avenue
Suite 100
Riverdale, MD 20737
240-737-5100
240-737-5101 (Fax)

8720 Georgia Avenue
Suite 210
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-589-0894
301-589-7281 (Fax)

Since 1900, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) has been dedicated to helping the blind or visually impaired population of the greater Washington region overcome the challenges of vision loss.

CLB provides programs and services to people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired, regardless of ability to pay. Programs and services include:

• Adaptive technology
• Professional and career services training
• Low vision services
• Rehabilitation
• Counseling
• Children's services
• Independent living
• Older adult programs

Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Local CCLVI affiliates are based in California, Delaware, New York, and Washington, DC. For more information, and to locate a low vision support group, contact the main office in Arlington, VA:

American Council of the Blind
2200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
800-424-8666 (Toll free)
202-467-5081
202-467-5085 (Fax)

1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
877-535-7575 (Toll free)
202-884-8441
www.familysupportclearinghouse.org
E-mail: familysupport@aed.org

The Family Support Center on Disabilities: Knowledge & Involvement Network was funded in 2008 by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They offer a centralized resource to individuals with disabilities, their families, and the public on the full range of options available.

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 Library of Congress
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
National office address:
1291 Taylor Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-707-5100
202-707-0744 (TDD)
202-707-0712 (Fax)

Find Braille and Talking Books

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, administers the Braille and Talking Book Library Service, a free program that loans recorded and braille books and magazines, music scores in braille and large print, and specially designed playback equipment to residents of the United States who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of visual or physical impairment.

Local cooperating libraries throughout the United States mail NLS audiobooks, magazines, audio equipment, braille books, and braille magazines directly to enrollees at no cost. If you or someone you know is interested in receiving Talking Books, please click here to fill out a request form. Talking books and magazines and braille publications are delivered to eligible borrowers by postage-free mail and through a network of cooperative libraries. Religious publications include: Bibles, Other Scriptures, Liturgies, and Hymnals in Special Media.

Search the NLS catalog for braille and talking books, braille and large print sheet music, digital books, maps, and more.

Update:

On March 1, 2007, the National Library Service announced that C-1 and E-1 cassette players would no longer be produced. This gradual phase-out of cassette technology will make way for the production and distribution of digital talking books and players.

During the digital transition, NLS will continue to circulate and repair cassette book machines through the year 2011 until the digital transition is complete.

1775 Church Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
202-234-1010
202-234-1020 (Fax)
www.youreyes.org
E-mail: mail@youreyes.org

Founded in 1936, the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington® (POB) is dedicated to the improvement and preservation of sight by providing services, education, advocacy and innovation.

POB screens nearly 8,000 children annually for vision loss and strabismus and 5,000 adults for glaucoma. POB also serves nearly 8,000 low-income and homeless persons at its eyeglass clinic. POB sponsors the Aging Eye Network, the Macular Degeneration Network, Stargardt's Network, support groups, and a monthly large print newsletter.

U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
800-USA-LEARN (800-872-5327)
800-437-0833 (TTY)
www.ed.gov

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is established by Congress as the principal federal agency authorized to carry out Titles I, III, VI and VII, as well as specified portions of Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. RSA provides national leadership for, and administration of

• Basic state and formula grant programs
• Independent living centers
• Service projects
• Rehabilitation training discretionary grant programs
• Randolph-Sheppard vending facilities
• Helen Keller National Center programs

These programs develop and implement comprehensive and coordinated programs of vocational rehabilitation, supported employment and independent living for individuals with disabilities, through services, training and economic opportunities, in order to maximize their employability, independence and integration into the workplace and the community.

RSA is responsible for the formulation, development and implementation of regulations, policies, and guidelines. RSA serves as a resource and clearinghouse of information for service providers at national, state and local levels in the development of national programs to reduce or eliminate social and environmental barriers experienced by persons with disabilities.

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

The International Organization on Arts and Disability
818 Connecticut Avenue. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
800-933-8721 (Toll free)
202-628-2800
202-737-0645 (TDD)
202-429-0868 (Fax)
www.vsarts.org
E-mail: info@vsarts.org

VSA is an international nonprofit organization founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities.