RESOURCES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

VIP Advocacy Letter to Physicians

Advocacy Letter for Visually Impaired Patients

WESTCHESTER COUNTY AND BEYOND

This is not by any means a comprehensive listing of resources for the blind and visually impaired in Westchester County, New York.  The information is listed as a possible source of information or assistance and does not signify any kind of recommendation or approval.  However, our members love to share information as they learn it and this is what we have so far. 

IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY

BEE-LINE PARA TRANSIT
914-995-7272
http://transportation.westchestergov.com/bee-line-paratransit
Shared ride service for which reservations must be made from one to seven days in advance. Mirrors  regular Bee-Line bus service. Taxi program available in certain Westchester cities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that individuals with disabilities who are unable to use accessible mass transit for some or all of their trips must be provided with paratransit.

GUIDE DOG USERS OF THE EMPIRE STATE (GDUES)
914-295-0450
http://www.gdues.org/
Promoting Advocacy and Independence for Guide Dog Teams in New York State. A  support for guide dog users throughout the State.  A chapter of American Council of the Blind of New York (ACBNY).  

GUIDING EYES FOR THE BLIND
611 Granite Springs Road
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
1-800-942-0149
https://www.guidingeyes.org/
Goal is to enrich the lives of blind and visually impaired men and woman by providing them with the freedom to travel safely. It is an internationally accredited, nonprofit guide dog school.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE (ITAV)
914.222.5116
https://itav.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=671428
Provides support and services to help seniors in Sleepy Hollow remain independent in their homes. Volunteers prove transportation for medical appointments, companionship, and help with technology.

NEW ROCHELLE CARES
PO Box 91
New Rochelle, NY 10804
(914) 563-8368
https://newrochellecares.org/
Neighbors helping neighbors.  A not-for-profit organization providing support for all New Rochelle residents 60+ who want to remain independent in the community they love. Support aging-in-community with programs services, social activities, and resources that foster peace of mind. Volunteers provide rides. Has planned activities and social events.

NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND
445 Hamilton Avenue, 5th Floor, Room 503
White Plains, NY 10601
Telephone: (914) 993-5370
http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cb/
Offers an array of programs to help individuals who are legally blind achieve economic self-sufficiency and full integration into society. NYSCB works closely with not-for-profit agencies for the blind throughout New York State to provide technical, educational and resource assistance such as job training, job placement, orientation & mobility, low vision exams

VISIONS SERVICES FOR THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED
135 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone: (646) 486-4444
http://www.visionsvcb.org/visions/
Offers some services in Westchester County.  Has Services for children, adults and seniors.  Employment and internship, short term residential training, residential vocational training for 18-21 years old, summer camp

WESTCHESTER COUNTY OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
148 Martine Ave.
Room 102
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 995-2957
http://disabled.westchestergov.com/
The Office for People with Disabilities provides assistance or directs you to resources.  Travel skills training program available. They also handle complaints for Westchester County Bee-Line Para Transit.

WESTCHESTER DISABLED ON THE MOVE, Inc. (WDOMI)
984 North Broadway
Yonkers, NY 10701
914-968-4717
www.wdom.org
A non-residential Independent Living Center that provides advocacy and services to people with disabilities. Services include Medicaid enrollment, benefits counseling, transition from nursing home to living in the community and housing referral.  Affordable insurance enrollment for all is provided by the NYS of Health Marketplace through the Affordable Care Act. Both staff and board are mostly people with disabilities. All services are free. 

WESTCHESTER INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER, Inc. (WILC)
10 County Center Road 2nd floor
White Plains, NY 10607
(914) 682-3926
https://www.wilc.org/
a non-residential peer-driven, community-based organization that empowers people with disabilities to lead self-directed lives in the community through advocacy, training and referral to resources that promote independent living. Has many services including for the deaf. transition from nursing home to community and support for those with traumatic brain injury. Provides information, advocacy, technical assistance, and trainings in Westchester and Putnam.

BEYOND WESTCHESTER (INCLUDING NEW YORK CITY)

 ACCESS-A-RIDE (AAR)
877-337-2017
http://web.mta.info/nyct/paratran/guide.htm#aarmetrocard
NYC’s equivalent to Westchester County’s Paratransit.  Operates 24/7, 365 days a year, throughout the five boroughs of NYC. A vehicle, specific to your needs, will pick you up and take you to your destination. As with Westchester County Paratransit the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that individuals with disabilities who are unable to use accessible mass transit for some or all of their trips must be provided with paratransit.

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (ACB)
2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
1-800-424-8666
http://www.acb.org/
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is a national advocacy organization for the blind and visually impaired founded in 1961 but many of its 70 state affiliates and local chapters have a history that can be traced back to the 1880s. Many of the founders were originally discontented members of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).  ACB is the parent organization of American Council of the Blind of New York (ACBNY). 

AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND (AFB)
2 Penn Plaza, Suite 1102
New York, NY 10121
1-800-232-5463
afbinfo@afb.net
Priorities include broadening access to technology, elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss, and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources.

ANDREW HEISKELL BRAILLE AND TALKING BOOK LIBRARY
40 W 20th St #1,
New York, NY 10011
(212) 206-5400
https://www.nypl.org/locations/heiskell
Provides braille and special format audio books and magazines for people who are physically unable to read standard print and live in New York City or Long Island, NY. Has many free programs open to all.

THE CARROLL CENTER FOR THE BLIND
770 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02458-2597
https://carroll.org/
Established In 1936.  Provides education, technology courses & other services for Students Who Are Visually Impaired.  Many youth programs and senior services.  Professional development training courses for teachers and specialist.

E.A.R.S. FOR EYES
232 East 82nd Street
New York, NY 10028
1-800-843-6816
http://www.earsforeyes.info/
Provides free of charge, audio lessons that teach adaptive daily living skills to the vision impaired and their caregivers. The lessons, modeled after current blind rehabilitation techniques, are a must for anyone coping with loss of eyesight. We are committed to teaching, each of the 1 out of 6 seniors who have developed limited vision, the skills necessary to continue living their lives with confidence and dignity.

FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS
(203) 912-5065
http://www.blindness.org/
The mission of the Foundation is to drive research providing preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by blinding retinal diseases. Has an annual fundraising run in Westchester County.  

HADLEY INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND
AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, Illinois 60093
800.323.4238
https://www.hadley.edu/
Creates personalized learning opportunities that empower people to thrive – at home, at work and in their communities. Hadley is the largest provider of distance education for people who are blind or visually impaired around the world, serving more than 10,000 students annually in all 50 states and in 100 countries. Hadley is also the largest educator of braille worldwide. A 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, Hadley relies on contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations to fund its programs.

INTANDEM CYCLING, INC.
PO Box 647
New York, NY 10021
(862) 621-6298
https://www.intandembike.org/
Here is an accessible opportunity to exercise and socialize. Have fun tandem cycling in NYC.  On the two seater bike you will be the stoker in the back seat and the rider in front is the captain. Call and ask to be matched to a sighted captain. Members are matched with riders of the same skill level.

 LIGHTHOUSE GUILD
15 West 65th Street
New York, NY 10023
800-284-4422
http://www.lighthouseguild.org/
Offers some services in Westchester County. Provides a spectrum of integrated vision + healthcare services helping people who are blind or visually impaired, including those with multiple disabilities or chronic medical conditions

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS (NAPVI)
P.O. Box 317
Watertown, MA 02471
Telephone: 1-800-562-6265
napvi@perkins.org
Network with parents through local and state affiliate community groups. Receive parent education through conferences, workshops, videos and publications at discounted membership rates

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
200 East Wells Street At Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
 (410) 659-9314
https://nfb.org/
The National Federation of the Blind is the largest organization of the blind in America. The ultimate purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is the complete integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality. Website is chockfull of resources and you can get a free white cane.

NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
518-474-5935
http://www.loc.gov/nls/
Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.

PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
617-924-3434
https://www.perkins.org/
America’s first school for the blind. Committed to improving the lives of the blind and deaf-blind. Has day and residential programs from infant to high school and transition programs and career preparation. Provides resources for parents and educators.

OTHER RESOURCES

 ADA INFORMATION LINE
800 – 514 – 0301 (voice)
800 – 514 – 0383 (TTY)
http://www.ada.gov/
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.