Blindness Information Links

Access Technology Institute is dedicated to changing the way in which the world of training for blind and low vision consumers is viewed by society as a whole. Accountability and responsibility are the cornerstones upon which all of ATI's training courses are founded.

The Council strives to improve the well-being of all individuals who are blind or have low vision by: serving as a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people.

The American Foundation for the Blind is a national nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ensure that the ten million Americans who are blind or have low vision enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other citizens. AFB promotes wide-ranging, systemic change by addressing the most critical issues facing the growing blind and low vision population: employment, independent living, literacy, and technology.

The American Printing House for the Blind promotes independence of persons who are blind or have low vision by providing specialized materials, products, and services needed for education and life.

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) is the only international membership organization dedicated to rendering all possible support and assistance to the professionals who work in all phases of education and rehabilitation of children and adults who are blind and have low vision.

This site provides you with information about blindness; general information as well as links to organizations that work with the blind, some of the companies that provide equipment, and other resources.

This site contains links in areas such as braille history and literacy, deafblind, organizations, vendors, etc.

This link takes you to the deafblind links page on the NRTC on Blindness and Low Visions website.

This link takes you to the definitions of blindness page on the NRTC on Blindness and Low Vision website.

The mission of the Hadley School is to promote independent living through lifelong, distance education programs for blind people and their families.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, a nonprofit volunteer organization, is the nation's educational library serving people who cannot effectively read standard print because of low vision, dyslexia, or other physical disability. Our mission is to create opportunities for individual success by providing, and promoting the effective use of, accessible educational materials.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled provides services to blind, low vision, and print disabled individuals in the U.S. Audiobooks and magazines, and large print and braille materials are delivered by mail to homes of qualified persons. Materials are shipped as free matter for the blind and can be returned at no charge through the local mail carrier. Audio materials require the use of special players which are available on permanent loan if the patron continues to use materials from the National Library Service.

Sometimes referred to as the "Talking Book Library" or the "State Library for the Blind," these services are administered through individual state programs. To find your local network library, visit https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/find-a-local-library/.

U.S. citizens residing in foreign countries, call Washington D.C., (202) 707-9261. Patrons who receive music services, only, call (800) 424-8567.

The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is two-fold: to help blind persons achieve self-confidence and self-respect and to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind. By providing public education about blindness, information and referral services, scholarships, literature and publications about blindness, aids and appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind, advocacy services and protection of civil rights, development and evaluation of technology, and support for blind persons and their families, members of the NFB strive to educate the public that the blind are normal individuals who can compete on terms of equality.

The Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education in Visual Impairment, prepares specialists in low vision, orientation and mobility, and deafblindness. It promotes quality research to address the academic and social needs of school-age students with low vision and provides public service to assist local, national, and international constituencies.

VisionAware is an online information project of the American Foundation for the Blind that helps adults who are losing their sight continue to live full and independent lives by providing timely information, step-by-step daily living techniques, a directory of national and local services, and a supportive online community.

VisionConnection is a one-stop, accessible online resource on low vision and vision rehabilitation for people who are partially sighted or blind, the professionals who work with them, the families and friends who support them -- and anyone looking for the latest information on prevention, research and treatment.