409 West St. Mary Boulevard
Lafayette, LA 70506
800-319-4444 (Toll free)
337-234-6492
232-4244 (Fax)
337-264-9259 (TDD/TTY)
www.affiliatedblind.org
E-mail: www.affiliatedblind.org/Email.php

The mission of Affiliated Blind of Louisiana (ABL) is to teach individuals who are blind and deaf-blind the skills that lead to independence, employment, and community integration. ABL is also a consumer organization which promotes the general welfare of the visually impaired, blind and deaf-blind, educates the public about blindness, and informs consumers of services available to them.

Programs and services include:

• Home and Personal Management
• Communications 
• Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
• Orientation and Mobility for Visually Impaired Wheelchair Users
• Low Vision Clinic
• Peer Counseling 
• Technology Training (Computers and Adaptive Equipment)
• Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation and Counseling
• Randolph-Sheppard Vending Stand Assessment 
• Job Readiness Training
• Job Development and Placement
• Residential Program
• Supervised Independent Living
• University Transition Program

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.

123 State Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
888-792-0162 (Toll free)
504-899-4501
www.lhb.org
E-mail: www.lhb.org/content.php?fcn=contactus

The Lighthouse is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting independence for people who are blind and visually impaired by providing programs that focus on economic opportunity and self-reliance. In addition to a core, modern manufacturing operation that employs people with vision impairments, the Lighthouse offers a range of independent living, competitive employment, and health related services:

• Adult Programs: Technology Training, Project Adjustment, Support Group, Social Services
• Children's Services
• Specialized Services: Information and Referral, Braille Transcription, Transportation
• Employment Services
• Low Vision Clinic

Steve D. Gill, O.D., FAAO
www.lsu-eye.lsuhsc.edu/lowvision

2820 Napoleon Ave, Suite 750
New Orleans, LA 70115
504-891-1116

1850 Gause Boulevard, Suite 303
Slidell, LA 70464
985-646-4428

The Lions/LSU Regional Low Vision Center is a collaborative effort between Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation, Lions Clubs International Foundation, and LSU Eye Center. Funding is made possible by grants from Lions Clubs International Foundation and local Lions Clubs.

1750 Claiborne Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71103
877-913-6471 (Toll free)
318-635-6471
318-635-8902 (Fax)
www.lablind.com
E-mail: labstore@lablind.com

Programs and services include:

• Adjustment and Orientation to Blindness
• Braille Instruction
• Orientation and Mobility Assessment and Training
• Low Vision Aids Loaner Closet
• Independent Living Skills
• Infant and Children's Program
• Living Independently for the Elderly (LIFE)
• Senior Connection
• Scholarships

101 South Trenton Street
Ruston, LA 71270
800-234-4166 (Toll free)
www.lcb-ruston.com
Office and contact information:
www.lcb-ruston.com/contactus.html

The Louisiana Center for the Blind provides residential orientation and adjustment training to legally blind adults. Students remain in training generally from six to nine months depending upon individual needs.

The full training curriculum includes braille, cane travel, keyboarding/computer literacy, home economics, industrial arts, independent living skills, job development and college placement, and GED/remedial education (if needed). All classes emphasize the development of self-confidence and a positive attitude toward blindness.

627 North Four Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
800-737-2958 (Toll free)
504-219-2225
504-219-2942 (Fax)
www.dss.state.la.us

Blind and Visually Impaired Services
Programs and services include:

• [link opens in a new window]Blind Services: Provides services to eligible individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program and the Older Blind/Visually Impaired Program are parts of Blind Services.
• Independent Living Program: Provides services to enable individuals with significant disabilities to function independently in the family or community.
• Louisiana Commission for the Deaf: Organized in 1980 to insure that Louisiana's public and private services are accessible to deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, and speech impaired citizens.
• Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund: Provides services in a flexible, individualized manner to Louisiana citizens who survive traumatic head or traumatic spinal cord injuries. The TH/SCI program enables individuals to return to a reasonable level of functioning and independent living in their communities.
• Vocational Rehabilitation Program: Provides a one-stop career development program to individuals with disabilities.

Terrell McGinn, O.D.
www.lowvision.org/termc.htm
E-mail: tmcginnod@charter.net

4324 Veterans Boulevard, Suite 104
Metairie, LA 70006
504-455-7619

1120 North Highway 190
Covington, LA 70433
985-893-5777

Comprehensive low vision services include:

• A thorough eye exam and patient evaluation
• An individualized rehabilitation treatment program
• Dispensing of assistive devices and equipment training
• Daily living and visual skills training
• Area resource and support group referrals
• Bioptic driving evaluations

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

230 Peach Tree Drive
West Monroe, LA 71291-8653
318-396-1853
www.viewinternational.org

View International is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3) with the mission of creating environments in which blind and sighted children and adults work and learn together.