Helpful Links
Organization Name and Website
Regional:
Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
RSB provides services for children and adults with a significant visual impairment that affects independent living and vocational skills.
http://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/rsb/
Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services
Rehabilitation Services offers programs to adults with visual impairments to enable them to work and participate fully in family and community life.
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29974
St. Louis Society for the Blind
St. Louis Society for the Blind provides the full range of Vision Rehabilitation Services to adults and Special Education services to school-age students. Services are available in both Illinois and Missouri.
St. Louis Lighthouse for the Blind
Lighthouse provides assistance to both adults and children who are legally blind in the areas of employment, education and support services.
http://www.lhbindustries.com/Home.aspx
Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind
The Chicago Lighthouse provides services to adults and children who have a visual impairment in the areas of education, employment, independent living skills, and advocacy.
Missouri Council for the Blind
Missouri Council of the Blind provides services to adults and children who have a visual impairment in the areas of adaptive technology, education, health benefits, and recreation.
www.missouricounciloftheblind.org
Educational Services:
Missouri School for the Blind (MSB)
MSB offers educational and outreach services to children who have a visual impairment and their families.
Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI)
ISVI serves as a statewide resource offering students with visual impairments quality educational.
Special School District (SSD)
SSD collaborates with partnering school districts to provide technical education and a variety of individualized educational and support services.
Missouri Statewide Parent Involvement Network (MoSPIN)
MoSPIN offers in-home parent education to families of children, ages birth to five years, who are visually impaired and who may also have other disabilities.
http://dese.mo.gov/se/ep/mospin.htm
Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
First Steps – Early Intervention in Missouri
Offers coordinated services and assistance to children birth to three with special needs and their families. http://dese.mo.gov/se/fs/
Child and Family Connections – Early Intervention in Illinois
Offers coordinated services and assistance to children birth to three with special needs and their families.
http://www.childfind-idea-il.us/
Missouri Parents Act (MPACT)
MPACT is a Missouri statewide parent training and information center that assists parents in advocating for appropriate special education for their child.
Family Matters
Family Matters is an Illinois parent training and information center that provides support, advocacy, and information to parents of children with special needs.
Deaf/ Blind:
DB-Link: National Consortium Deaf-Blindness
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf Blind
The Helen Keller center provides educational services and support services for youth and adults that are deaf-blind, their families, and the professionals that are working with them.
Phillip J Rock Center
Phillip J Rock Center is a program which provides a continuum of services to children and adults who are deaf-blind and their families.
http://project-reach-illinois.org/
Project Reach
Project Reach provides technical assistance, information, and training to address early intervention, special education, transitional services and other services related to children with deaf-blindness.
http://project-reach-illinois.org/
Literacy:
Seedlings: Braille Books for Children
Wolfner Library
Wolfner is a free library service to anyone in the State of Missouri who is unable to use standard print materials due to a physical disability.
Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/TBBS/home.html
Mind’s Eye
Mind’s Eye is an information service that brings printed words to life each day for thousands of people in the St. Louis Metro Area.
National Braille Press (NBP)
NBP helps to promote Braille Literacy for children and adults who are visually impaired.
Braille Institute
The Institute provides an environment of hope and encouragement for people who are blind and visually impaired through integrated educational, social and recreational programs and services.
Eye Exams/ Eye Glasses & Visual Aids:
Infant SEE program
The Infant SEE program provides a one-time, free comprehensive eye assessment for infants.
http://www.shawneevca.com/services/infantsee-program.html
Lion’s Club Sight Programs
Lions Clubs have provided resources for the blind and hearing impaired worldwide. A local Lions club in or near your community may sponsor a program that provides assistance for the purchase of eyeglasses, hearing aids, health-related services, scholarships or educational needs.
www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/sight-programs/
Family Connections:
Family Connect
FamilyConnect is a web site created by AFB and NAPVI to give parents of visually impaired or blind children a place to support each other, share stories and concerns, and find resources on raising their children from birth to adulthood.
Jewish Guild for the Blind (not religious based):
The Jewish Guild for the Blind assist people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired by offering a broad range of programs including: medical, vision, rehabilitative services and educational trainng programs for independent living.
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
NAPVI is a national organization that enables parents to find information and resources for their children who are blind or visually impaired, by providing leadership, support and training.
Parent to Parent
Parent to Parent is an online, multimedia community that connects parents and guardians of children with visual impairments.
Diagnosis Specific:
The Association for Retinopathy of Prematurity and Related Diseases (ROPARD)
The National Organization for Albinism (NOAH)
NOAH offers information and support to people with albinism and their families.
CHARGE Syndrome Foundation
The CHARGE Syndrome foundation provides information and support to individuals with CHARGE syndrome.
Aniridia Foundation International Information (AFI)
The Aniridia foundation focuses on research, education and support for those with Aniridia.
http://www.aniridia.net/index.html
International WAGR Syndrome Association
The International WAGR Syndrome Association promotes international knowledge and awareness of WAGR syndrome.
Toys:
Ann Morris Enterprise, Inc
Ann Morris Enterprise offers a large variety of low vision aid products to help individuals live a more active and independent life.
Lekotek
Lekotek offers resources on toys and play for children with special needs.
Toys “R” Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids
Guide for Differently-Abled Kids is a special needs toy guide, that features specially selected toys that encourage play for children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.
http://www.toysrus.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=3261681
Toy Industry Foundation
Maxi Aids
Maxi Aids offers products for independent living.
Independent Living Aids
Independent Living Aids offers products for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
APH provides educational, workplace, and independent living products and services, including accessible textbooks, magazines, and tests.
Learning, sight & sound made easier (LS&S)
LS&S specializes in products for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard of hearing.
General resources for parents of children with disabilities:
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
National information center on disabilities.
Paraquad
Paraquad is an independent living center offering advocacy, information and referral services, independent living services, peer consultation, as well as groups and other services for people with disabilities.
Variety The Children’s Charity of St. Louis
Variety provides funding for medical equipment and co-pays for eligible families, and educational, therapeutic and recreational programs. Variety the Children’s Charity also distributes grants to more than 80 partner agencies.
St. Louis Arc
St. Louis Arc provides a range of services and supports to children and adults with physical and cognitive impairments, including respite, early childhood, family support, employment, leisure and residential services.
Life Skills
Life Skills is committed to helping individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism, learn, live and work in their community.
Resources for Adapted Materials:
American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
APH provides educational, workplace, and independent living products and services, including accessible textbooks, magazines, and tests.
General Information and Resources about Visual Impairment:
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
The American Foundation for the Blind provides resources and support to individuals with vision loss and their families, and to employers and professionals, including technology evaluation, professional development and advocacy.
National Federation of the Blind
National Federation of the Blind focuses on advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs and resources that encourage independence and self-confidence.
National Eye Institute
The National Eye Institute conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to visual impairments and visual function.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology works to advance the quality of children’s eye care and support research and training of pediatric ophthalmologists.
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)
A statewide public school for the blind that also provides resources and information to parents and professionals serving children from birth through transition from school.
Perkins: School for the Blind
Perkins provides education and services for children and adults who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired and resources for parents and professionals.
Hadley School for the Blind
Hadley provides distance education programs for people who are blind or visually impaired, their families and service providers.
Braille Bookstore
Braille, tactile, and talking products, including daily living aids, toys and games, low vision products, adapted housewares, and books.
http://www.braillebookstore.com
Missouri Council for the Blind
Missouri Council for the Blind provides adaptive technology grants, educational scholarships, health benefits, youth services, a summer camp program, and a program to assist with other financial needs for eligible children and adults.
www.missouricounciloftheblind.org
Blind Children’s Center
Blind Children’s Center offers publications and resources that are available online, in addition to the services provided in California.
http://www.blindchildrenscenter.org/pubs_res.html
Blind Babies Foundation
The Blind Babies Foundation offers fact sheets and resources available online in addition to the services provided in California.
http://blindbabies.org/learn/resources/
Institute for Families of Blind Children
The Institute for Families of Blind Children provides information and resources including booklets to help children adjust to eye patches, glasses, and prosthetic eyes.
http://www.instituteforfamilies.org/resources-bks.html
Recreation:
The United States Association of Blind Athletes
The United States Association of Blind Athletes provides sports opportunities for individuals with visual impairments, including track and field, skiing, biathlon, judo, wrestling, swimming, tandem cycling, powerlifting and goalball.
Camp Barnabas
A Christian camp for kids and teens, ages 7 to 17, with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities.
The Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis
A not-for-profit organization that serves as a “clearinghouse” for information on leisure, recreation and socialization opportunities for individuals with developmental disABILITIES who reside in the Greater St. Louis Area.
http://www.recreationcouncil.org/
Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK)
Task is a St. Louis-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of kids with special needs by providing athletic and social opportunities.
Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA)
DASA provides those with a physical or visual disability the opportunity to participate in therapeutic sports and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem and to promote growth and well-being.
Technology:
St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Individuals are taught adaptive technology skills on a one-to-one basis, including how to access PC’s, laptops, Ipads , etc.
