Low Vision Resources

1. Low Vision Resources Presented by: Jeff Greer

2. Houston Low Vision Club http://www.houstonlowvisionclub.org/

3. Houston Low Vision Club • The Houston Low Vision Club is an organization of visually impaired men and women that meets at the Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center. http://www.houstonlowvisionclub.org/

4. The club's objective is to assist those experiencing significant vision loss to discover ways to continue daily activities and maintain their independence.

5. In addition to providing members access to valuable information, the club provides the visually impaired an opportunity to talk with others that share their challenges, including family members and friends.

6. University of Houston Center for Sight Enhancement http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/lowvision/

7. U Of H Center Continued • The Center for Sight Enhancement (CSE) provides multidisciplinary service, training and resources in low vision rehabilitation to help people of all ages with vision loss lead independent and productive lives.

8. Division of Blind Services http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dbs/

9. DARS Information • This site is probably one of the most informative for people that are blind or have low vision. It is the Division of Blind Services for the State of Texas. They have local offices in all counties.

10. DARS Continued • There are links for all types of services that could be needed by people that are visually impaired. The most important aspect of this sight is that it will lead to services that may be free or low cost for the visually impaired

11. Houston Lighthouse http://www.houstonlighthouse.org/

12. Lighthouse Continued • The Lighthouse of Houston offers a wide variety of educational programs, community services and outpatient rehabilitation for the blind and visually impaired.

13. United States Department of Veteran Affairs Blind Services http://www1.va.gov/blindrehab/

14. Veterans Continued • Blind Rehabilitation Service will provide high quality care in a timely and appropriate manner enabling blinded veterans to acquire the skills and capabilities necessary for the development of personal independence and emotional stability.

15. Greater Houston Regional Group Blinded Veterans Association http://home.comcast.net/~bvahouston/

16. Houston Blinded Veterans • We are an organization specifically established to promote the welfare of blinded veterans. Through our service programs, groups and benefits we hope to make life easier for blinded veterans and help by being there with support.

17. Foundation Fighting Blindness http://www.blindness.org/

18. Foundation Fighting Blindness • The urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Inc. is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

19. Independent Living Aids http://www.independentliving.com/

20. ILA Continued • Low Vision Aids from independent living aids help the visually impaired enjoy a more independent lifestyle. You'll enjoy the freedom and accessibility offered by independent living aids' large selection of talking watches, magnifiers and other low vision aids.

21. Frugal AT http://frugalat.com/

22. Frugal AT Continued • Assistive technology for individuals with special needs can be VERY expensive. It is our aim to provide inexpensive, off the shelf alternatives where possible and support for specialty items that provide functions that you do have to use. This site is based upon a discussion forum system. It is here to encourage an exchange of ideas.

23. National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped http://www.loc.gov/nls/

24. National Library Continued • 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.

25. Houston Taping for the Blind http://www.tapingfortheblind.org/

26. Taping for the Blind Continued • Taping for the Blind, Inc. mission is to Turn Sight into Sound, enriching the lives of individuals with visual, physical and learning disabilities. We do this through our Radio Reading, Custom Recording and Audio Description services.

27. Natural Voice http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.htm

28. Natural Voice Mission • Natural Reader is a Text to Speech software with natural sounding voices. This easy to use software can convert any written text such as MS Word, Webpage, PDF files, and Emails into spoken words. Natural Reader can also convert any written text into audio files such as MP3 or WAV for your CD player or iPod.

29. National Federation of the Blind Newsline http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Newspapers_by_Phone.asp

30. NFB Newsline Mission • FREE SERVICE TO THOSE WHO CANNOT READ REGULAR NEWSPRINT! • Over 300 NEWSPAPERS AVAILABLE  • Every day, a subscriber can choose that day's, the previous day's, or the previous Sunday's issue of any newspaper in the service.

31. Web Anywhere http://webanywhere.cs.washington.edu/wa.php

32. Web Anywhere Mission • Web anywhere is a non-visual interface to the web that requires no new software to be downloaded or installed. It works right in the browser, which means you can access it from any computer, even locked-down public computer terminals.

33. Guide Dogs of Texas http://guidedogsoftexas.org/

34. Guide Dogs of Texas Mission • Guide Dogs of Texas provides quality guide dogs for Texans who are visually impaired to increase their freedom, mobility and independence. We are committed to personalized service and lifelong dedication to our clients and their guide dogs.

35. Live Theater Productions in Houston http://www.houstonlowvisionclub.org/index.php/Main/HTBRTheater

36. Recording for the Blind and the Dyslexic http://www.rfbd.org/

37. R F B and D Mission • RFB&D®, a national nonprofit, volunteer organization, is the leading accessible audiobook library for students with disabilities such as visual impairment or dyslexia.

38. Bookshare http://www.bookshare.org/

39. Bookshare Mission • Accessible Books and Periodicals for Readers with Print Disabilities • Bookshare™ is free for all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities. • Bookshare dramatically increases the accessibility of books.

40. BARD https://nlsbard.loc.gov/cgi-bin/nlsbardprod/index.cgi

41. Humanware http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/home

42. Humanware Mission Statement • Human-friendly solutions • HumanWare products are designed to last, to grow (and in many cases, to go) with the user. Giving them the independence to compete effectively with peers, to feel connected – to be a vital part of the global information age in which we live.

43. Rides http://www.harriscountyrides.com/

44. Rides Statement • RIDES is a great option for people for whom public transportation is either unavailable or inaccessible — helping eligible residents make doctor’s appointments, do grocery shopping or otherwise just get around and remain independent.  

45. Public Transportation Fort Bend http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/getsitepage.asp?sitepage=23544

46. Fort Bend Transit • Fort Bend County currently offers shared ride bus services to the citizens of Fort Bend County. The Transportation service provides trips within Fort Bend County, and to the Texas Medical Center, as well as Veterans Administration Hospital..

47. Free Old Time Radio http://www.fearyoucanhear.com/

48. Free Old Time Radio Statement • This site was created by the visually impaired & blind for the blind and sighted. Created to offer free old time radio to the blind, visually impaired, active duty military, and the disabled..