US Government Agencies

by Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 18, 2022
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The following are Government agencies within the United States that provide support and assistance to individuals of all ages with visual impairments. 

Children and Youth 

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs Division of Visual Impairment administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and related programs for the education of children with disabilities. Within the US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs in the Division of Visual Impairment. ​The primary purpose of the Division of Visual Impairment is to advance the education of individuals with visual impairments and to promote related educational, scientific, and charitable purposes. Specifically, the Division intends: to assist and provide support to The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in all its efforts on behalf of persons with exceptionalities and to participate in all appropriate governance activities of CEC subject to the general supervision and control of CEC.
The U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration provides national leadership and technical guidance for the federal-state vocational rehabilitation program. Administers grants to the states for vocational rehabilitation of the disabled. Provides demonstrations, professional training, and independent living grants for persons with disabilities including those with visual impairments. Offers adults with vision loss training in independent living skills, assistive technology, and orientation and mobility through state agencies. Provides counseling to individuals and families. Administers the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program.

Youth & Workforce

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) provides leadership and resources to assist state and other agencies in providing vocational rehabilitation and other services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence, and integration into the community and the competitive labor market.

Elderly & Aging

The Administration on Aging (AOA) is the principal agency of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services designated to carry out the provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA), as amended (42 U.S.C.A. § 3001 et seq.). The OAA promotes the well-being of older individuals by providing services and programs designed to help them live independently in their homes and communities. The Act also empowers the federal government to distribute funds to the states for supportive services for individuals over the age of 60.

All Ages

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library of Congress provides a free correspondence course to certify Braille transcribers. They offer a wide variety of braille books on loan. NLS has also compiled a directory in large print and braille formats that provides names of volunteer groups and individuals who transcribe and record books and other reading materials for people who are blind. They provide an alphabetical listing by state.
The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, leads the federal government's research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs that result in the development of sight-saving treatments.  Resources include a clinical studies database, publications, and materials list, photos, images and videos as well as statistics and data.

Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Services oversees programs for veterans who are blinded within the Veterans
Health Administrations. Services include Visual Impairment Services Teams (VIST) assistance and Blind Rehabilitation Center and Clinic Programs. There is at least one VIST designated for each state.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Veterans Benefits Administration provides compensation and pensions for a disability or death to veterans and their dependents. Additionally, it provides vocational rehabilitation services, including counseling, training, and assistance toward employment to veterans who have been blinded and are identified as eligible. 
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (VA) oversees many rehabilitation centers whose services include rehabilitation training and job preparation of those who formerly served in the armed forces. They provide hospital and outpatient treatment as well as nursing home care for eligible veterans in Veterans Administration facilities. They also provide nonvocational inpatient residential rehabilitation services to veterans who are legally blind and eligible for services.