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ABLEDATA
Katherine Belknap, Assistant Project Director
Suite 930
8630 Fenton Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Toll-free:800-227-0216
Internet site: http://www.abledata.com
E-mail: abledata@macroint.com
This database of more than 20,000 commercially available rehabilitation products from more than 2,500 companies, includes personal care, therapeutic, recreation, sensory, educational, vocational, and transportation aids. The data base may be searched by calling the toll-free number and asking for a NARIC information specialist or via the ABLEINFORM bulletin board from a personal computer with a modem.
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
18440 Oxnard Street
Tarzana, CA 91356
Phone: 818-343-2022
Fax: 818-343-3219
Internet site:http://www.actionfund.org
Produces and distributes Twin Vision (print-Braille) books free of charge throughout the United States; a free Braille weekly news magazine, Hot Line to Deaf-Blind, for individuals who are deaf-blind; and free Braille calendars. Lends print-Braille and Braille books through the Kenneth Jernigan Library for Blind Children.
American Blind Skiing Foundation
Sammy Skobel
610 South William Street
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
Phone: 847-255-1739
This organization teaches people who are blind or legally blind to ski. Members participate in the national and international World Disabled Ski Championships. Memberships are available through the foundation. Information and referral to other ski associations for people with visual impairments are available. Instruction is provided for members only.
The Council has 20 special-interest affiliates. These include an organization for parents with visual impairments and parents of children with visual impairments; an organization of guide dog users; and vocationally oriented organizations for professionals who are blind (e.g., lawyers, information specialists, secretaries, and computer programmers). ACB's 51 state chapters monitor state laws affecting people who are blind. The Council operates The Washington Connection, a legislative hotline offering updated information at 800-424-8666 from 6 p.m. - 12 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Braille Forum, a free monthly magazine updating developments in legislation, education, technology, leisure activities, and employment is available in large print, Braille, DOS computer diskette or four-track cassette.
AFB was established to help people who are blind or who have visual impairment acquire improved rehabilitation services and education and employment opportunities and to aid those people in daily living activities. Directory of Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons in the United States and Canada is published by the Foundation. (The Library has a copy of this book.) AFB's M.C. Migel Memorial Library contains more than 37,000 books, periodicals, and other publications on blindness. Its services are available to lay and professional people who may borrow materials in person or by mail.
National organization for the production of literature and the manufacture of educational aids for blind and visually impaired persons. Through funds donated by the public, publishes Braille and talking book editions of the Reader's Digest.
Association for Macular Diseases, Inc.
210 East 64th Street
New York, NY 10021
Internet site: http://www.macula.org
E-mail: jdaly@aretinalresearech.org
Phone: 212-605-371
Fax: 212-605-3795
Provides information about toys, adaptive devices, educational materials, resources for people who are visually impaired and the impact of visual impairment on early childhood development. Makes referrals to early intervention programs, social service agencies, advocacy groups, and self-help organizations. Produces publications for sale.
This association is the only service organization exclusively devoted to serving men and women who are totally blind or have severe visual impairments who have served within the United States Armed Forces. Advocacy, assistance and fellowship are the goals of the organization. Direct services are based on the one-to-one principle that a veteran who is blind can most effectively motivate another veteran who is blind. Boa's Field Service Program is carried out by field representatives who visit veterans who have not been rehabilitated. They recommend rehabilitation centers, offer counseling in the areas of compensation, pensions, schooling, and the use of prosthetic aids and equipment, and counsel the veteran's family. The Outreach Employment Program convinces employers to give job opportunities to the veterans. BVA representatives assist the veteran by contacting prospective employers and helping him to prepare resume and job applications. BVA publishes a bimonthly newsletter, the BVA Bulletin.
C-CAD's mission is to enhance the quality of life and employment options of people with disabilities through the use of modified personal computers, adaptive devices, and custom software; to collect, catalog, and provide information about many existing products, and techniques and modifications already proven to be cost effective in reducing barriers to self-sufficiency.
Choice Magazine Listening
Dept. 12
P.O. Box 10 or 85 Channel Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Phone: 516-883-8280
Fax: 516-944-6849
Internet site: www.choicemagazinelistening.org
E-mail: choicemag@aol.com
Records a free bimonthly anthology of selected articles, fiction, and poetry from current periodicals. Distributed free of charge by individual subscription.
Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI)
Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind
Suite 1004
1155 15th St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
Toll-free: 800-733-2258
Internet site: http://www.cclvi.org
The basic purpose of this organization is to help people who are partially sighted to be more independent. Toward that goal, the objectives of CCLVI include establishing the right of partially sighted people to fully utilize remaining eyesight through aids, services and technology and establishing outreach programs to ensure accessibility of services. CCLVI is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. The quarterly newsletter Vision Access reports on resources, new developments, research, association conferences, and chapter news. The newsletter is available in large print, audiocassette, and on computer diskette. A nominal membership fee is charged.
A non-profit, volunteer organization which records and loans text books for students from elementary school through Ph.D. in the United States. Generally, two cassettes are sent within three weeks of receipt of the book for recording; and two cassettes are sent thereafter weekly until book is completed. The cost is an annual registration fee of $50.00 and cassette replacement cost is $2.50. Cassettes are recorded at 1-7/8 speed on two tracks. For further information, contact Mrs. Vivette Rifkin.
EIES Of New Jersey
Electronic Information and Education Services
59 Scotland Road
Orange, NJ 07079
Phone: 973-762-0552
Fax: 973-761-6879
E-mail: njeies@eiesofnj.org
Internet site: http://www.eiesofnj.org/
Provides daily newspapers via a special radio receiver or Telereader, a telephone access system. A twenty-five dollar donation is requested but not required.
Foundation Fighting Blindness
11435 Cronhill Drive
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Toll-free TTD: 800-683-5551
Voice Phone: 410-568-0150
TDD: 410-363-7139
Fax: 410-363-2393
Internet site: www.blindness.org
The Foundation is dedicated to finding the cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Usher's Syndrome and other allied inherited blinding diseases. The foundation supports research and provides education, information, resources, and support. The Young Adult Network is for individuals ages 16-35 with an inherited retinal degeneration.
Has publications on glaucoma that are available at no cost to all interested persons who write or telephone the foundation.
Provides academic and vocational education through free home study courses, including Braille reading and writing. Also offers courses for parents of blind children and families with visually impaired parents.
Jewish Guild for the Blind
15 West 65th Street
New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-769-6200
Fax: 212-769-6266
Internet site: www.jgb.org
JGB is a not-for-profit voluntary agency whose mission is to assist people who are blind and have visual impairments to achieve their optimum potential as members of society. JGB is the world's largest circulator of taped bestsellers and other recorded books.
Job Accommodations Network (JAN)
West Virgina University
PO Box 6080
Morgantown, WV 26506-6080
Toll-free: 800-526-7234 (V/TTY)
Phone: 304-293-7186
Internet site: www.jan.wvu.edu
E-mail:jan@jan.icdi.wvu.edu
JAN is an information network and consulting resource that enables qualified workers with disabilities to be hired or retained. It brings together information from many sources about practical ways of making accommodations for employees and applicants with disabilities.
Serves K-12 and college students with textbooks in Braille and on tape. Office hours: 9 am - 3 pm Monday through Thursday.
This society is a worldwide nonsectarian ministry in Christian literature and education. Quarterly publications in Braille, large print, and tape cassettes are available free on request to people who cannot see to read ordinary print. These resources are primarily for adults. Discovery is a publication for youth. The society also publishes a directory that lists Christian publications for people with vision impairments.
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