Vision Loss Web Resources
The Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired is proud to be a member of the VisionServe Alliance, a national council of private agencies for the blind and visually impaired organized for charitable and educational purposes.
Whether you or someone you know has changing vision, there are local, state and national organizations which offer assistance and serve as useful resources. Resources include children services, senior services, education, employment and job training, reading and entertainment, faith-based, housing, legal, products and services, recreation, transportation, support and advocacy, and parental support and advocacy.
Vision and Health Care
State and Local
Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired
ABLE (Audio and Braille Literacy Enhancement)
Center for Deaf-Blind Persons, Inc.
Eye Institute Center for Prevention of Eye Disease
Milwaukee County Executive, Office for Persons with Disabilities
National Federation of the Blind – Wisconsin
Prevent Blindness Wisconsin
Wisconsin Council of the Blind
Wisconsin State Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired (OBVI)
National
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Council of the Blind
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
American Diabetes Association
American Foundation for the Blind
American Optometric Association
Disability.gov
Disability Resources, Inc.
EyeHelp
The Foundation Fighting Blindness
Lighthouse International
National Association for the Visually Handicapped
National Council of Private Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCPABVI)
National Federation of the Blind
OneSight
Prevent Blindness America
V. I. Guide
Children Services
Council for Exceptional Children
Family Village Library: Siblings of Persons with Disabilities
Mobility International USA
National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation
National Organization for Rare Disorders
Special Child
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
Senior Services
Aging Resource Center of Milwaukee
Elderlink
A central access point for information on & referrals to programs, services, and
benefits for older adults living in Milwaukee County. ElderLink makes referrals & provides assessments for Family Care, Elder Abuse Investigations, Caregiver Respite, and Energy Assistance. (414)289-6874, TTY: (414)289-8591
Interfaith Older Adult Programs
Education
American Education and Rehabilitation International
Access Technology Institute
The Hadley School for the Blind
Milwaukee Area Technical College
NorthCentral Technical College – Center for Students with Disabilities
Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Employment and Job Training
Adonai Employment
AFB Career Connect
Department of Workforce Development – Vocational Rehabilitation
Industries for the Blind, Milwaukee
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth
Wiscraft, Inc.
Reading and Entertainment
The Milwaukee Repertory Theater
The Rep offers programs in large print, audio description of the performance on audio tape, and, for selected performances of each play, full audio description using small ear pieces and radio transmitters. Call for the schedule of interpreted and audio-scheduled performances at 414-224-9490.
Newsline for the Blind
A 24-hour toll-free telephone newspaper reading service accessible from any touch-tone telephone. Three national papers, Chicago Tribune, New York Times and Washington Post, and three Wisconsin papers, the State Journal, Capital Times and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel are available. For information in Milwaukee, contact the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library at (414)286-3045.
Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library
The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
National Braille Press
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
Seedlings: Braille Books for Children
FREE Braille Books Program for Children
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults offers free Braille books to children who are blind. To apply for this program, please call (410)659-9314 ext. 2272.
Faith-Based
Aurora Audio Bibles for the Blind
Braille Bibles for the Blind
Catholic Charities of Milwaukee – Ministry to Persons with Disabilities
Christian Record Services for the Blind
Jewish Braille Institute
Lutheran Braille Workers
Lutheran Blind Mission
Spirit! Magazine
Housing
Hawley Ridge Apartments
State-of-the-art apartments that are designed for people living with changing vision.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Assisted Living Resource Guide
Legal
ABC for Health, Inc.
Nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to ensuring health care access for children and families, particularly those with special needs.
Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund, Inc.
Free legal advice and representation is given on civil matters to individuals or groups with low income.
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee The Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee provides free legal services to 8,000 of Milwaukee’s most vulnerable residents who are too poor to afford legal counsel.
Products and Services
Outlook Shoppe
Castaway Computers, Inc.
Refurbishes donated computer equipment and donates the computers to individuals, families, schools, and nonprofits.
Zerrecon, Inc.
An engineering consulting firm that has extensive experience providing ADA accommodations for people living with disabilities.
Enabling Technologies – A leading producer of braille embossers.
Electronic Vision Access Solutions (EVAS) / Dell
A leading provider of Accessible Plug & Play Computers, has teamed with Dell to create computers specifically designed for people who are visually, physically, hearing or learning disabled.
GWMicro – the maker of Windows Eyes
Kaplan Company – Early childhood education and learning products and resources.
Wisconsin Braille Inc.
Recreation
Blind Outdoor Leisure Development (BOLD)
Christian Record Services/National Camps for Blind Children
U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
Wisconsin Elks – Easter Seals Respite Center, Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Lions Camp
Wisconsin Blind Bowling Association – (414)615-0107
Transportation
Milwaukee County Transit System
Transit Plus
Serves people with a disability that prevents them from using ordinary mass transit facilities. (414)343-1700, TTY: (414)343-1704
Support and Advocacy
2-1-1 @ IMPACT
Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin, Inc.
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Helps people across Wisconsin gain access to services and opportunity through its advocacy and legal expertise.
Independence First
Advocacy and referral, adult day social/leisure programs, personal assistance services, benefits counseling, sports/leisure/recreation, assistive technology.
Midwest Association for the Blind
A statewide association composed of both blind and sighted members with regular meetings throughout the state. The Association provides social outlets for its membership and also supports issues pertaining to the general welfare of the blind. (414)615-0107
VisionAWARE
“Self-Help for Vision Loss” Web site that provides free, practical, hands-on information for adults with vision loss, their families and friends, caregivers, and related professionals.
Parental Support and Advocacy
Mothers United for Moral Support (MUMS) National Parent to Parent Network
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Wisconsin FACETS
Wisconsin First Step Hotline
Looking for Connections?
Consider checking out the BLIST, a comprehensive index of blindness-related e-mailing lists. Whether you’re looking for parent connections, teen connections, gardening tips or the latest info on cooking, there may be a connection for YOU. Log on to http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/blist.html for more information.