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.

University of Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development
129 West Third Street
Moscow, ID 83843
800-432-8324 (Toll free)
208-885-3557
208-885-3628 (Fax)
www.idahoat.org
E-mail: sueh@uidaho.edu

The Idaho Assistive Technology Project (IATP) is a federally funded program administered by the Center on Disabilities and Human Development at the University of Idaho. The goal of the IATP is to increase the availability of assistive technology devices and services for older persons and Idahoans with disabilities.

341 West Washington Street
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83702
800-542-8688 (Toll free)
208-334-3220
208-334-2963
www.icbvi.state.id.us  
E-mail and office contacts: www.icbvi.state.id.us/OFFICES.HTM

The Idaho Commission For the Blind And Visually Impaired (ICBVI) has six regional offices located in:

• Coeur D'Alene (Region 1)
• Lewiston (Region 2)
• Boise (Region 3)
• Twin Falls (Region 4)
• Pocatello (Region 5)
• Idaho Falls (Region 6)

The Mission of the Idaho Commission for the Blind is to empower persons who are blind or visually impaired by providing vocational rehabilitation training, skills training, and educational opportunities to achieve self-fulfillment through quality employment and independent living; to serve as a resource to families and employers; and to expand public awareness regarding the potential of all persons who are blind or visually impaired.

3380 Americana Terrace, Suite 120
Boise, ID 83706
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0007
877-471-2777 (Toll free)
208-334-3833
www.idahoaging.com
E-mail: senglesby@aging.idaho.gov

The Idaho Commission on Aging (ICOA) is the agency of state government responsible for carrying out the mandates of the Older Americans Act, as amended, and to distribute federal funds appropriated under the Act for a range of services addressing the needs of Idaho's 60+ population.

ICOA funds and oversees such services as congregate and home delivered meals, transportation, homemaker, and other supportive services.

ICOA also provides access to information on work opportunities for seniors, fulfilling both seniors' and business owners' needs.

Agency of the State Board of Education
650 West State Street, Room 150
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0096
208-334-3390
208-334-5305 (Fax)
www.state.id.us/idvr[link opens in new window]

70 North Latah Street
Boise, Idaho 83706
800-546-6889 (Toll free)
208-338-LION (5466)
208-38-6543 (Fax)
www.idaholions.org
E-mail: jay@idaholions.org

The Idaho-Eastern Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation was established in 1969 to encourage and promote sight and hearing conservation projects to the citizens of Southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon. The mission of the foundation is to be a humanitarian organization dedicated to serve our Idaho communities’ Lions clubs, and the world, as an outstanding quality provider of sight and hearing assistance.

Primary services include The Idaho Lions Eye Bank, the Lions Mobile Health Screening Unit, Diabetes Awareness, The Lions Hearing Aid Bank, and the Lions personal assistance fund.

Bryan Gerritsen, CLVT
439 East 3100 North
North Ogden, UT 84414
801-547-5903
www.lowvisionrehabservices.com
E-mail: bryangerritsen@comcast.net

Low Vision Rehabilitation Services is owned and operated by Bryan Gerritsen, Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT). Bryan works in conjunction with ophthalmologists and optometrists in 13 doctors' offices in most major cities in Utah and on a limited basis in Idaho. Services are offered under the direct supervision of ophthalmologists and optometrists.

Read our interview with Bryan Gerritsen about his work as a Certified Low Vision Therapist.

Elsie Lamp, President
300 Willard Avenue
Pocatello, ID 83201-4539
208-233-5833
www.nfbidaho.org
E-mail: elsielamp@yahoo.com

The National Federation of the Blind of Idaho advocates for children and adults of all ages. This includes developing and nurturing strong and informed relationships with both public and private schools and agencies responsible for providing services to the blind; seeking legislative solutions through cooperative ventures with our state representatives; and seeking private funding to support scholarships, work-study grants, and internships for promising students.

Mailing Address:
Sun Valley Adaptive Sports
P.O. Box 6791
Ketchum, ID 83340

Physical Address:
Sun Valley Adaptive Sports
120 2nd Avenue, Suite 207
Ketchum, ID 83340
208-726-9298
208-726-0957 (Fax)
www.svasp.org  
E-mail: tom@svasp.org  

Sun Valley Adaptive Sports (SVAS) offers programs for children, teens, adults, and veterans that cover a wide range of disabilities: physical, emotional, developmental, and learning.

Programs include alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, biking, running, martial arts, skeet shooting, fly-fishing, yoga, theater, swimming, and hot springs.

SVAS also offers a special skiing program for blind veterans who have been wounded in Iraq. All programs are free to participants.

325 West State Street
Boise, ID 83702
800-458-3271 (Toll free in Idaho only)
208-334-2150
208-334-4016 (Fax)
Web site
E-mail contact: http://libraries.idaho.gov/contact

The Idaho Talking Book Service provides books and magazines in cassette format for people unable to read standard printed material. All services are provided free of charge, including the mailing of reading materials and playback machines.

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.

Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Locations:
Use this feature to locate a VIST Program near you. 

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