Shop for Visual Impairment Instructional Resources and Gifts

ECC Instructional Resources

Shop

Braille Jewelry

Shop

VI Shirts

Shop

Braille Greeting Cards

Shop

VI Drinkware

Shop

White Cane Tags/Zipper Pulls/Keyrings

Shop

Vision Bags & Totes

Shop

Recorded Presentations

Shop

Job Posting Service

Shop

US Government Agencies

by Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 18, 2022
​
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. 
History of vi
Visual Impairments
Vi organizations & Agencies
VI book resources
VI Professionals
Professionalism
Instructional Planning
Professional Publications
Educational Programming
Individual Learning Differences
referrals
Medical vision exams
fvlma
additional evaluations
service planning
writing goals
compensatory skills
Guiding Principles
​Functional Skills
Community Based Experiences  ​
​​Concepts to Teach ​
Organization & Study Skills ​​
Time Management  ​​
​​​​Virtual Instruction
​Movies & Assemblies
Lectures & Instruction
Board Work (Chalk, White, etc.)
​​Daily Schedule 
Morning Meeting 
Weather Check 
Dramatic Play 
Blocks 
Numbers & Counting
Cranmer Abacus Instruction
Algebra
Geometry & Spatial Sense
Measurement & Data ​
Early Literacy Experiences  ​
​Create Tactual Books
Reading Instruction
​Reading Efficiency ​​
Science Adaptations 
Social Studies Adaptations
​Accessible Educational Materials
​​Individual Schedules & Communication Cards
Adjust Lighting  
Large Print
Optical Devices for Near 
Optical Devices for Distance 
Optical Device Use ​​
​Photocopying
Font Legibility
Increase Contrast
Pictures & Worksheets 
Keyboarding ​Instruction
Word Processing and Shortcuts
​Navigate Computer w/o a Mouse
Braille Code
Braille Instruction 
​Braille Instruction Materials
Writing Braille  
​Summer Reading (braille)
Signature & Handwriting ​​
Nemeth Braille Code
​Tactile Graphics Guidelines
Creating Tactile Graphics
​Tactile Graphics Instruction
​Teacher Made Materials 
​Labeling System
assistive technology
sensory efficiency
independent living
orientation & Mobility
career education
social skills
recreation & Leisure
self determination