Blindness & Visual Impairment Related Organizations
American Council of the
Blind
1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
(800) 424-8666
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people by: serving as a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people.
American Foundation for the
Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
(800) 232-5463
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's 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. AFB's work in these areas is supported by the strong presence the organization maintains in Washington, DC, ensuring the rights and interests of people with vision loss are represented in our nation's public policies.
Associated Services for the Blind (ASB)
919 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 627-0600
Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired, serving Philadelphia's and the nation's blind and visually impaired population since 1874. Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ASB), a private non-profit organization, promotes self-esteem, independence and self-determination in people who are blind or visually impaired. ASB accomplishes this by providing support through education, training and resources, as well as through community action and public education, serving as a voice and advocate for the rights of all people who are blind or visually impaired.
The Association of Blind Piano Tuners exists to serve the professional and particular needs of it 's members, as well as other Blind and Partially Sighted piano tuners throughout the world. There are three categories of membership:
- Member
- Associate Member
- Student Members.
The Association of Blind Piano Tuners seeks to encourage all tuners to gain and maintain the highest professional standards and to exhibit ethical and professional integrity at all times. They endeavor to offer ongoing training to those who wish to gain these levels of ability — even though they are not members of the Association, yet. They strive to do this by running subsidized seminar's for fully sighted and visually impaired tuners; in close collaboration with the Royal National College for the Blind, Piano Tuning Department, Hereford, England. Moreover, they maintain close links with all of the professional bodies of the music industry and with piano tuning organizations worldwide.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
National Office
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, ON M4G 3E8 Canada
(416) 486-2500
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) is a national voluntary agency providing services to individuals across Canada to whom loss of vision is a central problem in personal and social adjustment. The CNIB also acts as a consultant and resource agency to the helping professions, government departments and private industry. The basic aim of the CNIB is to help blind and visually impaired people find ways to lead satisfying lives. Underlying all CNIB services and actions is the belief that blind or visually impaired individuals can be integrated into the mainstream of community life, according to their ability to function within that community.
Minnesota State Services for the Blind
2200 University Avenue West, Suite 240
St. Paul, MN 55114-1840
(651) 642-0500 (Voice)
(651) 642-0506 (TTY)
State Services for the Blind (SSB) is a branch within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. It is funded by Federal, State and private dollars. State Services for the Blind believes that blindness should never stop people from obtaining jobs, participating in training, or in any activities which reflect their potential and interests. Their mission is to foster the achievement of vocational and personal independence by persons of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. Their services are available to anyone in Minnesota who has a vision loss that creates a barrier to their vocational or personal independence.
National Association for Visually Handicapped
22 West 21st Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010
(212) 889-3141 or 255-2804
The National Association for Visually Handicapped (NAVH) works with millions of people worldwide dealing with the difficulties of vision impairment. Their web site is not just for persons with visual impairments but for those with family and friends that need everything from large print books to the latest on their particular condition. Recognized by the American Medical Association, NAVH's dream is to make everyone aware of the differences between vision impairment and blindness.
National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314
The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is two-fold—to help blind persons achieve self-confidence and self-respect and to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind. By providing public education about blindness; information and referral services; scholarships, literature and publications about blindness; aids, appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind; advocacy services and protection of civil rights; development and evaluation of technology; support for blind persons and their families; members of the NFB strive to educate the public that the blind are normal individuals who can compete on terms of equality.
Prevent Blindness America
211 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1700
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(800) 331-2020
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving
sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year.
- Screening: They check the eyes of millions of children and adults each year.
- Advocacy: They work with government officials at the state, local and national levels - building grassroots advocacy movements that will improve our nation's public health policies.
- Support for Groundbreaking Vision Research: They support the work of scientists who will find tomorrow's cures for the eye diseases that threaten Americans with vision loss and blindness.
- Training: They train and certify adult and children's vision screeners and screening instructors through the only national program of its kind, providing 20,000 vision screening personnel with the skills they need to help people in their communities.
Education: They get the word out on better eye health through brochures, fact sheets, public service announcements, newsletters, media campaigns, special events and the web.
Royal National Institute of the Blind
105 Judd Street
London WC1H 9NE
(020) 7388 1266
The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) is the UK’s leading charity offering information, support and advice to over two million people with sight problems. Their pioneering work helps anyone with a sight problem — not just with Braille, Talking Books, and computer training, but with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges. They fight for equal rights for people with sight problems. They fund pioneering research into preventing and treating eye disease. Their projects make a difference to people’s lives.
Vision World Wide, Inc.
5707 Brockton Drive, #302
Indianapolis, IN 46220-5481
(317) 254-1332
Vision World Wide, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing information and referral worldwide in a variety of media for individuals and professionals concerned with vision loss. They publish a unique, comprehensive quarterly magazine and other literature on technological assistive devices, medical research, self-help techniques, and other resources. In other words, they believe "EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW THERE IS HELP AND HOPE WHEN VISION FAILS."