NJ - New Jersey Vision Services

800-792-8322
www.audiovision-nj.org [3]

Audiovision is the radio reading service of the New Jersey State Talking Book and Braille Center. It is intended for New Jerseyans who are unable to read standard print because of blindness or any other eligible print disability.

801 East Clements Bridge Road
Runnemede, NJ 08078
800-370-9560 (Toll free)
856-939-5220
856-939-5022 (Fax)
www.bestworkindustries.org [7]
E-mail: bestwork@bestworkindustries.org [8]

Bestwork Industries product line includes examination gloves, traffic safety clothing, industrial paper wipes, durable vinyl coated nylon cloth tool bags, reinforced construction worker aprons, military clothing for the Navy and the Army, numerous prime manufactured products, plus a variety of customer site services, such as warehouse and distribution management, 24/7 telephone switchboard operations, and high-volume order processing.

c/o First Methodist Church of Avalon
3344 Dune Drive
Avalon, NJ 08202
609-624-0931
No web site at present

The Blind Center of the Jersey Cape is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of blind and visually impaired people in the region, with four types of programs: music, exercise, crafts, and drama.

They are open 10:00-2:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

231 Clarksville Road, Suite 3
Princeton Junction, NJ 08550
866-797-5921 (Toll free)
609-799-0475 (Fax)
888-519-4694 (Support)
www.yourdolphin.com [13]
E-mail: info@dolphinusa.com [14]

Dolphin creates software solutions for people with visual and print impairments. Software products include SuperNova, Lunar, LunarPlus, Hal, Dolphin Pen, Sightsavers Pen, and Cicero. Alt format tools include EasyConverter, EasyProducer, EasyReader, Dolphin Publisher, and EasyTutor.

143 Gatto Lane
Pearl River, NY 10965
845-201-8113
845-201-8114 (Fax)
www.eyeassistllc.com [18]
E-mail: eyeassist@optonline.net [19]

Eye Assist supplies vision impaired individuals with aids for low vision that will assist in improving quality of life. Eye Assist is devoted to assisting people who are legally blind or visually impaired to remain independent with the help of ergonomic low vision aids that are reliable, innovative, and easy to use.

55 East 9th Street, Suite 9D
New York, NY 10003
646-202-1049
http://gatewave.org [24]
E-mail: info@gatewave.org [25]

Gatewave.org is a closed-circuit and internet radio reading service that broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to the tri-state area (NY, NJ, PA). Volunteer broadcasters read the content from over 100 newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Cat Fancy, Dog Fancy and People. Gatewave distributes its programming to listeners who cannot read standard printed materials because of a visual, learning, or physical disability.

Mr. Robert Fallar, President
Southern Ocean Medical Center
700 South Main Street
Mayetta, NJ 08092
609-494-1725
609-618-0842
E-mail: rfallar@aol.com [19]
No web site at present

The Hawkin Hawkeyes Vision Loss Support Group meets at the Southern Ocean Medical Center on the first Wednesday of each month, except for July and August.

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults [32]
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 [33]

Regional Representative contact information: www.hknc.org/FieldServicesREGREPADD.htm [34]

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.

New Jersey Medical School
90 Bergen Street
Newark, NJ 07103
973-972-2038
973-972-2068 (Fax)
www.umdnj.edu/eyeweb [88]
The Low Vision Center [89]

The Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science of the New Jersey Medical School is staffed by a team of nationally recognized physicians. The Institute offers comprehensive eye care to patients for a full spectrum of visual disorders and is a major provider of specialized ophthalmic care in the State of New Jersey. The Low Vision Center offers a full range of specialized services, including vision rehabilitation.

(Formerly Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic)
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
800-221-4792
609-987-8116
www.learningally.org [92]
E-mail: Custserv@LearningAlly.org [93]

Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic), a nonprofit volunteer organization, is an educational library that serves people who cannot effectively read standard print because of visual impairment, dyslexia, or other physical disability. Their stated mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing, and promoting the effective use of, accessible educational materials.

Errol Rummel, O.D., FAAO, FCOVD, FNORA
2206 West County Line Road
Jackson, NJ 08527
732-364-4111
www.lowvisioncarecenter.com [96]  
E-mail: rummeleyecare@aol.com [97]  

Joseph Ruffalo, President
254 Spruce Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
973-743-0075
www.nfbnj.org [100]
E-mail: nfbnj@yahoo.com [19]

The National Federation of the Blind is an organization of blind people whose purpose it to promote equal opportunity for the blind. The Federation works toward the removal of legal, economic, and societal barriers to full participation by blind people in employment, education, recreation, and all other aspects of community life.

549 Millburn Avenue
P.O. Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078
973-376-4903
973-376-3807 (Fax)
www.neweyesfortheneedy.org [103]

New Eyes for the Needy purchases new eyeglasses for poor children and adults in the United States and recycles donated glasses for distribution to people in need in developing nations worldwide.

c/o Camp Happiness
18 Burlington Avenue
Leonardo, NJ 07737
732-291-0878
www.njbca.org [106]
E-mail: doug@njbca.org [19]

The mission of the New Jersey Blind Citizens Association is to enhance the quality of life for the blind and visually impaired through education, socialization, and fostering an environment of hope and purpose.

Free programs and services include the following: Fine Arts, Computer Training, Fitness, Peer Support Group, Garden Club, Crochet Club, and a Lending Library.

The New Jersey Blind Citizens Association also publishes Vision Connection: A directory of resources for blind and visually impaired New Jersey residents [107], a free downloadable publication.

153 Franklin Corner Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648-2501
609-895-1048
www.njcounciloftheblind.org [110]
E-mail: njcounciloftheblind@verizon.net [19]

New Jersey Council of the Blind is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, with four chapters throughout New Jersey. The Council's goals are to increase the independence of people with visual impairments through education, networking, and mentoring.

Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
153 Halsey Street, 6th Floor
P.O. Box 47017
Newark, NJ 07101
973-648-3333
973-648-7364 (Fax)
www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cbvi [113]
Office and e-mail contacts: www.state.nj.us/humanservices/cbvi/facilities [114]

The mission of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired is to promote and provide services in the areas of education, employment, independence and eye health through informed choice and partnership with persons who are blind or visually impaired, their families and the community. 

135 East State Street
P.O. Box 398
Trenton, NJ 08625-0398
609-292-5987
609-292-8347
609-292-2919 (TDD)
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/dvrs/DVRIndex.html [118]

The New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) provides services that enable individuals with disabilities to find jobs or keep their existing jobs.

230 Diamond Spring Road
Denville, NJ 07834
973-627-0055
973-627-1622 (Fax)
www.njffb.org [121]
E-mail: info@njffb.org [122]  

The New Jersey Foundation for the Blind concentrates its services in the area of those 50 years or older, many of whom have lived most of their lives sighted and now, because of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and other causes, will live a decade or more with significant vision loss.

The goal of the Foundation is to assist people who have become visually impaired to regain their self-esteem and self-reliance.

Listing of the New Jersey Foundation for the Blind's 10-week courses:
www.njffb.org/programs.html [123]  

600 Deer Road, Suite 11
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
800-551-5011 (Toll free)
856-795-6307
800-678-0002 (Fax)
www.sightmart.com [126]
E-mail: sightmart2006@yahoo.com [127]

SightMart provides products for vision care, eye care, and independent living. Product selections include daily living devices, lighting, magnifiers, low vision devices, safety glasses, and solarshields. SightMart markets, sells, and ships orders from multiple suppliers to provide the widest selection and best brands under “one roof.”

Main office:
400 Chambers Avenue
Camden, NJ 08103
856-365-1811
http://sjeyecenter.org [131]

700 Browning Road, #11
Collingswood, NJ 08107
856-869-8702

512 Lakeland Road
Blackwood, NJ 08102
856-374-6078

801 East Clements Bridge Road
Runnemede, NJ 08078
856-365-2420

The South Jersey Eye Center has been providing vital eye care services to the residents of Camden City and surrounding South Jersey since 1961. The SJEC is the only freestanding nonprofit 501(c)(3) facility of its kind in the State of New Jersey completely dedicated to providing free and low cost eye care to to poor, low and moderate income, uninsured and underinsured and homeless residents.

The services of the South Jersey Eye Center are available to all families in the South Jersey area. Referrals are also accepted from school nurses, social, governmental and health care agencies, service clubs and private practitioners.

81 Ortley Court
Matawan, NJ 07747
888-290-1677 (Toll free)
732-290-1677
732-290-1688 (Fax)
www.swunlimitedllc.com [134]
Contact information [135]

SW Unlimited, LLC offers a wide range of adaptive products, including assistive tools; labeling and marking; large print; lighting; low vision products; magnification; players/recorders; radios; talking products; writing and reading aids.

107 Trimble Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
973-272-7667
973-272-7667 (Fax)
www.braillerdepot.com [138]
E-mail: info@braillerdepot.com [139]

The mission of the Brailler Depot is to provide braille and low vision solutions that are efficient, affordable, and easy to use. Products include embossers, braille displays, video magnifiers, reading machines, software, hand-held magnifiers, and Perkins braillers.

37 Clyde Road, Suite 104
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-568-0038
732-568-0041 (Fax)

125 Paterson Street, 4th Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-568-0038
732-568-0041 (Fax)
www.lowvisioncenter.com [143]
Contact information [144]

76 Leabrook Lane
Princeton, NJ 08540
215-357-7715
609-924-5207
Web site [147]
E-mail: rhbogia@aol.com [148]; Jamesaamick@aol.com [149]

The Princeton Braillists are creators of tactile maps and drawings for the blind. Their maps and drawings are created by hand in metal foil, then duplicated by the Thermoform process to make clear, sharp copies.

The 11 x 11 ½ inch plastic sheets are bound into volumes with cardboard covers and a spiral plastic binder. A wide range of maps and atlases are available.

www.va.gov [152] 
Contact the VA [153]

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 [154]: 
Use this search feature to locate VA facility-related information quickly and accurately.

Fact Sheets about VA Services [155]:
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 [156]:
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) [157]:
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

Rev. Robert O. Gramling, President
P.O. Box 193
Menonah, NJ 08090
609-239-5366
www.viscop.org [161]
E-mail contact [162]

VISCOP (Visually Impaired and Sighted COPartners) has been in operation for over 30 years. Since its beginning, the organization has been serving the blind and visually impaired with activities that include crafts, braille, singing, field trips, and support groups. The organization has a distinctly Christian spiritual flavor and basis, which is part of its very fiber.