Georgia Vision ResourcesThis page identifies resources specific to persons who are blind or visually impaired in Georgia. If you know of other Georgia resources specific to blindness and visual impairments, please contact me so I can add them to this page.
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Angel Eyes Fitness
Angel Eyes Fitness and Nutrition, Inc. has a vision to have a world where vision is not required for good health and wellness. Founder and director Dawn Wells have a goal to empower and equip the Blind and visually impaired community with the necessary resources for an active and healthy lifestyle.
Center for the Visually Impaired (CVI)
The Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta is Georgia's largest facility providing rehabilitation services for the blind and visually impaired. They offer:
- low vision clinics for persons ages 5 and older
- New View adult rehabilitation services program
- STARS program provides elementary through high school students with skills and self-confidence to live with vision loss.
- BEGIN program for children birth through 5
- Support groups
- InfoLink
Georgia Academy for the Blind
Georgia Academy for the Blind (GAB) provides educational services to students and families throughout Georgia including day and residential programs on campus and outreach services. Students are placed at the GAB through the IEP process. They serve as an extension of the continuum of services offered through local school districts across the state and are available to serve the students who require additional supports and services to meet their IEP goals.
Georgia Association of Blind Athletes
The Georgia Association of Blind Athletes is a non-profit program that provides and advocates sports, recreation and social opportunities for blind and visually impaired. The main program offered is goalball. Recreational and/or competitive opportunities are available to youth and adult members.
Georgia Association of Education & Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired (GaAER)
Visit the GaAER site for newsletters and information about upcoming conferences. Join AER, contribute to the field of visual impairments and help make our Georgia chapter strong!
Georgia Blind Sports Association
Georgia Blind Sports Association's mission is to help visually impaired people all over Georgia discover their athletic potential, from recreational fun to the Paralympics.
Georgia Department of Education
Information about visual impairment services in Georgia can be found on the Department of Education's website along with downloads specific to serving students who are visually impaired and contact information for Georgia's Education Program Specialist.
Georgia Instructional Material Center (GIMC)
Georgia eye report
The GIMC is a program of the Georgia Department of Education, Division for Special Education. GIMC provides, or assists in the acquisition of, textbooks and core instructional materials in accessible formats for special education students who are blind or have a physical or specified print-related disability, and are served in Georgia's public schools. GIMC registers legally blind students, in both public and private schools for quota funds through the American Printing House for the Blind (APH).
Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Service (GLASS)
Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services (GLASS) provides Georgia residents with print impairments access to a free national library program that lends talking books on cassettes, digital cartridges or in braille and lends magazines on digital cartridge or in braille. Once a person is registered with GLASS, they will also be able to access the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) website. All of Georgia's public libraries are affiliated with one of the nine-member facilities of the GLASS network.
Georgia PINES
Georgia PINES is funded by the Department of Education and provides early intervention services in natural environments with an emphasis on training families of newly diagnosed children ages birth to five years with vision and/or hearing loss using a coaching model and parent education.
Georgia Radio Reading Service (GaRRS)
The Georgia Radio Reading Service (GaRRS), the State’s only radio reading service. GaRRS’ mission is to improve the quality of life for every Georgian who is blind, visually-impaired or has difficulty with the printed word. They deliver approximately 200 different radio shows each month including cover-to-cover readings of magazines, newspapers, and books; population-specific programming (for seniors, veterans and Hispanics/Latinos); and public service announcements about community; and support programs and activities.
Georgia Sensory Assistance Project
The Georgia Sensory Assistance Project, funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, offers technical assistance to school personnel, service personnel and families of children and youth with deaf-blindness from birth through 21. It is housed on the campus of the University of Georgia. GSAP conducts an annual deaf-blind census which is reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Georgia Vision Educators Statewide Training (GVEST)
GVEST provides an opportunity for Georgia's educators who serve students with visual impairments to have specialized training and to share effective practices and strategies specific to the needs of students with visual impairments. The annual GVEST conference takes place at the Georgia Academy of the Blind and provides workshops led by experts in the field of blindness.
Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Division provides a variety of individual services to persons with disabilities in preparation for their employment in the competitive labor market and to employers seeking to retain valuable employees with disabilities or hire qualified individuals for their workforce.
iCanConnect/GA
iCanConnect is a national deaf-blind equipment distribution program whose goal is to ensure that every person with a combined hearing and vision loss has access to modern telecommunication tools and that training necessary to use them, granting every individual the opportunity to interact with the world as an involved, contributing member of society.
Smokey Powell Center for Assistive Technology
The Smokey Powell Center is funded through the James E. "Smokey" Powell Foundation and located at the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon, GA. It offers the following services at no charge to Georgia local school districts:
- technology evaluations
- low vision clinics
- equipment loans
- outreach services
https://vifga.org/
vifGA is a nonprofit organization that serves as a central resource for visually impaired Georgians. The organization includes:
- Funding for products and services for the visually impaired
- Low vision clinics throughout the state of Georgia
- Mobility, Independent Living Services, and Computer Training
