4574 W. Thorn Creek Street
Meridian, ID 83642
208-841-1296
208-401-0028 (Fax)
www.acutevisionproducts.com
E-mail: vincent@acutevisionproducts.com

ACUTE Vision Products is an authorized Humanware dealer and provider of low vision devices, including handheld electronic magnifiers, CCTVs, and text-to-voice technology, serving all of Idaho, Utah, and Montana.

ACUTE provides demonstrations, sales, and service to individuals, schools and independent living facilities, as well as group or individual demonstrations, training, and instruction. Bilingual English/Spanish.

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.

c/o Gail Brockbank
P.O. Box 465
Helena, MT 59624
800-823-2625 (Toll free)
406-442-9411
406-442-2346 (Fax)
www.montanashares.org/mab.html
E-mail: shares@montanashares.org

The mission of the Montana Association for the Blind is to promote the social and economic self-sufficiency of blind and low vision Montanans through the facilitation of quality education, learning, training, and employment services and opportunities, and to foster a positive understanding of blindness.

The Montana Association for the Blind has thirteen local chapters across the state. The organization sponsors an annual orientation and training program, The Summer Orientation Program for the Blind and Partially Sighted, and is a chartered affiliate of The National Federation of the Blind.

111 Sanders, Suite 307
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
877-296-1197 (Toll free)
406-444-2590 (Voice/TDD)
406-444-3632 (Fax)
www.dphhs.mt.gov/dsd/mvr.shtml

Blind and Low Vision Services
www.dphhs.mt.gov/vocrehab/blvs

Programs and services include:

• Vocational Rehabilitation Program
• Visual Medical Program
• Older Blind Program

2800 3rd Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
800-658-3500, ext. 3303 (Toll free)
605-718-2303
Dr. Karla Bucknall, Low Vision Specialist
www.thelowvisioncenter.com
E-mail: lowvisionstore@yahoo.com

The Low Vision Center in Rapid City, SD performs low vision exams and sends the results to your own eye doctor. They also do referrals for State and local agencies for financial help and have worked with individuals from Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska.

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