Transcript Low Vision Resources - Houston Low Vision Club

Low Vision Resources
Presented by: Jeff Greer
Houston Low Vision Club
http://www.houstonlowvisionclub.org/
Houston Low Vision Club
• The Houston Low Vision Club
is an organization of visually
impaired men and women that
meets at the Houston
Metropolitan Multi-Service
Center.
http://www.houstonlowvisionclub.org/
• The club's objective is to assist
those experiencing significant
vision loss to discover ways to
continue daily activities and
maintain their independence.
• In addition to providing members
access to valuable information,
the club provides the visually
impaired an opportunity to talk
with others that share their
challenges, including family
members and friends.
University of Houston Center for
Sight Enhancement
http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/lowvision/
U Of H Center Continued
• The Center for Sight Enhancement
(CSE) provides multidisciplinary
service, training and resources in
low vision rehabilitation to help
people of all ages with vision loss
lead independent and productive
lives.
Division of Blind Services
http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dbs/
DARS Information
• This site is probably one of the
most informative for people
that are blind or have low
vision. It is the Division of
Blind Services for the State of
Texas. They have local offices
in all counties.
DARS Continued
• There are links for all types of
services that could be needed by
people that are visually impaired.
The most important aspect of this
sight is that it will lead to services
that may be free or low cost for
the visually impaired
Houston Lighthouse
http://www.houstonlighthouse.org/
Lighthouse Continued
• The Lighthouse of Houston
offers a wide variety of
educational programs,
community services and
outpatient rehabilitation for
the blind and visually
impaired.
United States Department of
Veteran Affairs Blind Services
http://www1.va.gov/blindrehab/
Veterans Continued
• Blind Rehabilitation Service will
provide high quality care in a
timely and appropriate manner
enabling blinded veterans to
acquire the skills and capabilities
necessary for the development of
personal independence and
emotional stability.
Greater Houston Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
http://home.comcast.net/~bvahouston/
Houston Blinded Veterans
• We are an organization
specifically established to
promote the welfare of blinded
veterans. Through our service
programs, groups and benefits
we hope to make life easier for
blinded veterans and help by
being there with support.
Foundation Fighting Blindness
http://www.blindness.org/
Foundation Fighting Blindness
• The urgent mission of the
Foundation Fighting Blindness, Inc. is
to drive the research that will
provide preventions, treatments and
cures for people affected by retinitis
pigmentosa (RP), macular
degeneration, Usher syndrome, and
the entire spectrum of retinal
degenerative diseases.
Independent Living Aids
http://www.independentliving.com/
ILA Continued
• Low Vision Aids from independent
living aids help the visually impaired
enjoy a more independent lifestyle.
You'll enjoy the freedom and
accessibility offered by independent
living aids' large selection of talking
watches, magnifiers and other low
vision aids.
Frugal AT
http://frugalat.com/
Frugal AT Continued
• Assistive technology for individuals with
special needs can be VERY expensive. It
is our aim to provide inexpensive, off
the shelf alternatives where possible
and support for specialty items that
provide functions that you do have to
use. This site is based upon a discussion
forum system. It is here to encourage an
exchange of ideas.
National Library Services for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped
http://www.loc.gov/nls/
National Library Continued
• Through a national network of
cooperating libraries, NLS
administers a free library
program of braille and audio
materials circulated to eligible
borrowers in the United States
by postage-free mail.
Houston Taping for the Blind
http://www.tapingfortheblind.org/
Taping for the Blind Continued
• Taping for the Blind, Inc. mission is
to Turn Sight into Sound, enriching
the lives of individuals with visual,
physical and learning disabilities.
We do this through our Radio
Reading, Custom Recording and
Audio Description services.
Natural Voice
http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.htm
Natural Voice Mission
• Natural Reader is a Text to Speech
software with natural sounding voices.
This easy to use software can convert
any written text such as MS Word,
Webpage, PDF files, and Emails into
spoken words. Natural Reader can also
convert any written text into audio
files such as MP3 or WAV for your CD
player or iPod.
National Federation of the
Blind Newsline
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Newspapers_by_Phone.asp
NFB Newsline Mission
• FREE SERVICE TO THOSE WHO
CANNOT READ REGULAR
NEWSPRINT!
• Over 300 NEWSPAPERS AVAILABLE
• Every day, a subscriber can choose
that day's, the previous day's, or the
previous Sunday's issue of any
newspaper in the service.
Web Anywhere
http://webanywhere.cs.washington.edu/wa.php
Web Anywhere Mission
• Web anywhere is a non-visual
interface to the web that requires
no new software to be downloaded
or installed. It works right in the
browser, which means you can
access it from any computer, even
locked-down public computer
terminals.
Guide Dogs of Texas
http://guidedogsoftexas.org/
Guide Dogs of Texas Mission
• Guide Dogs of Texas provides quality
guide dogs for Texans who are
visually impaired to increase their
freedom, mobility and independence.
We are committed to personalized
service and lifelong dedication to our
clients and their guide dogs.
Live Theater Productions in Houston
http://www.houstonlowvisionclub.org/index.php/Main/HTBRTheater
Recording for the Blind and the Dyslexic
http://www.rfbd.org/
R F B and D Mission
•
®
RFB&D ,
a national nonprofit,
volunteer organization, is the
leading accessible audiobook
library for students with
disabilities such as visual
impairment or dyslexia.
Bookshare
http://www.bookshare.org/
Bookshare Mission
• Accessible Books and Periodicals
for Readers with Print Disabilities
• Bookshare™ is free for all U.S.
students with qualifying
disabilities.
• Bookshare dramatically increases
the accessibility of books.
BARD
https://nlsbard.loc.gov/cgi-bin/nlsbardprod/index.cgi
Humanware
http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/home
Humanware Mission Statement
• Human-friendly solutions
• HumanWare products are designed
to last, to grow (and in many cases,
to go) with the user. Giving them the
independence to compete effectively
with peers, to feel connected – to be
a vital part of the global information
age in which we live.
Rides
http://www.harriscountyrides.com/
Rides Statement
• RIDES is a great option for people
for whom public transportation is
either unavailable or inaccessible
— helping eligible residents make
doctor’s appointments, do
grocery shopping or otherwise
just get around and remain
independent.
Public Transportation Fort Bend
http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/getsitepage.asp?sitepage=23544
Fort Bend Transit
• Fort Bend County currently offers
shared ride bus services to the citizens
of Fort Bend County. The
Transportation service provides trips
within Fort Bend County, and to the
Texas Medical Center, as well as
Veterans Administration Hospital..
Free Old Time Radio
http://www.fearyoucanhear.com/
Free Old Time Radio Statement
• This site was created by the
visually impaired & blind for the
blind and sighted. Created to
offer free old time radio to the
blind, visually impaired, active
duty military, and the disabled..