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Resources for Educational Vision Services

NYC Department of Education Resources

Educational Vision Services
Educational Vision Services (EVS) is the largest education program in the world serving students, ages 5 to 21, who are blind and visually impaired. It is an organization within the Department of Education, employing over 150 staffers who serve approximately 1,000 students throughout NYC. Educational Vision Services designs programs for children whose vision is so impaired that he or she cannot function in the classroom without assistive materials and adaptive approaches.

Other resources

American Action Fund (AAF) for Blind Children and Adults
This Baltimore-based agency specializes in providing blind people materials that are not readily available. The Tarzana, Calif., office houses a postage-free national lending library of braille and Twin Vision books for blind children. They also publish and distribute a weekly braille newspaper and calendars. 

American Council of the Blind (ACB)
A national consumer organization with local, state, and special interest affiliates who provide support, information, referrals and advocacy. 

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
The foundation provides comprehensive information on every aspect of blindness and visual impairment and a searchable database of nationwide services. 

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH)
The world’s largest company devoted solely to researching, developing, and manufacturing products for people who are blind and visually impaired. APH is the oldest organization of its kind in the United States. 

Association for Education and Rehabilitation (AER) of the Blind and Visually Impaired
A professional organization offering continuing education, publications, a Listserv, job postings and more. 

Bookshare
This initiative of Benetech, a nonprofit organization, allows a person with visual impairments, physical disabilities or severe learning disabilities to read a newspaper the same day that it hits the newsstand or a best seller as soon as it is released online.

Books Aloud
The Books Aloud “Reading by Listening” program provides a wide variety of free recorded literature to eligible individuals of all ages.

DB-LINK: National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness
This national technical assistance center, which is funded by the federal Department of Education, identifies, coordinates and disseminates free information about children from birth to 21 who are deaf-blind.

DIALOGUE Magazine
Each quarterly issue of DIALOGUE Magazine, from the nonprofit Blinds Skills, Inc., contains a wide range of subject matter and comes in four formats: cassette, 18-point print, braille and email.

Family Connect
Family Connect is an online, multimedia community created by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI). This site gives parents of visually impaired children a place to support each other, share stories and concerns, and link to local resources.

Hadley School for the Blind
A nonprofit, international, distance-education school that provides academic, personal enrichment, and compensatory or rehabilitation education through free home study courses for parents, family members, professionals, and paraprofessionals.

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC)
A national vocational and rehabilitation program exclusively serving youths and adults who are deaf-blind. Its mission is to enable each person who is deaf-blind to live and work in the community of his or her choice.

Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic)
Founded in 1948 as Recording for the Blind, Learning Ally creates and maintains over 80,000 audio recordings of textbooks, reference, and professional materials that are not available on tape or disc from other sources. Please note: There is a registration fee for this service.

Library of Congress National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
A network that provides free braille and recorded materials to individuals unable to read standard printed material. The Braille Development Section of NLS also offers a program leading to certification as a braille transcriber or proofreader.

Lighthouse Guild
A not-for-profit, non-sectarian agency that serves people of all ages who are visually impaired, blind, and multiply disabled. The Guild offers a broad range of programs that include: medical, vision, low vision, psychiatric and rehabilitative services, managed long-term care, residential services, day health programs, schools and educational training programs for independent living.

National Braille Association
The only national organization solely dedicated to the professional development of individuals who prepare and produce braille materials.

National Braille Press (NBP)
This organization provides practical information to enable people who are blind or visually impaired to be responsible and productive individuals. Categories include children’s braille literacy, computer access and self-help books.

National Camps for Blind Children — Christian Record Services
An international organization serving the blind and visually impaired in approximately 80 countries. It operates summer camps throughout North America for children and adults who are blind and visually impaired.

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
A national consumer organization with local and state chapters and special interest divisions that provide information, advocacy, and employment programs to help further the complete integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality.

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)
This organization is part of the National Federation of the Blind and focuses on the needs of parents and families. Here you can find resources to help children thrive at home, school and in the community.

New York Institute for Special Education
A private, nonprofit, nonsectarian education facility that provides programs for children who are blind or visually disabled. You can also find useful information on the Blindness Resource Center of its website.

Newsreel Magazine
This unique monthly, interactive audio magazine is created by, and for, the blind and is produced in the voices of its blind or visually impaired subscribers.

Perkins School for the Blind
A progressive, multi-faceted organization that trains staff of those programs that serve children who are multiply disabled. It also provides support services for parents.

Seedlings Braille Books for Children
A nonprofit organization that provides high quality, low-cost braille books for children at every level of development, from toddler board books to classic literature for older children.

Texas School for the Blind
This organization provides an extensive resources list for parents and professionals.

U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
This association enhances the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity. It offers training camps and competitions in swimming, track and field, wrestling, gymnastics, goalball, skiing, skating, power lifting, judo, and tandem cycling.

U.S. Department of Education: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
OSERS is committed to improving results and outcomes for people with disabilities of all ages. It provides a wide array of supports to parents and individuals, school districts, and states in three main areas: special education, vocational rehabilitation, and research.

Visions
Visions is a nonprofit rehabilitation and social services organization which has, as its goal, helping people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired to lead independent, active lives in their homes and communities.

WonderBaby.org
WonderBaby.org, a project funded by the Perkins School for the Blind, is dedicated to helping parents of young children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. Here you’ll find a database of articles written by parents about what they have learned through playing with and teaching a blind child. The organization also provides links to meaningful resources and ways to connect with other families.