Resources for People Living with Disabilities
Advocacy OrganizationsCatalogues for People with Special Needs
Educational Institutions
Entertainment
Health Insurance Resources In Maricopa County
Library Services
Radio Reading Services
Rehabilitation/Orientation and Mobility Services
Resource Websites
Technology
Vision Care: Low Cost or Free
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS
American Council of the Blind
American Foundation for the Blind
Arizona Bridge to Independent Living
Arizona Council of the Blind
Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition
Blinded Veterans Association-Northern Arizona Regional Group
The Carroll Center for the Blind
National Federation of the Blind
National Federation of the Blind of Arizona CATALOGUES FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
American Printing House for the Blind
Commercial Braille production house and source for adapted educational and daily living products - since 1858.
American Thermoform Corporation
Printers, embossers, translation software and other Braille supplies.
Blind Mice Mart
Retail provider of accessible products.
Future Aids
Braille books, housewares, toys, gifts and low vision products.
Howe Press
Manufacturer of the Perkins Brailler. A private non-profit organization serving the needs of people who are blind, deafblind and visually handicapped
Independent Living Aids
Low vision aids for independent living, including talking watches.
LS and S
Specializes in products for the blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard of hearing.
MaxiAids
Leading provider of adaptive products, products for independent living and products designed to enhance your lifestyle
Optelec
Specializing in electronic equipment for the blind and partially sighted.
Specializes in products that talk, sing, or record your own message. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind
Educating children and youth.
Training and support for independent living, orientation and mobility instruction, vocational training, job placement, counseling, recreation, and youth services.
The Foundation for Blind Children
Arizona educational resource center for children and adults that combines training, counseling, communication and technology.
The Hadley School for the Blind
Offers more than 100 distance education courses free of charge to those who are blind, their families or blindness professionals.
The Perkins School for the Blind
Nationally recognized campus in Watertown, Massachusetts that specializes in educating children and adults who are blind, deafblind, or visually impaired with or without other disabilities.
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
A center for educational services for all blind and visually impaired students in Texas.
Article on Accredited Online Colleges and Disability Education ENTERTAINMENT
Ability Culture
Arts, entertainment and news for people living with disabilities.
Artability
A bridge between arts organizations and individuals with disabilities by promoting accessible programming in the arts and facilitating connections to services and resources.
The Media Access Group at WGBH - Descriptive Video Service
Delivering accessible media through captioning and audio descriptions.
HEALTH INSURANCE RESOURCES IN MARICOPA COUNTY
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System-602-417-4000
Arizona's Medicaid Agency
Arizona Health Website
Health Insurance, Wellness Programs and Food Stamp Information
Medicare - 1-800-MEDICARE(633-42273)
Medicare Information
Area Agency on Aging, Benefits Assistance Program - 602-264-4357
Help and Information for Seniors
Health Insurance Marketplace - 1-800-318-2596
Learn about the Different Health Insurance Plans
Arizona Healthcare Marketplace
You Marketplace for AZ Health Insurance
Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers - 602-253-0090
Arizona's Premier Primary Care Alliance
Greater Phoenix Urban League - 602-254-5611
Tool to Achieve Economic and Social Equality
Arizona Braille and Talking Book Library
A Regional Library of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
Book Share
Online service that gives print disabled people in the United States legal access to more than 32,600 books and 150 periodicals that are converted to Braille, large print or text to speech audio files.
National Braille Press
a nonprofit braille printer and publisher offering braille books, magazines, textbooks, tests, and customized embossing services.
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
A national network of cooperating libraries providing a free braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.
Message of Hope
Literature from Unity Church on audio cassette or in braille.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
More than 800 low-cost children's books in braille.
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
On demand educatonal recordings of books. RADIO READING SERVICES
ACB Radio
A web-based radio station for people who are blind.
International Association of Audio Information Services (IAAIS)
An association of independently operated, volunteer-driven services that use audio technology to transform print into speech. Includes a listing of Radio Reading Services around the globe. Sun Sounds of Arizona is a proud member.
Narrative Television Network.
A web site containing Narrated movies with audio description for blind people.
NFB-Newsline
Toll-free call-in center providing audio access to more than 200 newspapers in English and Spanish.
REHABILITATION/ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY
Arizona Bridge to Independent Living
Indepdent living and advocacy by, and for, people with disabilities. Offers and promotes programs designed to empower people with disabilities to take personal responsibility so they may achieve or continue independent lifestyles within the community.
Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Provides assistive technology, counseling/social work, orientation and mobility training/rehabilitation teaching and social recreation services for adults who are legally blind or visually impaired as well as those who have a degenerative eye condition.
Arizona Department of Economic Security: Rehabilitation Services Administration
A state agency that provides that provides vocational rehabilitation services for people living with disabilities as well as programs and services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired
A Philadelphia based agency that provides rehabilitation services, a computer technology center, radio reading information services, Braille services and an online newsletter.
Promotes the welfare of blinded veterans through service programs, groups and benefits.
Eye Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
Dedicated to giving guide dogs to the blind and the visually impaired at absolutely no cost. Their German Shepherd dogs have been assisting individuals all over the world.
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Campus training services and extensive follow-up support for graduates. Services are provided to students from the United States and Canada at no cost to them.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind
A non-profit, charitable organization providing trained guide dogs for the visually impaired throughout the world.
Seeing Eye, Inc.
An organization located in New Jersey that provides guide dogs to blind people for orientation and mobility.
Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired
A non-profit agency serving visually impaired adults in Southern Arizona since 1964. By promoting independence, SAAVI enhances the quality of life for those with vision loss through programs offering services, skills training and social and recreational opportunities.
The Colorado Center for the Blind
A training center of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).
RESOURCE WEBSITES
Arizona Department of Economic Security: Rehabilitation Services Administration
Comprehensive resource directory for people who are blind or or visually impaired
Arizona Governor's Council on Blindness and Visual Impairment
AZLinks.gov
AZ Links is Arizona's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), created to help Arizona Seniors, People with Disabilities, Caregivers and Family Members locate resources and services that meet their needs.
Disabled Online
Directory of services to benefit people with disabilities, including employment opportunities, recreational programs, and travel destinations. Also provides interactive tools, chat rooms and classifieds.
Drug Information
Drugwatch.com features information on over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind
The source for blindness news and information since 1907.
MD Support: The Eyes of the Macular Degeneration Community
This web site offers free information and personal assistance for people dealing with macular degeneration and similar retinal diseases. Follow the links in the menu to access their extensive resources.
Mortgage Loan
A guide for persons living with a disability and in need of useful information and assistance in buying a home.
Refinance Guide and Mortgage Guide for People with Disabilities
Senior Living Strategies
Links seniors, caregivers and their families to national, regional and local resources, promoting active and quality living.
VisionAware.org
Self-help resources for vision loss.
TECHNOLOGY
Access Watch
This website continually reviews computer access products of all sorts and keeps tabs on the accessibility of main stream software as well.
Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP)
Promotes awareness of, access to and acquisition of assistive technology for persons living with disabilities. Services include equipment demonstrations, short-term equipment loans, training and even help with financing through their Arizona Loans for Assistive Technology program.
Dancing Dots
Serving blind musicians and their educators through technology and training.
Duxbury Systems
Braille translation software. Supports grade 1 and grade 2 translation in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Malaysian, Swedish, and other languages.
Freedom Scientific
Assistive and adaptive technology products including Braille note takers, screen readers, screen enlargement programs and other adaptive products for computers.
GW Micro
Computer company that sells screen readers and speech synthesizers.
Human Ware
Digital tools, braille note takers and other adaptive computer equipment.
Klango - the Social Network You Can Listen To
A friendly place where people from all around the world explore, share, learn and play.
Kurzweil Educational Systems Inc.
Developer of reading technology for people with learning difficulties, people who are blind or visually impaired.
PCS Games
Computer games for people who are blind.
Serotek
Producer of screen reading and specialized web browsing software, and host for an on-line community of blind people.
Vision Technology
Vision Technology makes magnification equipment for individuals with low vision.
VISION CARE: LOW COST OR FREE SERVICES
EyeCare America's Senior Eye Care Program
Coordinated by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this program provides free medical eye care to all US citizens, age 65 and older, who have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years and who don't have coverage through an HMO or the Veterans Administration. The program also offers a diabetes and glaucoma eye care program.
Give the Gift of Sight Sponsored by Luxottical Retail and in partnership with Lions Clubs International, this program provides free screening and glasses to people who cannot afford them. Phone number: 513-765-6000
You can also contact LensCrafters to find a nearby store that offers this program. Phone number: 800-541-5367Phone number: 800-222-3937
Knights Templar Eye Foundation
This charitable foundation provides financial assistance for eye care to people under age 65 who don't qualify for Medicaid or who have private insurance, but can't afford to pay for care. Knights Templar also co-sponsors the EyeCare America's program.
Phone number: 847-490-3838
Local Lions Club
Referral resource for eye-care and eye-glasses programs that are available in your area. Programs and eligibility requirements vary by community.
Phone number: 800-747-4448
Midwestern University Eye Institute, Glendale, AZ
Wide range of services for infant patients to seniors with low vision. Eye glasses, contact lenses, sports vision, prosthetic eyes and low vision rehab.
Phone number: 623-537-6000
Mission Cataract USA
Coordinated by the Volunteer Eye Surgeons' Association, this program provides free cataract surgery to people of all ages who don't have Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance and have no means to pay. Phone number: 800-3430-7265
New Eyes for the Needy
This international program distributes new prescription eyeglasses to people with limited incomes.
Phone number: 973-376-4903
View Finder
Nationally recognized optometric practice that specializes in low vision rehabilitation of patients with macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, optic nerve disease, stroke, brain injury and other forms of visual impairment. 866-924-8755
Vision USA
Coordinated by the American Optometric Association (AOA), Vision USA provides free eye care service to uninsured and low income workers and their families who have no means of obtaining care(click on "AOA Charities and Public Programs").
Phone number: 800-766-4466
