The following resources may benefit your agency or the individuals you serve. Please make use of the information, pamphlets, and contacts, and let us know if you would like to add to the list.
Online Resources
OIB-TAC Brochure - PDF
This brochure provides an overview of the training and technical assistance activities of the OIB-TAC in PDF document format.
OIB-TAC Brochure - Word
This brochure provides an overview of the training and technical assistance activities of the OIB-TAC in Word document format.
Commonly Used Terminology
A brief overview of commonly used acronyms, abbreviations, and jargon commonly used in the field of blindness and low vision.
Courtesy Rules for Assisting a Person Who is Visually Impaired or Blind
Basic information for working with a person who is visually impaired or blind.
General Information and Resources on Aging and Vision Loss from the NRTC
National organizations which deal with issues on aging and vision loss, as well as online resources.
Information on Specific Eye Diseases
Numerous links are provided for specific eye diseases ranging from Achromatopsia to Stargardts. Information regarding syndromes and refractive laser surgery is also available.
AccessWorld Magazine
A publication of the American Foundation for the Blind to keep individuals with vision loss and others up-to-date about available technologies.
American Council of the Blind
Information, referral, aids, and devices for older individuals who are blind or visually impaired (OIB) to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life.
American Foundation for the Blind
National nonprofit organization committed to creating a more equitable world for individuals who are blind or visually impaired
Assistive Technology Act Annual Report to Congress: Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005
oth the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act of 1998) and the Assistive Technology Act of 2004, as amended (AT Act of 2004) require that the Secretary of Education submit to Congress a report on the activities funded under those respective acts.
Assistive Technology Low Interest Financing Programs
List of low interest financing/loan programs available in each state for assistive technology that may not be covered by insurance, vocational rehabilitation, etc.
Association for Education & Rehabilitation of the Blind & Visually Impaired
Professional association for service providers of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Blind Veterans Association
A not-for-profit corporation established to promote the welfare of all veterans who have become blind, either during or after active duty.
Deaf Seniors of America
An organization committed to enriching the lives of Deaf senior citizens.
EyeCare America
A public service program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology that offers medical eye exams, often at no cost to the consumer.
Fall Prevention (VisionAware)
Fall prevention strategies and resources provided by VisionAware.
Getting Started Kits (AFB)
Tip sheets provided by VisionAware about resources, specialized services, and products available to help cope and assist with everyday life with vision loss.
Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired
An institute that creates personalized distance learning opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, including free courses for students and their families, and professionals.
Healthy Aging Month
Each September, the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) promotes awareness about eye health among older adults and how they can protect their vision.
Healthy Eyes Education Series (Prevent Blindness America)
Educational resources, provided by Prevent Blindness America, to help health educators better serve patients, customers, and constituents.
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults
Headquartered in Sands Point, NY, with 10 regional offices throughout the U.S., HKNC provides training and resources exclusively to individuals age 16 and over who have combined vision and hearing loss.
Helping Seniors with Visual Impairment Maintain Active Engagement in the Community
Many people who are older blind would like to participate in community and senior center activities. This document provides a list of suggestions for creating a comfortable, safe, and adaptive community and senior center.
iBill Currency Reader Application
All U.S. citizens, or persons legally residing in the U.S. who are blind or visually impaired can request a free currency reader from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing by downloading this application. The application must be filled out completely, signed by a competent authority who can certify eligibility, and returned to the mailing address provided on the form.
International Classification of Functioning (World Health Organization)
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, known more commonly as ICF, is a classification of health and health-related domains. ICF is the WHO framework for measuring health and disability at both individual and population levels.
National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center promotes the availability and accessibility of transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and communities. NADTC is funded through a cooperative agreement of Easterseals, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and the U.S Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration.
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is a 501c(3) membership association representing America’s national network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and providing a voice in the nation’s capital for the more than 250 Title VI Native American aging programs.
National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is dedicated to improving the quality of legal services provided to people as they age and people with special needs through education, advocacy, and community involvement.
National Council of State Agencies for the Blind
The mission of the NCSAB is to promote through advocacy, coordination, and education the delivery of specialized services that enable individuals who are blind and visually impaired to achieve personal and vocational independence.
National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) partners with nonprofit organizations, government, and business to provide innovative community programs and services, online help, and advocacy to meet the needs and challenges of aging for individuals aged 60+.
National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP)
The National Eye Institute established the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) to help health and community professionals increase awareness about eye health. NEHEP programs are designed to reach populations at higher risk for eye disease and vision loss and to promote the use of vision rehabilitation services.
National Eye Health Education Program – Vision and Aging
The NEHEP Vision and Aging Program is designed to help raise awareness about eye health among older adults.
National Eye Institute
As part of the federal government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Eye Institute’s mission is to “conduct and support research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight, and the special health problems and requirements of the blind.”
National Falls Prevention Awareness Day
The annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day (FPAD) is sponsored by the National Council on Aging to raise awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults.
National Federation of the Blind - Seniors Division
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is an organization of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, their families, and friends. It is the oldest and largest organization in the United States led by individuals who are blind. This division within the NFB provides support and information to seniors losing their vision, including remaining active in community and social life, learning the techniques used by the blind, and maintaining a positive approach to vision loss.
National Institute on Aging
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA is the primary Federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer's disease research.
Oral Health
This website aims to help communities, governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and private businesses start or enhance community-based oral health programs for older adults.
Prevent Blindness America
The nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. PB strives to make sure that everyone has a chance to enjoy a lifetime of healthy vision.
Questionnaire for Referral
It can be difficult to determine quickly how to prioritize consumers for services. This quick 10 question list can help identify immediate needs and referral needs.
Religious Materials in Accessible Formats
Examples of, and links to, religious materials in accessible formats.
Report: Exercise Program for a Visually Impaired Senior Population
In 2015, VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired implemented a new evidence-based exercise program for blind older adults at VISIONS Center on Aging (VCA). The exercise program is one component of VISIONS Healthy Aging Initiative for all participants in VISIONS programs. For this grant through the Lavelle Fund, VISIONS proposed to select two Evidence-Based Exercise Programs (EBPs) to determine whether these tested and documented programs to improve chronic health conditions for older adults are equally effective for blind older adults. This provides guidelines for interim and final grant reports.
Results: Exercise Program for a Visually Impaired Senior Population
The final report of the VISIONS Healthy Aging Initiative exercise program.
State Programs Managers Contacts
A listing of the contacts for older blind services by state.
Tips for Working with Seniors with Vision Loss
Made available through Perkins School for the Blind eLearning, these tips connect caregivers and health professionals with advice for working with older adults with vision loss.
Vision 2020
A global initiative, launched in 1999 by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020 through the provision of guidance and technical and resource support to countries that have formally adopted its agenda.
VisionAware
Provides information and resources to seniors with vision loss in promotion of independent living. (by American Printing House and Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation)
VisionAware for Seniors
Access information and resources to help seniors and their families understand and live independently with vision loss.
VisionServe Alliance
A consortium of non-profit leaders in the U.S. that provide unique and specialized services to older individuals who are blind or have severe vision loss.
Books
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Making Life More Livable: Simple Adaptations for Living at Home after Vision Loss. Duffy, M. (2015).
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O&M for Independent Living: Strategies for Teaching Orientation and Mobility to Older Adults. Griffin-Shirley, N & Bozman, L. (2016).
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Pathway to Independence: A guide for people with vision loss. Kersh, Rita (2015).
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Reclaiming Independence: Staying in the Driver's Seat When You No Longer Drive. APH (2005).
Publications
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Berry, P., Mascia, J., & Steinman, B. A. (2004). Vision and hearing loss in older adults: Double trouble. Journal of Long-Term Home Health Care, 5, 35-40.
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Binns, A., Bunce, C., Dickinson, C., Harper, R., Tudor-Edwards, R., Woodhouse, M., et al. (2012). How effective is low vision service provision? A systematic review. Survey of Ophthalmology, 57(1), 34-65.
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Capella-McDonnall, M. E. (2005). The effects of single and dual sensory loss on symptoms of depression in the elderly. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20, 855-861.
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Cavenaugh, B. S., & Rogers, P. (2002). Employment patterns of older workers with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 96(9), 655-658.
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Crudden, A. (1995). Service delivery to older persons who are blind: The Mississippi model. RE:view, 3, 123-129.
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Farrow, K., & Steverson, A. (2016). A summary of services provided by Chapter 2 Programs: A review of Older Individuals who are Blind performance report data from years 2008-2013. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 110(6), 461-467.
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Giesen, J. M., & Cavenaugh, B. S. (2006). Evaluation in the Older Blind Independent Living Program: Advantages of a structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 100(8), 482-487.
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Farrow, K., Holden, C., Lecher, E., & Larges, L. (2018). Increasing access to vision rehabilitation services for seniors through collaboration with occupational therapists. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 112(3), 301-306.
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LeJeune, B. J. (2010). Aging with dual sensory loss: Thoughts from consumer focus groups. AER Journal: Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness, 3(4), 146-152
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LeJeune, B. J. (2011). In their own words: Aging with hearing and vision loss. AER Report, 27(4), 15-16, 20.
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LeJeune, B. J., Steinman, B. A., & Mascia, J. (2003). Enhancing socialization of older persons experiencing loss of both vision and hearing. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 27, 95-97.
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McDonnall, M. C. (2009). Risk factors for depression among older adults with dual sensory loss. Aging and Mental Health, 13(4), 569-576.
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McDonnall, M. C. (2009). The effects of developing a dual sensory loss on depression in older adults: A longitudinal study. Journal of Aging and Health, 21(8), 1179-1199.
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McDonnall, M. C., & LeJeune, B. J. (2008). Employment among older adults with combined hearing and vision loss. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 39(3), 3-9.
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McDonnall, M. C., Crudden, A., LeJeune, B. J., Steverson, A., & O'Donnell, N. (2016). Needs and challenges of seniors with combined hearing and vision loss. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 110(6), 399-411.
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Moore, J. E. (2003). Using program evaluation to improve service delivery for older individuals who are blind. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 97, 42-45.
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Moore, J. E., Giesen, J. M., Weber, J. M., & Crews, J. E. (2001). Functional outcomes reported by consumers of the independent living program for older individuals who are blind. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 95, 403-417.
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Moore, J. E., Steinman, B. A., Giesen, J. M., & Frank, J. J. (2006). Functional outcomes and consumer satisfaction in the Older Blind Independent Living Program. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 100(5), 285-294.
